Prepared for what lies ahead in tourism
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F.acT: What is the background to this event? Why was this event launched in 2021?
Julia Scharting : The Circular Design Week was organized for the first time in 2021 by the kreativland.tirol cluster and the platform for climate, energy and circular economy of the Standortagentur Tirol. Very fitting, considering that the European Parliament had only decided in the spring of the same year that the EU should become climate neutral by 2050. Although this was not the decisive reason for us to launch Circular Design Week, it was certainly an aspect that contributed to it. We were and are aware that it takes everyone to really achieve the goal of a climate-neutral, sustainable economy and society - the circular economy is one way of tackling climate change and doing business more sustainably. As part of Circular Design Week, we would therefore like to show what circular solutions already exist and inspire entrepreneurs in Tyrol and encourage them to think about circular products and services.
The basic idea behind Circular Design Week has not changed since it was first held: There is an exhibition and a supporting program where the topic of the circular economy is discussed, stakeholders are networked and new projects are initiated. Today, Circular Design Week is already established, but in 2021 it was certainly one of the first events in Innsbruck to deal with the topic of the circular economy in such detail and to provide impetus on the topic.
F.act: What is your focus this year?
Julia Scharting: This year, Circular Design Week will take place for the first time at Bäckerei - Kulturbackstube. Together with our partners - the start-up Endlich, Noamal, the Energy Agency Tyrol and the province of Tyrol - we have set ourselves the goal of reaching a large number of people and raising their awareness of the circular economy.
The Circular Design Week is very wide-ranging. On the one hand, there will be an exhibition throughout the entire period from May 5 to 17. We are very pleased about its scope: on the one hand, the traveling exhibition of the winners of the Federal Ecodesign Award 2022 can be viewed. This is pleasing in that the prize is the highest German state award for ecological design. On the other hand, Austrian exhibitors will be presenting their innovative and sustainable projects, ideas and products. That is pure inspiration.
On the other hand, there will be a varied program of workshops, impulse talks and information events. This ranges from a clothes swap and a movie night to events on specific topics such as medical technology and general inputs such as taxonomy. In order to make use of synergies, it was important to us that Circular Design Week takes place at the same time as ÖKO FAIR: This allows us to get not only entrepreneurs but also the general public interested in the topic.
F.acT: Where do you see the most important links between the circular economy and tourism?
Julia Scharting: The circular economy and tourism can be combined in many different ways. It starts with the issue of food waste. But it also applies to the interior of hotel rooms: furniture could be upcycled. There are already a number of providers who have developed solutions and products for the circular economy. One Tyrolean company, for example, is Fundus.
Together with Tirol Werbung, we will be holding a workshop on circular economy in tourism as part of Circular Design Week on May 10.