K 2025: Highlights of „Visionary Tuesday“ on 14 October

Visionary Tuesday at K 2025: New production methods and business models for the circular economy

Frankfurt am Main/Düsseldorf, 30. September 2025 – Auf der K 2025 geht es am Visionary Tuesday, dem 14. Oktober, um die großen Weichenstellungen der Kunststoffindustrie – Zirkuläres Produktdesign, Strategien gegen Mikroplastik und die Integration von chemischem Recycling in bestehende Recyclingprozesse. Das sind die Highlights des Tages:

Cradle to Cradle: Vom Konzept zum Geschäftsmodell

In der Eröffnungs-Keynote stellt Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart (Leuphana Universität) am Stand der Sonderschau „Plastics Shape the Future“ (Halle 6 / C40, 10:30 – 11:30 CEST) das Cradle-to-Cradle-Prinzip vor. Gemeinsam mit NovoTech-CEO Holger Sasse werden Beispiele wie Megawood-Terrassendielen vorgestellt, die zu 75 Prozent aus Naturfasern bestehen und vollständig rückführbar konzipiert sind. Damit wird deutlich: zirkuläres Produktdesign ist kein Zukunftstraum, sondern bereits im Markt angekommen.

Microplastics in focus – from pellets to tyre abrasion

Microplastics remain a pressing environmental issue. At the Microplastics Panel (Hall 6 / C40, 11:30–13:00 CEST), experts from the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), INEOS Styrolution, WdK, Hydra, and the German Environment Agency will discuss the most effective measures to reduce emissions into the environment. The panel will be moderated by Dr. Christine Bunte, Managing Director of Plastics Europe Deutschland.

Panel participants include:

• Stephan Rau, Technical Director, WdK
• Dr. Alexander Roloff, Head of Product Analytics Division, BfR
• Dr. Bianca Wilhelmus, Global Product Steward, INEOS Styrolution

• Miriam Weber, Managing Director, Hydra
• Dr. Ulrike Braun, Head of Department, German Environment Agency

Chemical recycling: State of the art and next steps

Chemical recycling is widely regarded as a key technology to process mixed plastic waste streams. In the afternoon session (Hall 6 / C40, 13:15–14:00 CEST), representatives from technology providers, operators and user industries will present the current state of development and discuss challenges for scaling up. Topics will include energy efficiency, climate performance and regulatory framework conditions. The discussion will be moderated by Prof. Thomas Müller-Kirschbaum, Chief Scientist of Circular Valley.

Panel participants include:

• Saskia Hornvirus, Market Developer for the Circular Platform, Eastman Circular Solutions France
• Daniel Koch, Plant Manager Wesseling, LyondellBasell
• Christian Haupts, Senior Partner, Carboliq
• Nico Janssen, Business Development Director Carpet Technology, Object Carpet

Program overview – Visionary Tuesday (14. October 2025, Hall 6 / C40)

Date & Time	Speaker/Host*
Tue, 10:30 – 11:30 (CEST)	Keynote: Cradle to Cradle – an alternative business case? Speaker/Host*: Dr. Christine Bunte*, Managing Director (Plastics Europe Deutschland) Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart, Professor for Ecodesign (Leuphana University) Holger Sasse, CEO (NovoTech)
Tue, 11:30 – 13:00 (CEST)	Panel: Microplastics – Ways out of the crisis Speaker/Host*: Dr. Christine Bunte*, Managing Director (Plastics Europe Deutschland) Stephan Rau, Technical Director (WdK) Dr. Alexander Roloff, Head of Product Analytics Division (BfR) Dr. Bianca Wilhelmus, Global Product Steward (INEOS Styrolution) Miriam Weber, Managing Director (Hydra) Dr. Ulrike Braun, (Head of Department at the German Federal Environment Agency)
Tue, 13:15 – 14:00 (CEST)	Expert Talks: Chemical Recycling Speaker/Host*: Prof. Thomas Müller-Kirschbaum*, Chief Scientist (Circular Valley) Saskia Hornivius, Market Developer for the Circular Platform (Eastman Circular Solutions France) Daniel Koch, Plant Manager Wesseling (LyondellBasell) Christian Haupts, Senior Partner (Carboliq) Nico Janssen, Business Development Director Carpet Technology (Object Carpet)
Tue, 14:00 – 14:15 (CEST)	Keynote: Mechanical Recycling Speaker/Host*: Prof. Thomas Müller-Kirschbaum*, Chief Scientist (Circular Valley) Stephan Roest, Head of Circular Economy Business Development (Borealis)
Tue, 14:15 – 15:00 (CEST)	Expert Talk: Bioplastics Speaker/Host*: Prof. Thomas Müller-Kirschbaum*, Chief Scientist (Circular Valley) Mathias Leimbrink, Head of Life Cycle Assesment (Covestro) Thomas Philipon, CEO (TotalEnergies Carbion) Belén Monje Martínez, Sustainable Chemistry Cluster Leader (AIMPLAS)
Tue, 15:00 – 15:30 (CEST)	Expert Talk: TotalEnergy integral approach : Rethink use, Reduce impact, Recycle and develop circularity Speaker/Host*: Prof. Thomas Müller-Kirschbaum*, Chief Scientist (Circular Valley) Tom Houpeline, Vice President Polymers (Total Energies)
Tue, 15:30 – 16:00 (CEST)	Expert Talk: When will CCU go mainstream? Speaker/Host*: Prof. Thomas Müller-Kirschbaum*, Chief Scientist (Circular Valley) Michael Carus, Founder and Managing Director (nova-Institut GmbH)

The full program of the special show Plastics Shape the Future is available here: https://plasticseurope.org/de/plastics-shape-the-future-k-2025/

About K 2025

K 2025 will take place from 8 to 15 October 2025 at Messe Düsseldorf and is regarded as the world’s leading trade fair for plastics and rubber. More than 200,000 visitors from around 160 countries are expected.

Press photos of K 2025 and the special show are available for free download here:
https://plasticseurope.org/de/pressemitteilungen/

About Plastics Europe Deutschland

PlasticsEurope Deutschland e. V. is the association of plastics producers in Germany. It is a sector association within the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) and part of the European PlasticsEurope network, with representation in Brussels and other major European centres and capitals.

---

---