SCKG ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2025: Connected in Circularity – From Legislation to Good Practices

Slovenski center za krožno gospodarstvo (SCKG) vabi vse strokovnjake, podjetja, lokalne skupnosti, raziskovalce, NVO in odločevalce, da se nam pridružijo na Letni konferenci SCKG 2025, kjer bomo skupaj raziskovali in soustvarjali prihodnost krožnega gospodarstva v Sloveniji.

The conference will be an opportunity to present your work and organization, expand your network, exchange experiences, and actively co-create content that will shape the future development of the circular economy in Slovenia.

EVENT OBJECTIVES

1. To connect small and medium-sized enterprises, local communities, and policymakers in a joint discussion on the challenges and opportunities of the circular transition, with the aim of strengthening cooperation, industrial symbiosis, and systemic support.
2. To identify key barriers and opportunities in the field of materials, waste, and packaging management, and to present current regulations, tools, and financial instruments that enable companies to take concrete steps in the circular transition.
3. To co-design future SCKG services and support activities based on the needs of stakeholders and to call on decision-makers to formulate viable measures to accelerate the circular economy in practice.

REGISTRATION

Conference Program

Date: Wednesday, Nov 26, 2025

Location: Hotel City Maribor, Ulica Kneza Koclja 22, Maribor

URAPROGRAM9.00 – 9.30REGISTRATION AND WELCOME

9.30 – 10.00

 

 

 

OPENING ADDRESSES

Circular Momentum: How to connect local, national, and business visions?

Introductory addresses by representatives of the local and national community, industry, and crafts, opening the conference with a call for cooperation. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS) and the Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia (OZS), as the key voices of the Slovenian economy and crafts, present a shared ambition for the transition to a circular future.

• Saša Arsenovič, župan Mestne občine Maribor (TBC)
• mag. Matej Skočir, v. d. direktorjadirektorata za industrijo, podjetništvo in internacionalizacijo, MGTŠ (TBC)
• Vesna Nahtigal, generalna direktorica GZS
• Blaž Cvar, predsednik OZS

Short presentation of the SCKG project

10.00 – 10.20

KEYNOTE LECTURE

Plastics in circularity – utopia or the future?

How can plastic cross the threshold of circularity? Where does its greatest potential lie, how can it be systematically integrated into circular chains, and what does this mean for the Slovenian industry?

• Dr. Andrej Kržan, Kemijski inštitut

10.20 – 10.45

MODERATED DISCUSSION

Circular response: what holds us back, what drives us?

Quick responses from representatives of decision-makers, the economy, crafts, the local community, and the research sphere regarding the challenges highlighted in the opening addresses and the keynote lecture.

Fokus pogovora: kritični materiali, reciklaža, lokalna infrastruktura in pričakovanja do SCKG kot povezovalnega akterja

• dr. Andrej Kržan, Kemijski inštitut
• mag. Matej Skočir, MGTŠ (TBC)
• Saša Arsenovič, župan Mestne občine Maribor (TBC)
• Jure Fišer, Surovina d.o.o.
• Matjaž Fingušt, Bran grupa d.o.o.

 

 

10.45- 11.00

 

11.00 – 11.15

 

11.15 – 11.40

LECTURES

Circularity that pays off: regulations, funding, and practices that create value  

The circular economy is not just an environmental necessity, but a business opportunity – if we know the right levers.

This series of short lectures will present concrete legislative changes, financial options, and practical experiences that enable companies and local communities to make circularity a part of their business model.

New EU Regulation on Construction Products: what it brings and its impact on circular construction  

• Tinkara Kopar, Zavod za gradbeništvo Slovenije

Sources of funding and financial instruments for the economy  

• MGTS (TBC)

Good circular practices in Slovenia  

• Implementing circular economy principles in practice: opportunities and challenges at the company CEROP (Dr. Tanja Bagar) 
• Testing the separation and recycling of new packaging, practice at the company Willy Stadler (Ana Oštrbenk) 

11.40 – 12.15BREAK AND NETWORKING  12.15- 13.00

ROUND TABLE  

Circular breakthroughs at the local level or how to connect vision, practice, and policy  

The circular economy starts locally – where waste is generated, services are designed, and decisions are made.

