Onsite Recap: Driving Circularity Forward in Utrecht
Railsponsible hosted an onsite event in Utrecht focused on advancing circularity in rail. Through collaboration across the value chain and expert insights, we identified concrete levers for progress — read the full recap here.
Onsite Recap: Driving Circularity Forward in Utrecht
Last week, alongside our General Assembly, Railsponsible members gathered in Utrecht for two dedicated days focused on one key goal: driving circularity forward in the rail sector. The event brought together stakeholders from across the value chain for open dialogue, shared learnings, and collaborative problem-solving.
Collaboration at the Core
Participants included representatives from railway operators, OEMs, suppliers, and innovators—each offering unique perspectives on the current state of circularity and how we can collectively accelerate real progress.
Spotlight on Key Topics
Through presentations, discussions, and interactive sessions, we explored both the opportunities and the real-world challenges of implementing circularity:
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Partnering with innovators – including honest reflections on both successful initiatives and failed projects, offering valuable lessons learned
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Breaking down barriers – from organizational hurdles to mindset shifts, we identified roadblocks that stand in the way of large-scale adoption
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Benchmarking across members – comparing current circularity efforts across companies helped surface shared levers and untapped synergies
Expert Insights
A heartfelt thank you to the experts who inspired and challenged us with their contributions:
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Ilse de Vos van Ekeren (NS) on embedding circularity into established systems
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Andres Mitnik (Strong by Form) on the role of biocomposites as sustainable material alternatives
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Carles Camprubi on developing circular copper strategies
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Port of Rotterdam on strategic alliances and the role of rail in critical resource flows
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Sascha Göddeke-Mulder for pushing us to rethink concepts of “value” and what is truly “valuable”
Looking Ahead
These two days reinforced the power of open exchange and hands-on collaboration. The insights and ideas gathered will directly feed into our ongoing workstreams—ensuring circularity moves from ambition to execution.
Thank you to all participants for your contributions, energy, and openness. We’re already looking forward to the next onsite!
Railsponsible
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