Circular Pitch
As part of the Conference Day on 6 October, universities, startups, as well as small and large companies will present their innovative circular economy solutions through short pitch presentations. The pitches offer participants an opportunity to discover inspiring ideas, new technologies and proven business solutions that contribute to the transition towards a circular economy and the more efficient use of resources.
Adománytaxi
Adománytaxi combines circular economy principles with social solidarity to reduce waste and inequality. By collecting unwanted but usable items in Budapest and delivering them to disadvantaged rural communities, it extends product lifecycles, diverts waste from landfills, and reduces demand for new resources. Its community-driven model promotes the sustainable redistribution of goods while creating meaningful connections between donors and recipients. Through reuse, participation, and collaboration, Adománytaxi contributes to a more resource-efficient, inclusive, and resilient society, where environmental sustainability and social impact reinforce one another.
Carbon.Crane
The environmental impact of the digital world is a growing challenge, yet its true scale is still poorly understood. For ESG and sustainability professionals, collecting reliable data and turning it into effective reduction measures is also a significant task. Carbon.Crane helps companies make the impact of their digital operations measurable, understandable and reducible. Alongside our Bureau Veritas-validated, ISO 14067-aligned solution for websites, we support the optimisation of emails and mobile applications. Our CarbonClass programme brings practical experience into education; it is now part of Corvinus University’s accredited ESG consultant programme and is attracting international interest.
eChemicles
eChemicles is a Hungarian deep-tech company that has developed a patented and award-winning low-temperature CO₂ electrolysis technology to support industrial decarbonization and the creation of a circular economy. Our solution enables hard-to-abate industries to convert captured carbon dioxide (CO₂) on-site into carbon monoxide (CO) using renewable electricity. CO is a critical feedstock for the production of chemicals, steel, plastics, fuels, and many other essential products. By transforming emissions into valuable resources, our technology reduces dependence on fossil feedstocks, strengthens industrial circularity, and contributes to more sustainable and resilient supply chains. (690)
ELTE Together for Environmental Consciousness programme
Since 2008, the ELTE Together for Environmental Consciousness programme has been one of the University’s key sustainability community initiatives. Built on the 17 UNSDGs, this low cost environmental and savings programme operates sustainability working groups that deliver institution wide resource efficiency, GHG reduction and circularity projects. Priority areas include waste management, environmental awareness, sustainability policy development and biodiversity support. A central element of the programme is the institutional application of the Zero Landfill and 10R approaches, which demonstrably strengthen community engagement and advance the University’s CO₂ neutrality efforts.
Katica Tanya
Katica Tanya welcomes 75,000 visitors a year and used to get through 12,000 bin bags annually. In 2025 we redesigned our waste management: we now re-sort the contents of our bins into 26 distinct categories. Only two of them are genuine landfill waste, buried at a site near us. The other 24 are recovered on site or after collection – and for the past month a composting machine has processed our food waste on site too. The price is 10–15 extra minutes of work a day. The result: 80% fewer bin bags, and thanks to a compactor, the real waste of 1,600 visitors fits into a single 220-litre bag. Our new KPI – real waste per 1,000 visitors – is 40 kg. We are building a re-sorting workshop where our guests can join in the value creation, because every kilo avoided is real value.
Mielemed MPM Kft.
NUXON Airquality MESP is a cleanable micro-electrostatic air filtration solution that can be retrofitted to existing air-handling units, fan coils and industrial ventilation systems. Its washable, reusable filter modules can partly or fully replace disposable mechanical filters, while low pressure drop reduces fan energy demand. The modular, repairable design extends the service life of existing equipment and cuts demand for raw materials, packaging and transport, as well as hazardous waste. Cleaner airflow also reduces fouling of heat exchangers, supporting waste-heat recovery. The solution combines healthier indoor air with a lower environmental footprint, preserves the value of existing infrastructure, and keeps materials and energy in use more efficiently across building lifecycles.
MultiCycle®
The term “circular” is increasingly popular, yet undefined. To some, it means recycling; to others, a take-back program. Without standardization, it invites greenwashing, which undermines genuine circular champions. MultiCycle® was developed to close this gap: an independent certification program in which accredited auditors verify that at least 50% of a product’s value is recovered in reality. Certified products carry a QR code linking to geolocated disposal information, guiding consumers to the correct return or recovery channel at end of use — turning verified recovery into a concrete action anyone can take. MultiCycle® is owned by CCSI, the newly founded Institute for Circular Economy Certification and Standardization, ensuring the standard behind every certified product is credible — and giving consumers a reliable way to identify genuinely circular products.
