The event launched three thematic working groups focused on circular packaging, technical plastics and composites, and circular textiles. The groups form a new way of working in 4R. Instead of looking at circular economy challenges in isolation, they focus on identifying concrete opportunities where collaboration across organisations and value chains can help make real progress. The working groups will develop these ideas further and help turn them into concrete collaborations, pilots, projects and business opportunities.
Focus on opportunities
The first workshop brought together companies, researchers and other ecosystem members to discuss where the greatest opportunities for circularity in the three 4R spearheads lie and what is currently preventing wider adoption of solutions. Participants reviewed, refined and prioritised them, resulting in a first portfolio of opportunities for the working groups to take forward.
Across all groups, participants agreed that technology is rarely the main challenge. Many solutions already exist, but wider adoption depends on factors such as market demand, business viability, collaboration, regulation and infrastructure. As a result, the discussions focused on entire value chains and what is needed to move circular solutions into wider use.
Key topics across the working groups
Circular packaging
The Circular Packaging Working Group discussed how packaging can meet growing circularity requirements while still serving its purpose. The group identified opportunities to reduce unnecessary packaging, expand reuse systems, increase the use of renewable and recycled materials, and improve recycling.
A key message was that packaging solutions cannot be developed alone. They need to fit with collection and recycling systems, logistics, consumer behaviour, regulation and market needs. The group highlighted several areas where collaboration across the packaging value chain could help bring new reuse models, better packaging design and more effective material circulation into practice.
Technical plastics and composites
The Technical Plastics and Composites Working Group focused on keeping valuable materials and products in use for longer. Opportunities included extending product lifetimes, enabling repair and remanufacturing, improving recycling, and increasing the use of recycled and renewable materials.
A key challenge discussed was building confidence in secondary materials. Traceability, reliable material data and consistent quality were seen as important factors for wider adoption. The group also highlighted opportunities for cross-sector collaboration, where materials or side streams from one value chain could find new uses in another.
Circular textiles
The Circular Textiles Working Group explored opportunities to keep textiles and textile materials in use for longer. Topics included reuse and repair, fibre-to-fibre recycling, renewable alternatives to synthetic fibres, and longer product lifetimes.
The discussions underlined that recycling alone is not enough. Progress also depends on new business models, demand for circular materials, traceability and well-functioning value chains. Opportunities were identified across the textile lifecycle, from design and use to collection, recycling and end markets.
Three groups, common needs
While each working group explored sector-specific challenges, the discussions revealed many shared priorities. Better information flows, stronger collaboration between value chain actors, functioning markets and opportunities to test solutions were identified as necessary for progress.
Many of the opportunities discussed cannot be advanced by one organisation alone. They require collaboration between companies, researchers, public actors and other stakeholders. The 4R Working Groups are intended to provide a forum where these actors can come together and develop the opportunities further.
The opportunities identified are now being developed further in the groups. Some opportunities may lead to pilots, projects or new collaborations, while others may need more development. The aim is to focus efforts on the opportunities where the ecosystem can make the biggest difference.
Interested in joining?
The 4R Working Groups are open to organisations and experts interested in advancing circular packaging, technical plastics and composites, and circular textiles.
You can join the work by exploring the identified opportunities, contributing your expertise, highlighting missing perspectives and indicating which topics you would be interested in taking forward. The goal is simple: find the opportunities where collaboration is needed and bring together the people who can make them happen.
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