Circular Coffee Break for Leaders, Innovators, and Practitioners
The Circular Coffee Break is a podcast about rethinking how we design, use, and reuse the resources that shape our world. Hosted by Michael Hanf, the podcast dives into the heart of the circular economy with leaders, innovators, and practitioners whose work and lived experiences offer a way into the urgent questions facing businesses, societies, and the planet. How do we move beyond linear take-make-waste models? When do we take responsibility for the systems we’ve created, and how do we redesign them for resilience and regeneration? What happens when circularity shifts from a nice-to-have to a core principle of business and a necessity to stay competitive? Guests come from diverse fields: entrepreneurs and engineers, policymakers and designers, activists and investors. Some conversations explore cutting-edge innovations in material science, AI, or business models, while others delve into the challenges of implementing circularity in industries like fashion, electronics, or construction. What matters is not just what they do, but why it matters: the values, struggles, and breakthroughs that drive them to push boundaries and redefine success. The discussions span the critical questions shaping the future of sustainability. They examine the role of policy and regulation, the intersection of circularity and technology, and the social and economic shifts required to scale circular solutions. They also tackle the tensions between idealism and pragmatism, the trade-offs of transitioning to circular systems, and what it means to lead change in a world resistant to it. Some episodes begin with global challenges, like climate change, resource scarcity, or waste crises. Others start with personal journeys: the story of a founder who turned waste into a business, a designer who reimagined a product’s lifecycle, or a leader who transformed their company’s purpose. They might explore the realities of circular supply chains, the ethics of consumption, or the psychology of behavioural change. At the center of the podcast are questions of agency and impact. How do we turn ideas into action? What does it take to challenge the status quo and build systems that regenerate rather than deplete? How do we balance ambition with feasibility, and urgency with patience? And what does it mean to keep pushing forward when progress is slow, uncertain, or met with resistance? Michael brings over a decade of experience in sustainability, strategy, and business development to these conversations. His approach creates space for guests to share not just their successes, but their doubts, failures, and the hard-won lessons that come from trying to do things differently. The result is honest, thought-provoking discussions that value action over theory, collaboration over competition, and long-term thinking over short-term gains. Whether the conversation is about redesigning products for longevity, navigating the complexities of circular policy, or scaling innovations that challenge the norm, each episode asks: What does it take to make circularity the default? The Circular Coffee Break is for anyone curious about how we can build a future where waste is designed out, resources are kept in use, and nature is regenerated. Conversations that don’t just ask what if but what’s next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
What does it take to transition from linear to circular systems in urban planning and infrastructure? In this episode of Circular Coffee Break, Tuija Pakkanen, Portfolio Lead for Circular Growth and Business Renewal in Regenerative Living and Transport at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, shares her journey from forest management to shaping sustainable cities. With a background in geography, GIS, and digital twins, Tuija ex...
The Circular Coffee Break was never meant to end. After 80 episodes and a community that refused to let the conversation fade, we are back with a renewed focus. This season, under the theme Circularity 2.0, we explore why the world needs circularity now and how we are evolving to meet the moment. From circular growth to business renewal, we dive into the ideas, people, and actions shaping a future where sustainability is not a nich...
After three years and over eighty conversations, The Circular Coffee Break comes to a close. This final solo episode is not a recap but a reflection on why the podcast existed, what was learned, and why it feels right to end it now.
Host Michael Hanf shares the origins of the podcast, which began in early 2023 with a simple intention: to slow down the conversation around circularity and sustainability. At the time, much of the p...
What does it take to build a circular business in practice? In this final interview episode of The Circular Coffee Break, we welcome back Jaakko Nauha, CEO of Tracegrow, who was the very first guest on the podcast in early 2023. Almost three years later, Jaakko returns to reflect on Tracegrow’s journey from a battery recycling innovator to a broader clean technology company, and what it really means to scale circular solution...
What does it take to move circularity from ambition to action? In this episode of The Circular Coffee Break, we welcome Filipe Camaño Garcia, Lead of the Global Circularity Protocol (GCP) at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Filipe shares the story behind the GCP, a groundbreaking framework designed to do for resources what the Greenhouse Gas Protocol did for emissions: provide a globally aligned, scie...
This short episode shares an update on the future of The Circular Coffee Break.
Host Michael Hanf explains the decision to bring the podcast to a close in February 2026, what listeners can expect from the remaining episodes, and what will happen to the existing archive.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What if circularity could make Christmas more meaningful? In this special Christmas edition of The Circular Coffee Break, we explore how circular thinking can enhance the holiday season by reducing stress, minimizing waste, and strengthening connections. From gift-giving to traditions, we dive into how small, intentional choices can align with the values of care, stewardship, and continuity that define both Christmas and circularit...