Local Solutions Lab (LSL)
Cities don’t lack ideas or talent to solve their biggest challenges. They lack funding that outlasts a grant cycle, and real connections between local entrepreneurs, investors, and the stakeholders they aim to serve. The Local Solutions Lab (LSL) turns local environmental and/or social challenges into business solutions, funded by private investors rather than public budgets. For every €1 invested, up to €5 in private capital follows, opening the door to a wider pool: SMEs, local corporations, and individual investors, not just angels and VCs. Developed by veterans in corporate venture building, LSL brings this model to the public sector, built for municipalities and innovation programmes ready to move from pilots to lasting local impact.
Replacc
Replacc is a circular social enterprise turning textile reuse into an engaging, community experience. Anyone can bring their pre-loved, good-quality clothes to our stores in exchange for points that grant a 50% discount on purchases. Remaining items are donated to people in need. We make sustainable fashion accessible through personal styling and community events. Our Dress for Impact B2B program is a teambuilding clothing swap complemented by charity and upcycling workshops. It provides an engaging, educational experience for employees while delivering measurable ESG data (collected garment volume, CO2 and water savings) for corporate partners.
Ste.Tech
Esstence is a biological and circular agricultural technology platform that integrates the soil plant–feed–animal–food value chain with manure and sewage sludge management into a unified, mutually reinforcing system. Applying the 10R framework, it reduces external input use, production losses, GHG emissions and environmental impacts, while supporting the value added utilization of organic by-product streams, soil regeneration, biological balance, production efficiency and food quality. Project-specific GHG accounting based on Tier 2 and Tier 3 approaches makes emission reductions measurable and verifiable, establishing a methodological basis for their MRV-based validation, comparability and potential crediting.
SUPERJUICE Ltd
SUPERJUICE Ltd. produces fresh, raw cold-pressed juices. Under the EBKEKSZ / HOLY PULP brand, the nutrient-rich fruit and vegetable pulp generated during production is upcycled into premium functional dog treats. Production operates through an industrial symbiosis with Mancskonyha Ltd., a licensed pet food manufacturer, and this year, the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest joined the project as our professional partner. The upcycled pulp now serves as a key ingredient in two product lines: HOLY PULP functional dog treats and Mancskonyha’s cooked dog meals. Within just nine months, we have sold more than 15,000 products, secured listings in 250 Rossmann stores and on Kifli.hu, launched a nationwide Lidl in-out pilot, and exhibited at Interzoo 2026, the world’s leading pet industry trade fair. Our work has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the EWWR 2024 International Gold Award in the Business & Industry category, the K&H KOLLAB Sustainability Award 2024, and the Positive Future Award 2026.
Superwrap
Superwrap turns corporate waste into value. For over two years, we have partnered with hotels, MNCs and tertiary institutions in Hong Kong to collect surplus textiles and uniforms, upcycling them into products like reusable beeswax food wraps and closing the loop on waste. Building on this, we are developing an AI-powered platform linking corporates directly with upcycling manufacturers – matching surplus volumes, automating quotes, and generating sustainability reports. Textiles is our starting point, but our ambition is broader: applying the same model to other waste streams too. As Europe moves toward mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility, our platform helps corporations stay compliant while manufacturers gain reliable demand. We are expanding from Hong Kong into Europe and the UK.
HUN-REN SZTAKI
Developed jointly by HUN-REN SZTAKI and Ivy Technology, this circular innovation uses robotic arms to scale up the repair of used, faulty electronic products, primarily printed circuit boards. By automating measurement and testing, it enables faster and more accurate diagnostics than manual inspection. This helps more products remain in use for longer while reducing demand for new materials, energy use and CO₂ emissions. The system also digitalises data on recurring faults and diagnostic results, supporting product development and quality improvement. Already deployed in five countries and used to measure around 50,000 products, the internationally patented solution is a proven, measurable circular solution with strong potential for further industrial and international scale-up.
Zebra Technologies
Zebra Technologies connects the digital and physical worlds of work. For more than 55 years, Zebra has helped organizations across retail, healthcare, logistics and manufacturing digitize, automate and make frontline operations more intelligent. Today, Zebra serves over 80% of Fortune 500 companies and has been recognized by The Wall Street Journal among the Top 10 companies globally for AI readiness. So, what happens when this technology reaches the end of its first life? Zebra’s Circular Economy Program combines buyback, refurbishment and resale to extend product lifecycles, recover value and create new business opportunities, demonstrating how circularity can become a practical, scalable business model.
SSH System Ltd.
SSH System Ltd. is a Hungarian innovation company developing natural building technologies. Our flagship product, the ETA-certified SSH Straw Blanket, is a straw-based, vapour-permeable thermal and acoustic insulation system that provides a healthier and more sustainable alternative to conventional insulation materials. Built on the principles of the circular economy, with short supply chains and a decentralized manufacturing and business model, we are developing a technology that enables sustainable building material production anywhere in the world by utilizing locally available straw resources. In doing so, we help reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry while strengthening local economies.