Current relevance
Why Circular Economy?
The packaging industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Plastics still dominate today—often with limited recyclability. Paper, on the other hand, offers significant potential as a sustainable alternative and can play a central role in the transition toward circular value creation.
Circular economy
Verpackungen nachhaltig gestalten aus Papier
What it’s about:
Nachhaltigkeit braucht die richtige wirtschaftliche Basis, um langfristig positive Veränderungen am Markt zu bewirken. Der von der Koehler Group initiierte Innovation Circle bringt unterschiedliche Fachabteilungen mit innovativen Startups und der Forschung zusammen, um konkrete technische Herausforderungen zu lösen und neue Effizienzpotenziale zu nutzen.
Focus topics:
The central fields of action of the “Circular Economy” Innovation Circle are:
In parallel, close exchange with research institutions and innovative start-ups is maintained to identify innovation potential at an early stage and further develop it close to the market.
What we aim to achieve:
Together with Koehler Innovative Solutions, part of the Koehler Group, NXTGN develops practical concepts, validates innovations, and translates successful approaches into market-ready industrial solutions.
The Circle thus accelerates the sustainable transformation of the packaging industry – by identifying relevant technologies at an early stage and developing scalable, resource-efficient solutions for a circular economy.
the company
Shaping the circular economy with the Koehler Group
The Innovation Circle is initiated by the Koehler Group, a long-established family-owned company founded in 1807. Its core business is the production of high-quality specialty paper. The Koehler Group is a pioneer in the development and provision of recyclable paper solutions for industry. In addition, the company invests in renewable energy projects such as wind power. Its long-term goal is to generate more energy than it consumes.
More information
Growth areas and innovation circles
The Innovation Circle Circular Economy with Koehler Group is anchored in the “Resources” growth area. Additional innovation circles are aligned with the eight growth areas.
Growth areas
Across eight growth areas, we cluster the key challenges of tomorrow. As a thematic framework of the NXTGN innovation platform, the growth areas help connect science, industry, and start-ups in a targeted way with topic-specific networks.
Innovation Circles
Building on the eight growth areas, the Innovation Circles create a concrete framework for company-driven collaboration. As anchor partners, selected companies contribute a strategic growth area and jointly shape topic-specific innovation ecosystems together with start-ups and academia.
Contact us
Shape innovation actively
Do you have questions about the Innovation Circle Circular Economy or would you like to get involved? Feel free to contact us!
Patrick Seibold
Senior Innovation Circle Manager NXTGN
Michel Yammine
Project & Venture Manager
