CirculaTUM at IFAT 2026

Throughout the fair, we had the opportunity to engage in many inspiring conversations with visitors from research, industry, and practice, while further strengthening our network around Circular Economy and sustainability. An example for that was the visit of Florian von Brunn, spokesperson for economic, energy, and digital policy of the Bavarian SPD parliamentary group, at our booth. Together, we exchanged ideas on current research topics such as circularity in the automotive industry, bio-based resin materials as alternatives to fossil-based resins, and bio-regional construction materials in architecture.

We were also especially happy about the strong interest in the diverse projects and research topics presented by the CirculaTUM network. At our booth, we showcased innovative approaches and materials from different research areas, including:

• Hemp Lands – prototypical architectural applications integrating hemp into building processes and bringing climate-positive, circular approaches into regional practice.
• RenewPoly GmbH (BioResin) – bio-based high-performance resins made from furfuryl alcohol, developed as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based materials for demanding composite applications.

Interactive activities were also an important part of our presence at IFAT. Visitors could test their knowledge with our Circular Memory game or take part in the Disassembly Challenge by TUM Chair of Materials Handling, Material Flow, Logistics. These playful and hands-on formats offered an engaging way to make topics such as Circular Economy and product disassembly more tangible and accessible.

For us, IFAT 2026 was a valuable opportunity to establish new connections, strengthen existing collaborations, and further promote exchange between academia, industry, and society.

We would like to thank all visitors, team members, and partners for the many inspiring discussions and look forward to future joint projects and events.