Design for circularity
A truly mature circular economy starts at the design phase, where product lifetimes, repairability, and recyclability potential are determined. SUM 2025 invites researchers, industry experts and policymakers to submit contributions on innovative strategies to extend product lifetimes, enhance repairability, and increase material and component recyclability.
Papers exploring the following topics are welcomed:
Eco-design approaches that facilitate repair, remanufacturing, and reuse;
Material selection and modular design for improved recyclability;
AI-based and digital softwares for ecodesign of products;
Digital solutions (e.g., digital product passports, traceability) enabling circular strategies;
Industrial case studies showcasing successful circular design applications.
Recovery of Critical Raw Materials
The growing focus on critical raw materials (CRM) reflects a strategic effort to reduce reliance on external sources and enhance supply chain resilience. As a growing share of CRM consumption must be met through internal recycling, circular economy strategies will be essential in ensuring a sustainable and secure supply of these vital resources. SUM 2025 invites contributions addressing innovative solutions for CRM recovery and reuse across all stages of the value chain and their impacts.
Papers are welcomed on topics including:
Innovative processes for CRM recovery at lab, pilot, and industrial scale;
Case studies on CRM recycling from end-of-life electrical, electronic, and renewable energy equipment and batteries;
Advanced separation, purification, and refining technologies for secondary raw materials;
Policy and regulatory frameworks supporting CRM circularity;
Economic and environmental assessments of CRM recycling strategies.
The role of Industrial Symbiosis in the Circular Economy
Industrial symbiosis plays a crucial role in the circular economy by transforming byproducts into valuable resources, fostering collaboration between industries, and reducing overall resource use and environmental impact. SUM 2025 invites contributions focusing on innovative strategies that enhance resource efficiency through inter-industry cooperation.
Papers are welcomed on topics including:
Characterization of byproducts from industrial processes and their potential applications;
Case studies of successful industrial symbiosis networks and their economic and environmental benefits;
Digital platforms and technologies facilitating resource exchange between industries;
Technological advancements facilitating symbiotic exchanges;
Policy, regulatory, and financial mechanisms supporting industrial symbiosis;
Barriers and challenges in implementing symbiotic collaborations and strategies to overcome them.
Alternative Economic Paradigms
Despite ongoing efforts to advance a circular economy, the global consumption of virgin raw materials continues to rise at an accelerating pace each year. This requires strategies based on alternative paradigms able to balance resource efficiency, social well-being, and economic sustainability on both local and global scales. SUM 2025 invites papers investigating how circular economy can support innovative business approaches that move beyond the conventional growth-oriented models.
Contributions are welcomed on topics including:
Business strategies that integrate circular principles while ensuring economic viability;
The role of digitalization, servitization, and product-as-a-service models;
Business models leveraging sharing platforms, collaborative consumption, and community-based product use;
Comparative assessments of growth-based vs. post-growth or degrowth scenarios.
Studies assessing the feasibility and impact of degrowth-oriented models are encouraged.
Contaminants in the Recycled Materials
The presence and fate of chemical contaminants in recycled materials present a significant challenge to the sustainability of the circular economy. Secondary raw materials often accumulate these substances at higher levels than virgin counterparts, as conventional recycling processes may not effectively remove them. This raises concerns regarding potential risks to human health and ecosystems, highlighting the need for innovative solutions to monitor, mitigate, and manage contamination. SUM 2025 invites contributions focusing on strategies to assess and control these substances in recycled goods.
Papers are welcomed on topics including:
Recycling of waste biomass into innovative materials and biofuels
The transition to a Circular Economy must extend beyond traditional material loops to include the biorefinery concept, where waste biomass represents a valuable resource for sustainable production pathways. Innovative biomaterials, biofuels, and organic fertilizers derived from waste biomass can reduce dependency on fossil resources, lower environmental impacts, and create new economic opportunities.
SUM 2025 invites contributions focusing on the integration of bio-based solutions within circular economic frameworks.
Submissions are welcomed on topics including:
Biodiversity and Circular Economy
The loss of biodiversity is one of the most dramatic consequences of climate change and human impact. For several years, the importance of biodiversity for our planet has been underestimated, especially for its economic relevance on our extractive economies. Biodiversity provides several ecosystem services essential for human life such as food, materials, clean water, climate regulation, and many others. Therefore, a relationship of impact and/or dependency between biodiversity and economic activities exists. The circular economy, aiming to reduce the exploitation of non-renewable resources and the ever-increasing production of waste, can play a crucial role in reducing negative impacts on the environment and be one of the main drivers for the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems. SUM 2025 invites professionals and researchers to explore the crucial interconnections between resource management and the preservation of natural ecosystems. Industry experts will discuss practical strategies, policies and case studies that highlight how the transition to circular economic models can contribute not only to economic growth but also to the conservation of biodiversity. Participants will have the opportunity to collaborate, exchange ideas and delve into the potential of a future where the economy and the environment coexist in harmony.
Tools & indicators for assessment and evaluation – how can we measure the efficacy of CE?
Measuring the effectiveness of Circular Economy strategies is essential for guiding decision-making and shaping policies. The development of robust assessment frameworks of tools and indicators is required to quantify circularity at different levels—product, process, company, sector, and economy-wide.
SUM 2025 invites contributions exploring methodologies that can enhance the evaluation of CE initiatives.
Submissions are welcomed on topics including:
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) from Cradle to Cradle
Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) tools are essential within the Circular Economy framework, offering a structured approach to assessing environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), traditionally applied in a cradle-to-grave perspective, must evolve towards a cradle-to-cradle approach to fully capture the implications of material circularity. This shift requires refined methodologies to evaluate second-life impacts, covering recycling processes, reuse strategies, and final disposal scenarios. SUM 2025 invites contributions addressing methodological advancements and real-world applications that enhance the accuracy and relevance of LCA in circular systems.
Submissions are welcomed on topics including:
This session aims to advance LCA methodologies to better align with circular economy principles.
Quality of Recycled Materials
The sustainability of recycled materials depends not only on their environmental benefits but also on their performance and durability compared to virgin materials. While recycled materials can serve as effective substitutes in many applications, differences in mechanical properties, lifespan, and overall quality may impact their long-term viability. A comprehensive assessment of these aspects is crucial for developing reliable End-of-Waste (EoW) criteria. SUM 2025 invites contributions for a dedicated session on this topic, focusing on scientific and industrial advancements in evaluating the performance of secondary raw materials.
Submissions are welcomed on topics including:
This session aims to enhance the scientific and technical foundation for the widespread adoption of durable and high-performance recycled materials.