What does it take to finance the transition to a circular economy? In this episode of The Circular Coffee Break, we welcome Costas Papaikonomou, co-founder of Una Terra, a 200-million-euro early growth venture capital fund driving the transition toward a circular economy. With a mission to deliver measurable impact—from reducing 2 gigatons of CO2 emissions to preventing 1 million tons of plastic waste by 2030—Una Terra ...
What happens when circularity moves from niche experiments to commercially viable solutions? In this special episode of The Circular Coffee Break, recorded live at Slush 2025 in Helsinki, we explore how founders and innovators are turning circular ideas into scalable, market-ready businesses. With over 13,000 participants from 90+ countries and 25,000 meetings, Slush 2025 showcased a new maturity in circular thinking—where so...
What does it take to turn circularity from vision into action? In this special episode of The Circular Coffee Break, recorded live at the Circular Valley Forum 2025 in Wuppertal, Germany, we explore how leaders across industry, science, startups, and public institutions are driving the circular economy forward. From policy and research to business models and societal engagement, these conversations reveal that circularity is no lon...
What does it mean to design toys for a circular future? In this episode of The Circular Coffee Break, we welcome Kate Reimann, Founder and CEO of Rogue Wave Toys. Kate shares her journey of creating toys that are not only fun and engaging but also sustainable, durable, and designed for circularity. She dives into the challenges and opportunities of using sustainable materials, the importance of designing for longevity, and how circ...
What does it take to cultivate sustainability in one of the world’s most traditional industries? In this episode of The Circular Coffee Break, we welcome Allison Jordan, Executive Director of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) and Vice President of Environmental Affairs at the Wine Institute. Allison shares her journey from a global perspective on environmental issues to leading California’s charge t...
What if waste could power Europe’s future? In this special episode of The Circular Coffee Break, recorded live at the European Biogas Conference 2025 in Brussels, we explore how biomethane is becoming a cornerstone of Europe’s circular economy. Biomethane turns agricultural residues, food waste, and organic by-products into clean energy and valuable nutrients, reducing emissions, strengthening local economies, and closi...
What does it take to turn circular ambition into everyday products? In this episode of The Circular Coffee Break, we welcome Dan Dicker, Founder and CEO of Circular&Co., a pioneering eco-product design company based in Cornwall. Dan shares his journey from designing at Dyson to building a business that embodies circular economy principles: making products from waste, designing for longevity, and ensuring full recyclability at t...
What does it take to turn sustainability ambitions into real-world impact? In this special edition of The Circular Coffee Break, recorded live at Impact Day 2025 in Tallinn, we explore how leaders across finance, policy, science, and business are driving circularity from intention to action.
Host Michael Hanf sits down with nine changemakers to uncover the strategies, mindsets, and innovations shaping the future of sustainabilit...
The CCB Podcast is partnering with the Circular Valley Forum 2025, which takes place on November 14th in Wuppertal under the theme “Partnerships for a Circular Economy.”
In this teaser, Michael speaks with Carsten Gerhardt, founder of Circular Valley and Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation. He shares what makes the Forum a unique platform for collaboration and what participants can look forward to at this year...
What if synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon could biodegrade like natural fibers when they escape into the environment? In this episode of The Circular Coffee Break, we welcome Andrea Ferris, Co-Founder and CEO of Intrinsic Advanced Materials and co-inventor of CiCLO® technology. Andrea shares her journey from managing McDonald’s uniform programs to pioneering a breakthrough solution that embeds biodegradable pathways i...
What does it mean to design for circularity in a world still dominated by linear systems? In this episode of The Circular Coffee Break, we welcome Joe Iles, Circular Design Programme Lead at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Joe shares his insights on the evolution of circular design, the importance of embracing imperfection, and how businesses can embed circular principles into their strategies and operations.
Joe dives into the ...
What happens when a 130-year-old food company decides to turn its waste into value? In this episode of The Circular Coffee Break, we welcome Juhani Sibakov, Head of Innovation at Fazer Bakery Finland, and Katariina Rommi, Senior Manager at Fazer Lab. Together, they share the story behind Brewed with Fazer Rescued Bread, a circular brewing ingredient made from surplus rye bread, developed in collaboration with Teerenpeli Brewery &am...
What does it take to move circularity from concept to commercial reality? In this episode of The Circular Coffee Break, we welcome Kalle Saarimaa, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President at NG Nordic. Kalle shares his insights on the operational, technological, and systemic realities of driving circularity in industrial and municipal systems, drawing from his extensive experience in the Nordic waste and materials lands...
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