According to the Circularity Gap Report 2025, only 6.9% of the 106 billion tonnes of materials used by the global economy each year come from recycled sources, and this share is declining. The construction sector alone consumes over 40% of the world’s raw materials, yet its circularity rate remains below 9%. These figures highlight the urgent need to rethink how we design, produce, use, and reuse materials. From scaling construction-material reuse and embedding circular-economy strategies to advancing industrial design through new technologies and materials, this event brings together leading voices to explore the barriers, opportunities, and systemic shifts needed to move from isolated experiments to real-world impact. The transition to sustainable new materials is not merely a technical challenge, but a transformation spanning design, policy, and business. 

13:30-14:00 – Registration

14:00-14:05 – Opening Remarks

14:05-14:15 – Material of the Future – Michael Krohn, Co-Head of Sustainability in the Arts, Zurich University of the Arts

14:15-14:25 – Materials That Matter: Building High-Performance, Sustainable Cities – Gang Tan, Qiushi Chair Professor at the College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University

14:25-14:35 – From Pilot to Practice: What Swiss Projects Teach Us About Building Material Reuse – Mija Frossard, Applied R&D Researcher, HEIG-VD (HES-SO) 

14:35-14:45 – Closing the Loop: Transforming Industrial Waste Streams into Sustainable Building Solutions – Anthony Mao, Circular Economy Leader, EBP China

14:45-15:30 – Panel Discussion