European Circular Policy Expedition
Join us in Europe for an immersive exploration of the circular economy in Europe
Join Circle by OPLN in Vienna and Bratislava for a multi-day expedition designed to help U.S. decision-makers and stakeholders experience circular policy systems firsthand. Through site visits, stakeholder dialogue, and expert debriefs, participants will examine how packaging EPR and deposit return systems are designed, implemented, and operationalized across the value chain.
Meet the architects
Connect with legislators and private sector leaders driving circular policy across Europe.
See it in action
Visit facilities, manufacturing plants, and policy centers implementing circular practices at scale.
Build your network
Form lasting relationships with fellow stakeholders committed to circular economy transformation.
About the expedition
The European Circular Policy Expedition is a curated, in-person learning experience for U.S. policymakers and stakeholders seeking direct exposure to how circular systems function on the ground. Rather than discussing policy only in theory, participants will engage firsthand with the infrastructure, institutions, and organizations that make packaging EPR and deposit return systems work in practice.
Across Vienna and nearby Bratislava, the program will convene participants around site visits and discussions with stakeholders spanning the value chain, including producer responsibility organizations, technology providers, brands, recycling facility managers, and community voices.
Why this expedition
As packaging EPR and related circular policies continue to develop across the United States, decision-makers need more than summaries and secondhand briefings. They need the opportunity to see mature systems in action, ask detailed questions, and better understand the relationship between policy design and operational reality.
This expedition is designed to create that opportunity. By combining experiential learning with structured reflection, Circle helps participants translate what they observe in Europe into practical insight for U.S. policy conversations and state-specific decision-making.
What participants will explore
Participants will explore:
- how packaging EPR systems are structured and administered
- how deposit return systems function across collection and recovery pathways
- how infrastructure supports collection, sorting, and recycling outcomes
- how public, private, and civic stakeholders interact across the value chain
- what implementation lessons may be relevant to emerging U.S. policy contexts
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