Regional Hub of Centre-North selects plastics and packaging value chains for the mission of circular industry transformation
Led by Impact Hub Hamburg, The SoTecIn Factory Regional Hub of Centre-North (Germany, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Finland) has selected plastics and packaging as the key product value chains per EU Circular Economy Action Plan which will serve as the basis of SoTecIn Factory circularity missions, sustainable goals aimed at facilitating systemic industry transformation towards circular economy.
The said Regional Hub based its decision on the evidence gathered from the interviews with +30 experts ranging from industry networks, policy makers, startups, and research centres to SMEs and corporates. The assessment also took into consideration the high potential for impact, given the interest and resources already committed in the regions countries to address the circularity of plastics and packaging, as well as the technological development on the market so far.
The available knowledge and network from the Impact Hub Hamburg has also been helpful, with its’ experience with plastics and sustainable consumption gradually developing through its startup ecosystem building for sustainable use of plastics.
What’s next?
As previously mentioned, SoTecIn Factory aims to support its community of diverse stakeholders from European industry, NGOs, academia and public sector in formulating at least 7 key value chain-based missions (at least one mission per each region and its selected value chain).
But what are these Missions exactly?
They are essentially broad but bounded aspirational objective(s) that capture the general circular challenge(s) in the domain of selected value chain(s), which the industry strives to solve with the use of social innovation-based tech solutions.
Once formulated, the missions will serve as the basis of the Open Call for Challenge Owners designed to help industry leaders in identifying and providing specific ,mission-based sustainability challenges relevant for their organisation which social entrepreneurs will strive to solve via two SoTecIn Factory Open Calls for social innovators in 2023 and 2024.
How can I join the action?
So, what could this mission be in the context of plastics and packaging in the region of Centre-North? The Regional Hub has already noticed some of the potential challenges emerging during the assessment, such as the presence of micro-plastics in the environment, as well as the Single Use Plastic products. Some of the arising trends and needs are also the use of biodegradable or compostable plastic, as well as reduction of the packaging complexity (eg, the number of materials and polymers used), (over)packaging, and packaging waste.
The answer, however comes within the industry itself while SoTecIn Factory helps in bringing it to the surface by supporting its 7 Regional Communities , led by local Impact Hubs, in voicing circular needs and goals of its members per respective regional value chain.
To help you learn more about SoTecIn Factory, as well as on how to join the Regional Community of Centre-North, the Regional Hub will organise a workshop on 25 November 2022.
Feel free to also contact jose.saldana@impacthub.net if you wish to connect with IH Hamburg as the workshop organiser.
Stay tuned on more info about workshop registration!
