TREASoURcE Final Conference – 14.04.2026

This full-day event will showcase territorial and regional demonstrations of systemic circular economy solutions in plastics, batteries, and biobased side and waste streams. The programme features cross-cutting plenary sessions on policy, digitalisation, business models, and stakeholder engagement, followed by deep-dives into real-world applications and replication pathways for each key value chain. 

Participants will: 

• Discover the latest results and real-world impact of circular solutions in plastics, batteries, and bio-based streams 

• Exchange knowledge and best practices with peers from policy, industry, research, and cities 

• Engage in discussions on policy recommendations and systemic enablers for accelerating circular economy adoption 

• Explore digital tools and business models that support circularity in diverse contexts 

• Connect with innovators and stakeholders to foster new collaborations and partnerships 

• Gain practical insights and inspiration for further uptake and replication of circular solutions in their own regions or sectors 

Discover practical solutions, tools, and strategies tailored for policy makers, industry, cities, researchers, and civil society – and take home actionable approaches for your region, sector, or organisation. 

The event is free and open to all interested stakeholders, but places are limited – advance registration is required.  

Register here!

Programme  

Morning Plenary Session, 9:00–12:00 

9:00–9:30  Event registration

9:30–9:45  Opening remarks – Ugur Kaya (VTT Technical Research Centre), Davide Delaiti (European Commission)

9:45–10:00 Keynote – Scaling circular solutions: from research to market uptake – Lucie Blondel (European Commission) 

10:00–10:40 Stakeholder engagement for real-world impact: collaboration models and lessons learned – Jan Bakke (County authority of Østfold/TREASoURcE project), Kaushiki Das (Earthwatch/CircleUp project), Sanna Teinilä (EcoFellows Ltd/CARE project), Tugce Tugran (ACR+). Moderator: Jelizaveta Krenjova-Cepilova (Tallinn University of Technology) 

10:40–10:55 Coffee break

10:55–11:40 Enabling conditions for circular economy: digitalisation, policy, markets, business models – Pirkko Eteläaho (Business Tampere), Hanne Hagedorn (Prognos), Iida Miettinen (Climate Leadership Coalition), Stefan Šipka (European Policy Centre), Camille Herlaut (European Association of Regional Development Agencies, EURADA), Margit Kull (Tallinn University of Technology), Dr. Athanasia Maria Tompolidi (European Association of Regional Development Agencies, EURADA). Moderator: Riina Kärki (The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners, MTK).

11:40–12:00 Spotlight on key value chains & plenary wrap-up – Christian Lindfors (VTT Technical Research Centre), Fride Vullum-Bruer (SINTEF), Riina Kärki (The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners, MTK). Moderator: Ugur Kaya (VTT Technical Research Centre)

12:00–13:00 Lunch break

Afternoon Parallel Sessions, 13:00–15:15

Circular plastics value chain 

• KVC introduction – Ugur Kaya (VTT)

• Plastics regulatory challenges  and policy recommendations – Tran Ngo (VTT) 

• Stakeholder engagement – Jan Bakke (County of Østfold)

• Sustainability assessment –Alex Koch (Green Delta) 

• Optimizing mixed plastic feedstocks for high-efficiency recycling – Stephan Kubowicz (Senior Scientist, SINTEF) 

• Chemical recycling for closing the loop of plastic waste – Christian Lindfors (VTT), Juha Lehtonen (VTT)

• Panel discussion: Chemical recycling of the hard to recycle feedstocks – Christian Lindfors (VTT), Farah Siddiq (VTT). Moderator: Juha Lehtonen (VTT) 

Circular batteries value chain

• KVC introduction – Fride Vullum-Bruer (SINTEF) 

• Challenges and policy recommendations – Fride Vullum-Bruer (SINTEF) 

• BESS demonstrations and economic evaluations – Jacob Hadler-Jacobsen (SINTEF)

• Macro-economic assessments – Meron Assefa Arega (SINTEF) 

• Sustainability assessment – Tomas Slany (Green Delta) 

• Repurposing electric vehicle batteries: evaluating transferability potential – Noman Shabbir, (Researcher, Tallinn University of Technology) 

• Panel discussion: Beyond recycling: How EU legislation can scale second-life batteries – Pirkko Eteläaho (Business Tampere), Noman Shabbir (Tallinn University of Technology), Stein Cato Røsnæs (County of Østfold)

Biobased side and waste streams value chain 

• KVC Introduction and policy – Riina Kärki (MTK) 

• Stakeholder engagement and transferable practices – Pirkko Eteläaho ( Business Tampere) 

• Rural–Urban Symbiosis Tool and local bioeconomy model – Magdalena Edvardsen (Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research)
  
  
• Estonian case study – Teele Joost (Tallinn City)  

• Promoting local bioeconomy collaboration between farmers and local businesses in rural areas – Torbjørn Kristiansen (County of Østfold) 

• Procurement – Jan Bakke (County of Østfold)
  
  
• Digital marketplace: KiertoaSuomesta.fi – Riina Kärki (MTK) 

• Transferability of a digital marketplace: barriers and opportunities – Margit Kull (PhD candidate, Tallinn University of Technology)
  
  
• Sustainability assessment – Alex Koch (Green Delta) 

• Panel discussion: How do we accelerate local circular bioeconomy transitions in practice? – Stefan Šipka (European Policy Centre), Teele Joost (Tallinn City), Magdalena Edvardsen (Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research), Randi Johanne Hoseth (Oslo Region European Office and ERRIN Bioeconomy Working Group), Tran Ngo (VTT). Moderator: Riina Kärki (MTK) 

Afternoon plenary session: Best practices for engaging citizens in circular economy, 15:15–16:00 

15:15–15:25  Circular economy learning for diverse audiences: Online training across three cities – Kaisa Sibelius (Senior Project manager, Forum Virium Helsinki) 

15:25–15:35 Local fix and repair workshop formats – Anna G. Szamosi (Fredrikstad Municipality)

15:35–15:45 Reuse and toy swap – Teele Joost (Tallinn City)

15:45–16:00 Event wrap-up – Ugur Kaya (VTT) 

Please note that the programme is preliminary and subject to change. For further information, please contact info@treasource.eu

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