Circularity

While most countries are focused on transitioning to renewable energy to reach their climate targets, it’s simply not enough. Around 50% of greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to the extraction and production of resources and materials, and the push for continual growth persists despite copious warning signals that our earth is at its limits.

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. 

The Austrian government is implementing a national circular economy strategy to transform its economy into a climate-neutral, circular economy by 2050. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero and starkly curtail the use of raw materials and energy and production of waste.

Circularity at Climate Lab

Climate Lab is supporting the implementation of the strategy by:

  • organizing programs and events to facilitate networking, knowledge exchange and collaboration;
  • activating its cross-sectoral community of innovators dedicated to climate protection and circular economy;
  • providing work and event space as a central meeting point for everyone working on these important issues.

 

Focus Areas

Our initial focus is on areas that not only align with Austria’s circular economy strategy, but can also have the greatest impact in reducing carbon emissions.

  • Circular by design: circular product development
  • Recycling and recovering secondary raw materials
  • Building renovation

“A circular economy is a regenerative system in which resource input and waste, emission, and energy leakage are minimized by slowing, closing, and narrowing energy and material loops. This can be achieved through long-lasting design, maintenance, repair, reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishing and recycling.”

– United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Join us!

Our need to collaborate is more urgent than ever. Our inspiring community is diverse, innovative and committed to achieving progress—together.

In our community, we build connections between innovators working on the circular economy and those focused on climate protection. Together, we exchange, find synergies and collaborate on new solutions.

Our events are focused, relevant and solution-oriented. We bring together diverse perspectives, facilitate collective creativity, and explore new ways to work and innovate together.

Our newly renovated space in Spittelau, Vienna, is a center for circularity and climate innovators. With flex desks, team offices, event venues and community areas, it’s the ideal place to work, meet, and experiment.

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