Sessions

Session 1: The future of the chemical industry in Germany and Europe – Strategic leadership and responsibility within global boundaries

How can the chemical industry stay competitive while operating within planetary limits? This session brings together leading voices from science, policy, and industry to explore a shared vision for a sustainable European chemical sector. From redefining success within planetary boundaries to securing global leadership and safeguarding jobs, join the discussion on how transformation can drive both environmental responsibility and economic resilience in a rapidly changing world.

Session 2: Innovation, investment and new business models for a competitive, sustainable chemical industry

Session 2 addresses the transition from today’s process landscape to a new chemicals industry. This transition involves industry and academia, policy makers, and regulators. Given the existing global competition, there is a complex interplay between technical feasibility and economic viability of chemical processes. Integrated research and innovation and, framework conditions that enable the scaling of innovative processes and offer incentives or risk mitigation for the required large-scale investments are required. 

Session 3: Economy and Governance – How can we create a fruitful environment for innovation, competitiveness and sustainability?

This session explores how effective governance can enable the chemical industry’s sustainability transformation while maintaining competitiveness. It highlights the European Green Deal as a driver for innovation, investment, and industrial renewal. Bringing together perspectives from industry, research, finance, and policy, we will examine regulatory needs, financing strategies, and conditions for innovation. Nevertheless, we will also address barriers and the importance of coordinated action across the interconnected value chains of the chemical industry.

Session 4: Break out Groups to develop recommendations: 

Break-out Group 1: Innovation and future business

An attractive description follows.

Break-out Group 2: Financing the Chemical Transition – from vision to sound investment

The transformation of the chemical industry is enormous: the industry must leave known technologies, identify feasible new processes, and invest massively during the current economic situation. Thus, the transformation requires strong alliances between the real economy and the financial sector. We want to discuss how transformation partnerships and transition plans ensure that industry, financial sector and politics stay on track to our vision of a sustainable chemical industry. 

Break-out Group 3: Circular Economy – Closing the Loop on a Global Material

Plastics are viewed as environmental disaster as they are made of fossil building blocks, may contain harmful substances, are rarely recycled and are the cause of environmental pollution. Conversely, plastics are the most versatile building blocks of the modern world like consumer products, packaging and construction. To make plastics truly future-proof, in this session we will discuss, how the principles of the circular economy can be applied to the plastics value chain and make plastics sustainable for the current century.

Break-out Group 4: Safe and sustainable Consumer Electronics

The breakout session aims to bring together experts from policy, research, and industry practice to discuss current developments and practical experiences related to sustainable chemicals management and circularity in the electronics sector.

The focus will be on concrete, hands-on insights rather than purely high-level perspectives. The session will foster interactive exchange between speakers and participants, allowing the audience to ask questions, share experiences, and engage in discussion.

Break-out Group 5: Less bureaucracy for more sustainability?

Can cutting red tape accelerate sustainability—or risk undermining it? This session explores a progressive approach to debureaucratization that is coherent, efficient, transparent and effective. Discuss where simplification delivers real impact, where safeguards must remain, and how policy frameworks can balance efficiency with ambition. Join the debate on designing leaner systems that empower businesses and regulators alike to drive meaningful, lasting sustainability outcomes.

Break-out Group 6: The Chemical Industry in Transition: Zero Pollution Between Regulation and Reality

Zero Pollution is one of the key elements of the long-term vision for the European chemicals sector and consecutive value chains. While this vision might be broadly shared, perspectives on what “Zero Pollution” means in practice can differ across stakeholder groups and long-term operational criteria are missing. 

This exchange is intended to provide a constructive and open space to explore these perspectives, foster mutual understanding, and identify common ground.

Session 5: Recommendations for action and next steps in the transformation of the European chemical industry

Join the conference finale as we distill two days of insights into clear action paths and next steps. Discover the most critical priorities participants will pursue, the responsibilities key stakeholders should take on, and how these choices shape progress. Grounded in the outcomes developed throughout the conference see where the chemical industry could stand in 20 years.