News, updates & opinion
Repair as a Key Urban Question Electrical and electronic devices are among the largest material streams in cities today. In Berlin alone, around 23,516 tons were discarded in Berlin . Many products have ever shorter lifespans, while repairs are often perceived as too complicated or too expensive. Yet...
The BookSprint Re:use – Re:think – Re:volution, initiated by the Bertelsmann Stiftung, brings together innovative impulses and diverse perspectives to outline what a truly comprehensive Circular Economy could look like. The contributions demonstrate how strategies on repair, textiles, social responsibility, and digitalisation interconnect to form a coherent and...
Food isn’t just something we eat – it’s part of a larger system that connects soil, water, climate, and communities. In Berlin, we are rethinking food through the lens of the Circular Economy: an approach that closes loops, reduces waste, and creates value at every stage. At Circular Berlin,...
The Repair Deal Pop-Up Week proved that Berliners are eager to engage in hands-on, creative, and community-based sustainability initiatives. With a diverse program, strong partnerships, and valuable learnings, the event laid a solid foundation for future repair-centered activities. In July 2025, we as Circular Berlin, hosted the first-ever Repair...
Germany is currently developing a national Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for textiles – in response to the revised Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC) adopted in March 2025. This development provides an opportunity to systematically align national textile waste policy with the principles of sustainability, social justice, and global...
In November 2024, we had the opportunity to present key insights on sustainability and circular economy in the field of electronic textiles at the E-Textiles Conference in Berlin. But what happens when smart technologies meet linear textile systems? E-textiles are considered a promising innovation — yet from a circular...
As 2024 draws to a close, we at Circular Berlin reflect on a year marked by significant achievements, collaborative endeavors, and a steadfast commitment to advancing the circular economy in our city. Building upon the foundations laid in previous years, we've expanded our initiatives, engaged with diverse communities, and fostered...
As part of the 2024 AGYLE - African German Young Leaders in Business cohort, I had the unique opportunity to join the programme´s Live Week in Berlin, from 16th to the 20th September. The AGYLE programme is a project by Deutschland Land der Ideen that aims to connect young...
Cities are at the center of the necessary change towards more sustainability and climate protection. Studies indicate that Circular Economy is a significant lever for reducing the climate impacts of our actions. Depending on the study, the manner of product manufacturing and usage influences 40% to as much as...
Between the 29th June to the 5th of July 2024 we ran a one-week exchange programme in cooperation with our partner the Or Foundation, who brought a delegation from Ghana to Berlin. The delegation was composed of designers, retailers, remanufacturing specialists, researchers, entrepreneurs, and waste management experts from the...