Britta von Selchow: Dear Ms Braun, you have been advising companies on sustainability issues for 30 years - and the topic is still far from reality. Where are we today, especially when it comes to the circular economy?

Sabine Braun : Sustainability has long been more than just a hygiene factor for companies. Transparency alone is no longer enough. Many are aware that it is now about real transformation, that they need new raw material perspectives and that they need to change their business models. However, there is some hesitation, which is a pity. The circular economy can make an important contribution to climate protection. But it is still a sleeping giant - with powerful untapped potential.

Britta von Selchow: What do companies need in order to take action now and realise the potential for themselves?

Sabine Braun: The Green Deal and EU regulations are setting the direction. But it is not only the grand visions, such as climate neutrality by 2050, that are important. To achieve them, companies need concrete strategies, as well as courage, curiosity and perseverance. When, if not now, should companies invest? Either way, the circular revolution is coming, and who wants to be among the losers?

Britta von Selchow: Keeping raw materials in circulation and being able to reuse them for our own production - in our experience, this is becoming increasingly important for manufacturers for three reasons. To comply with regulatory requirements, to increase our resilience to fluctuations in the supply chain in a country such as Germany, which is poor in raw materials, and, last but not least, to gain cost advantages by reusing components. Successful cycles are created through the cooperation of value chain participants. Openness and the ability to collaborate are important core competences of our future.

Sabine Braun: In any case, the ability to think in terms of economic ecosystems is a key success factor. Closer networking, harnessing the innovative power of start-ups and developing multi-company industry solutions - of course, none of this works at scale without digitalisation and artificial intelligence.

Britta von Selchow: We, too, are firmly convinced of this and have therefore developed a digital twin of the recycling process chain - Materialkonto Interzero. This means that companies are already able to map the entire raw material cycle. In this way, production residues and products and their packaging are effectively returned to their own cycle at the end of their life cycle.

Sabine Braun: I am sure that digital solutions, such as those promoted by Interzero, are key to the progress of the circular economy and sustainable transformation as a whole. This applies not only to the upcoming reporting obligations - keyword CSRD. Sustainability data is becoming increasingly important as a control element for companies. In the future, no one will be able to avoid it.

Britta von Selchow: How do you motivate companies to actively shape the future, and perhaps to leave their comfort zone?

Sabine Braun: In the case of the 'call to action', all you have to do is look at the facts. If you want your children and grandchildren to continue to have a habitable planet, you need to act now. To do this, we need a positive narrative about the future. We have incredible expertise and experience, a great medium-sized company. Germany is a country of ideas that must finally be brought to the streets.

Britta von Selchow: The good news is that no one has to save the world alone. Closing cycles is a team sport that brings out fun and enthusiasm. I experience this positive spirit in our company and also among our customers. With the right partners, courage, curiosity and data, sustainable value creation can be achieved. Intelligent, digitally optimised recycling creates urgently sought-after new perspectives on raw materials for all of us.