At the round table, we will discuss how local communities, utility companies, social innovators, and state authorities can work together to push the boundaries of feasibility. Participants will include:

• mag. Tanja Bolte, MOPE, generalna direktorica direktorata za okolje
• dr. Tanja Bagar, komunalno podjetje CEROP
• Mojca Žganec Metelko, direktorica, socialno podjetje KNOF
• a representative of a municipality with good practice

13.00 – 13.45

PRESENTATIONS WITH WORKSHOPS  

Circular shifts in practice: three perspectives, one common ambition  

Workshop #1: Where is the money for circularity?  

Opis: Simon Savšek (EIB) bo predstavil konkretne finančne instrumente in svetovalne programe za lokalne skupnosti in podjetja, ki želijo krožne ideje spraviti v izvedbo.
Fokus: Kako strukturirati krožne projekte, izbrati ustrezne finančne instrumente in se pripraviti na razpisne zahteve.
Kaj pridobite: Vpogled v aktualne možnosti financiranja ter priložnost sodelovati v razpravi o tem, kaj krožni prehod potrebuje, da postane investicijsko zanimiv.

Workshop #2: Circularity in mind – how AI is changing the game  

Opis: Demonstracija bo prikazala, kako lahko z uporabo umetne inteligence iz snovnih tokov razvijemo nove izdelke ter katere tehnologije pri tem pomagajo pospešiti izvedbo. Predstavljen bo tudi obratni pristop: kako iz izdelkov prepoznati obstoječe ali alternativne snovne tokove in določiti, kje se ti nahajajo.
Fokus: Uporaba umetne inteligence pri analizi in optimizaciji snovnih tokov ter razvoju krožnih rešitev.
Kaj pridobite: Vpogled v konkretne primere uporabe AI pri krožnem gospodarstvu in razumevanje, kako tehnologija podpira prehod od podatkov do izdelkov – in nazaj do virov.

Workshop #3: What do we imagine as sustainable packaging?  

Opis: Antonija Božič Cerar (GZS) bo vodila razpravo o tem, kako se spreminjajo zahteve EU glede embalaže in kaj to pomeni za podjetja v vrednostni verigi.
Fokus: Kako embalaža postaja reguliran element poslovanja, kako dokazovati trajnost in kako embalažo vključiti v krožni model.
Kaj pridobite: Razumevanje prihajajočih uredb, vpogled v konkretne zahteve in priložnost za razpravo o rešitvah, ki embalažo spremenijo iz stroška v konkurenčno prednost.

13.45 – 14.30LUNCH  

14.30 – 15.30

 

 

PROJECT WORKSHOPS  

1. Project VERDEinMED, “PreVEnting and ReDucing the tEXtiles waste mountain in the MED area”, Interreg Euro-MED  

Preparation of the National Strategy for the transition to a circular economy in the field of textiles in Slovenia  

Participatory workshop with stakeholders from the field

1. Project »REPper – Repair Perspective«, Interreg Euro-MED

How to incorporate repair into the Smart Specialization Strategy?

Stakeholder round table

1. Be circular, not endangered: Digital tools for the green transition

Are you feeling the pressure of increasingly strict environmental requirements and more conscious customers? Are you looking for ways to become more sustainable while maintaining your competitive advantage? In this workshop, you will learn how digital tools can help you achieve this. We will present a tool for designing a green business model powered by artificial intelligence. The tool is adapted to different industries and allows you to systematically integrate consideration of environmental impact as early as the design phase or when upgrading an existing business model.

Join us for a practical afternoon workshop and take the first step towards a greener, digitally supported business. For active participation in the workshop, please bring your laptop.