Circularity at the Climate Lab
Our ambitious climate goals can only be achieved through fundamental changes to transform our “take-make-waste” economy into one that is circular and climate neutral.
In fulfilling an integral part of the Austrian government’s strategy for a circular economy, BMLUK appointed Climate Lab as the new home for its center for circularity in February 2023, renewing this mandate again in 2026.
Climate Lab is working to advance the government’s circularity strategy by:
- Organizing projects and activities to facilitate networking, knowledge exchange and collaboration;
- Activating our cross-sectoral community of innovators dedicated to climate protection and circular economy;
- Providing a centralized space for co-working and events for professionals in the field.
The Austrian Center for Circular Economy
As Austria’s center for circular economy, Climate Lab plays an integral part in the national strategy for the “transformation of the Austrian economy and society into a climate-neutral, sustainable circular economy by 2050.” Since its inception in 2023, Climate Lab has brought together actors along entire value chains for innovative projects and events focused on topics ranging from circular building materials and digital product passes, to mattress and textile recycling.
In 2026, the ministry announced that it would once again be entrusting Climate Lab with the further development of Austria’s circular economy, building on the network and successes achieved in the previous three years. This time the scope is widening to include the bioeconomy, and Climate Lab has brought in BioBASE as a strategic partner to provide its expertise and network for this exciting new phase of innovation.
Focus areas & projects
We work on topics that not only align with Austria’s circular economy strategy, but can also have the greatest impact in reducing carbon emissions. From 2023-2025, we completed projects focused on circularity in the mattress industry, building materials, vocational training, office furniture, textile recycling, electronics waste and digital product passes.
Project results
All project reports are only available in German.
Reuse of building components
Criteria for circular mattresses
Digital product pass guidelines for textiles
Transforming education in the building sector towards a circular economy
Closing the mattress cycle
Recycling and recovering secondary raw materials
*Photos: freepik, Lehm Netzwerk, Max Rahubovskiy, Daniel Hinterramskogler, rawpixel, macrovector
Circularity Dialogues
The Circularity Dialogues are an event series organized by Climate Lab together with BMLUK and in cooperation with the Federal Environmental Agency (UBA). The event series brings together stakeholders from across sectors to co-develop a systems-level understanding of challenges for further developing a circular economy. The outcomes of these sessions are used to inform the strategies and policies of the Ministry.
Other circularity projects
We believe that a circular economy can only be achieved through our combined efforts. In addition to our core work with BMLUK, Climate Lab is also involved in collaborative circularity projects that aim to advance circularity on a wider scale.
KRAISBAU
KRAISBAU is a BMK-lead project that brings together 33 partners, including companies, research centers, and civil society, with the goal of making the construction sector sustainable and circular through the use of artificial intelligence.
Discover KRAISBAU >
Austrian Mattress Alliance
Betten Eberharter, NEVEON and MATR joined forces to initiate the Austrian Mattress Alliance with support from the Climate Lab. The alliance focuses on circular design, digital product passes and voluntary producer responsibility.
Are you working on circular economy? Get in touch!
Helene Pattermann
Circularity Director
helene.pattermann@climatelab.at