The Circular Design Summit took place on 11 March at the Hospitalhof in Stuttgart. The summit underlined that: Design is the key to a circular economy. Inspiring keynotes, talks and panels proved that sustainability and growth are not mutually exclusive. But what is needed now? New business models, interdisciplinary collaboration and a clear policy framework. Here is a look back at the event dedicated to finding solutions.
by Katharina Hempel
‘Waste is a design error’. When moderator Ines Marbach quoted this maxim in her welcoming speech at the Circular Design Summit 2025, many nodded in agreement. Nearly 200 guests accepted the invitation of the German Design Council and came to the Hospitalhof Stuttgart on 11 March to discuss this very topic: How can design drive the transition to a circular economy? It quickly became clear that growth and sustainability are not mutually exclusive – but they do require a radical rethink. It requires more than just recycling. It requires new business models, a change of mindset in industry and a clear policy framework.
Design as the key to the circular economy
Whether products are durable, repairable or recyclable is decided at the design stage. Katie Morgenroth, Head of Sustainable Design at Google, put it more succinctly: ‘Designers are problem solvers. And sustainability is the biggest problem of our generation.’
But the current economic structures reward wear and tear, not longevity. Manufacturers make money from new sales, not repairs. The reality in many companies is a sham: a lot of profit, not much for the planet and not much for people. We need to rethink – first the planet, then people, then profit,’ said Steffen Erath, Head of Innovation and Sustainability at Hansgrohe. Companies that implement sustainable strategies today will secure the market advantage of tomorrow. According to Erath, this also includes the change ‘from competitive advantage to collaborative advantage – only together can we drive real sustainable innovation’.
Without clear regulatory requirements, voluntary, siloed solutions are often the only option. The Circular Design Summit 2025 proves that the circular economy is economically viable. But instead of greenwashing, new concepts are needed: deposit systems instead of subsidies, product use instead of ownership, collaborative value creation instead of linear supply chains.
The top five takeaways from the Circular Design Summit 2025:
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration Is Key: companies need to work together, often with competitors, to develop sustainable solutions. Closing loops cannot be done alone, it requires cooperation far beyond company boundaries,” emphasises Anna Blattert, Circular Technologist at FREITAG, who presented the joint project ‘Circular Tarp’ together with colleagues from HEYtex and Covestro. Transformation can only succeed through knowledge exchange and joint progress.
- Technology as an Enabler: Sustainable innovations require a deep understanding of the systems in which they operate. We need to understand the system and be able to map and quantify it,” said Pina Schlombs of Siemens Digital Industries Software. Only through data-driven decisions can challenges and opportunities be identified, informed decisions made and targeted investments made.
- Circularity Requires Systemic Change: Business models need to be transformed from linear to circular. It’s not just materials that need to change, but also the principles by which we think about the economy,” says Markus Kühlert, co-head of the Product and Consumer Systems, Sustainable Production research area at the Wuppertal Institute. We need to start doing business within our planetary boundaries, as Kate Raworth suggests with her concept of the doughnut economy. If we can grow and innovate within that doughnut, our economy can grow too.
- Education as a Lever for Change: Circular principles must become an integral part of education and training. Dr. Max Marwede, Circular Design Lead & Researcher at Fraunhofer IZM, makes it clear: “The problems we face cannot be solved by just one discipline. We need translators to mediate between the disciplines. Designers have the expertise and skills to do this.
- Pragmatic Action and Best Practice: Companies must not wait for regulations, but actively implement sustainable solutions. Marco Schoneveld, Managing Director Germany at Vepa, also emphasises this: The will to do it is crucial. If this is anchored in the management, a lot of progress can be made. Sustainability is a journey into the future. You don’t have to arrive tomorrow, you just have to start.
Binding Framework for a Circular Economy
The Circular Design Summit 2025 demonstrated that circular business models are already successful today – if the right conditions are in place. Instead of continuing to subsidise linear production, tax breaks and market advantages need to be created for companies that focus on durable, repairable products. Successful models such as the Dutch Circular Economy Programme show that clear legal requirements can accelerate change.
Policymakers Should Reward Circular Economy Practices
The EU’s Ecodesign Directive comes into force in 2027. It could become a milestone – or it could fizzle out if companies treat it as just another piece of policy paperwork. The circular economy is not just a design or sustainability issue, it is an economic necessity,” says Lutz Dietzold, managing director of the German Design Council, which organised the Circular Design Summit. But we have to make a choice: Do we want to continue wasting resources or do we want to create a system that redefines value creation? One thing is certain: A working circular economy can only become a reality through systemic change. The Circular Design Summit played its part in making this happen. Together.
Circular Design Summit 2025 | Photos: Lena Everding
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