Let’s Think and Do! Celebrating 10 Years CSCP @scp_centre#10CSCP The 10th Anniversary Unconference of the CSCP attracted more than 500 people joining us onsite and attending via webcast. Themed “The Future of Sustainable Lifestyles, Industry 4.0, and the Circular Economy” participants from all parts of the world and diverse backgrounds came to Wuppertal to engage in debates, join workstudios, network, and get inspired with new topics and approaches. Moreover, it was a good opportunity to get to know the city of Wuppertal as the whole event took place in nine different locations. Kicking off in an historic movie theatre in downtown Wuppertal, Michael Kuhndt shared some of the CSCP’s milestones as a think and do tank as well as its role fostering social entrepreneurialism. He emphasised the CSCP’s strong commitment to doubling its impact the next years and invited partners from business, policy makers, civil society, and academia to join him in this effort. As a first step towards doubling our impact, Michael launched #mylifestylepledge, a movement that is inspiring people worldwide to consider their way of living and take personal concrete actions to live a more sustainable lifestyle now. In his keynote, Alain Caparros, CEO of REWE Group one of the largest German retailers, discussed the long and successful partnership with CSCP mainstreaming sustainability on supermarket shelves. He highlighted how initial the CSCP has been to REWEs sustainability journey over the last 7 years. In the coming years, he believes digitalisation will be an important driver of both sustainable consumption and production. Following the opening keynotes, the CSCP invited four distinguished SCP experts into a “living room” created on stage where they took a look into the future and reflected upon the event motto. The panellists motivated participants to take action while sharing personal experiences and beliefs on how to achieve more sustainable consumption and production patterns. Prof. Dr. Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker, Co-President of the Club of Rome made clear that we are already living in an anthropocentric world. We need to become aware of our individual responsibility and power to change the direction of developments. He also emphasised how little we pay for the resources we use. “Resource efficiency needs to go hand in hand with proper resource appreciation and valorisation”. Johannes Remmel, Minister for Climate Protection, Environment, Agriculture, Conservation and Consumer Protection of North Rhine-Westphalia, agreed and pointed to the far-reaching implication for education: “We are the first generation that notices that our resources are finite, but how do we integrate that into our education? We need to completely change the educational system and systematically integrate.” Maryse Gautier from the French Ministry of Sustainable Development underlined how the understanding of sustainable lifestyles can give meaning to the new urban agenda, also in view of the upcoming Habitat III conference she is co-chairing. Dr. Helio Mattar, President of the Akatu Institute for Conscious Consumption in Brazil, expressed his observation and concern that the growing middle class shows similar aspirations for lifestyle patterns worldwide. These are well beyond the earth’s capacity. He believes as well that addressing this challenge requires combinations of bottom-up and top-down engagement. Inspired by Michael Kuhndt’s lifestyle pledge of eating vegan for two weeks, all panellists contributed with their own pledges. During the day, all participants were invited to pledge and inspire each other with interesting ideas and challenges. Partner organisations like the German Council for Sustainable Development also endorsed #mylifestylepledge on the same day. In the afternoon, participants joined different workstudios in unique locations. Topics included: The positive “handprint” contribution of products and services and how to account for them. The integration of the consumer perspective into the circular economy. Looking at innovative ways to successfully engage consumers in the journey towards sustainability. Extending the often B2B-related discussion around Industry 4.0, digitalisation and 3D printing as enabler for sustainable lifestyles. Identifying impact investment opportunities and related business model parameters that add value to investors. Exploring opportunities and innovations to reduce food waste for consumers, business, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. City-level discussions with grassroots initiatives, businesses, and city government representatives to develop innovative ways to facilitating sustainable urban life. Download our insight paper for every workstudio here: #ws_handprint | #ws_circularlifestyles | #ws_engage | #ws_industry4 | #ws_impactinvest | #ws_foodwaste | #ws_cities In the evening, all participants reconvened in sunny weather in the park of the VillaMedia to network and hear “futurists” reflecting on the workstudio discussions and results from a future perspective. After two children handed over about 100 lifestyle pledges from three Wuppertal school classes, Dr. Thomas Grünewald, State Secretary in the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Research, came on stage to call for an integral, as well as inter- and transdisciplinary response to a central societal question: “How do we wish to live?” He thanked the CSCP as facilitator, innovator, and driver of close cooperation among politics, economics, science, and civil society. Instead of the common dinner buffet, participants were invited to “Taste the Jeans”, a journey to the sustainable future of jeans. So in the future, jeans become food? Well, why not! Taste the Jeans travelled through the latest solutions and insights for sustainable consumption and production of textiles, food, and beyond by enabling a full sensorial experience. It was not only about listening but also seeing, touching, smelling, and of course, tasting! The four event rooms of VillaMedia were turned into four lifecycle stages from material sourcing, production, consumption, and end-of-life (not!). In each room, a storyteller set the scene for insights and solutions being conveyed by artwork, installations, movies, business models, musicians, or dancers. Accordingly, innovative cooks turned each life cycle and related food challenges into a flavour experience. Finally, the participants gathered in the large hall to witness the whole CSCP team staging a dance flash mob to kick off the closing birthday party. We are still overwhelmed by all the good wishes and generous compliments we received before, during, and after the day! It was great to have so many companions, customers, partners and friends with us that day. We look forward working with you to create “the future we want!”