The circular economy in everyday life is the topic of this collaboration with the ISSO Institute and the Clean River Project. The focus is on the question of how waste avoidance can be implemented in practice - and what power consumers actually have to shape this.

All information here: https://hfgg.de/events/event/zero-waste-impulsvortrag-podiumsdiskussion

Program

Possibilities for reducing waste and the limits of consumption (Oliver Schlaudt, HfGG)
An impulse about the real scope for individual waste avoidance and where social structures limit change.

Oliver Schlaudt is Professor of Philosophy and Political Economy at the Hochschule für Gesellschaftsgestaltung in Koblenz. He conducts research into the philosophy of technology, culture and science and published the book "Zugemüllt. Eine müllphilosophische Deutschlandreise", which was number 2 on the non-fiction best book list of ZDF, Dlf Kultur and DIE ZEIT, among others.

From adventure to enlightenment (Ruth Retterath & Stephan Horch, Clean River Project)
The Clean River Project brings two perspectives to the stage: the educational work that inspires young people to protect the environment and the artistic and adventurous side that brought the project to life.

Ruth Retterath has been part of the Clean River Project since 2022 and is the deputy project manager of the "Recycling Roadies". She develops educational materials and combines her experience in theater education with environmental education. Creative, practice-oriented and committed, she focuses on the motto "don't talk - do" and brings her energy from art, language and movement to her work.

Stephan Horch is the founder and managing director of the Clean River Project. He designs the photographic artworks in the PURESGOLD series, accompanies CleanUps as a canoe guide and is active as a speaker. His work combines photography, environmental commitment and a strong connection to water. He previously worked as a nurse and as a freelance photo designer for over ten years.

Consumption and waste - How we get ahead of the garbage (Martin Görlitz, ISSO)
A look at our consumption of resources and ways to prevent waste in the first place.

Martin Görlitz is the founder and initiator of ISSO, the institute of the Martin Görlitz Foundation in Koblenz. He has been involved in environmental, energy and social projects since 1995 and was awarded the Order of Merit of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Moderation: Beatrix Sieben (ISSO)
Beatrix Sieben is a program manager and experienced moderator at ISSO. She combines her psychology studies with many years of management experience in the healthcare sector and has been supporting change processes in organizations for over twenty years. She creates spaces in which different perspectives come together and a clear, structured exchange is possible.

Exhibition: PURES GOLD
The photo art series "PURES GOLD" by Clean River Project will be shown alongside the event. Gilded found objects from rivers are restaged in large-format photographs. What was previously considered waste suddenly appears precious - and makes it clear that plastic is a valuable raw material that does not belong in nature. The exhibition encourages us to question our own use of resources: where does throwaway behavior begin - and how can we act more consciously? Only on closer inspection do the traces of the found objects become visible - broken, weathered objects that become symbols of our responsibility through the gold plating.

The exhibition will be on display at the Dreikönigenhaus Koblenz from 16.12.2025 to 21.12.2025.

A cooperative event of the Institute for Social & Sustainable Oikonomics (ISSO), the Hochschule für Gesellschaftsgestaltung and the Clean River Project e.V.