HANSA-FLEX AUSTRIA STRENGTHENS CIRCULAR ECONOMY: INNOVATION THROUGH RECYCLING AND COOPERATION

On September 9, 2025, the Rubber Recycling – Open Innovation Workshop took place at Business Upper Austria.
Under the umbrella of the NEFI+ innovation lab, industry and research collaborated on solutions for sustainable rubber recycling. HANSA-FLEX Austria played a central role in this effort: the goal was to consider the entire lifecycle of hydraulic hoses — from production to recycling — in a holistic way.

Working Together for Closed Loops

Using the LEGO® Serious Play® method, the entire HANSA-FLEX value chain was visualized. This resulted in a circular concept demonstrating how metal and rubber can be separated, recycled, and reused after their service life. The outcome is a sustainable “green bridge” linking production, use, and reprocessing.

Results and Outlook

During group sessions, business models and value propositions were developed that combine ecological and economic benefits — for example, through design for recycling, material recovery, and resource efficiency.

Zentrale Zukunftsthemen („White Spots“) sind:

• Further development of recycling technologies
• Ensuring material purity
• Economically viable separation of materials

These focal points form the basis for additional research and innovation projects.

Sustainability as a Guiding Principle

The workshop impressively demonstrated that circular economy is innovation.
With strong partners from industry and science, HANSA-FLEX Austria is actively shaping the transition toward a resource-efficient, competitive future.