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		<title>Circular Week 2026: Calling companies to join the Right to Repair &#038; Ecodesign Challenge</title>
		<link>https://www.co-do-lab.org/circular-week-2026-calling-companies-to-join-the-right-to-repair-ecodesign-challenge/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nils Kreft]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:03:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Event]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.co-do-lab.org/?p=1817</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[How can new EU regulations become drivers of innovation rather than compliance exercises? During the [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>How can new EU regulations become drivers of innovation rather than compliance exercises?<br />
During the Circular Week 2026  (26–31 October 2026), we are bringing together companies, young talents and repair communities to co-create solutions for Right to Repair and Ecodesign. Now is the time to actively shape transformation.</p>
<h2><strong>From regulation to innovation</strong></h2>
<p>With the Right to Repair Directive and the new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the EU is sending a clear message: products must become more durable, repairable and resource-efficient. Spare parts must be available. Repair information must be accessible. Product design decisions must become more transparent.</p>
<p>For companies in retail and manufacturing, this means adapting to new requirements for product design and supply chains, complying with increased transparency obligations, and responding to growing expectations from customers and business partners.</p>
<p>But beyond compliance, there is a real opportunity: companies that integrate repairability, modularity and circularity early on will strengthen resilience, sustainability, customer loyalty and long-term competitiveness.</p>
<p>This is where our Challenge comes in.</p>
<h2><strong>The Challenge: Your question, our community</strong></h2>
<p>As part of Circular Week 2026, a European high-level format, we invite companies to submit concrete challenges related to Right to Repair and Ecodesign:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">How can business models become more repair-friendly?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">How can products be designed for modularity and longevity?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">How can customers be more actively involved in repair processes?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">What new service or platform solutions are needed?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">And how do we interest customers in repair or refurbished offerings?</p>
<h2>Solutions from the wisdom of the crowd</h2>
<p>The co-do lab translates your question into an open innovation challenge and shares it with a strong network of:</p>
<p>Apprentices, Trainees, University students, Fab Labs, Repair cafés, Circular innovators, etc.</p>
<p>They will develop practical and concrete concept solutions. The best ideas and the winning solutions will be showcased during Circular Week at Gut Einern – the home of co-do lab – and awarded prize money.</p>
<p>This creates a real co-creation space between business, civil society and young talents – generating value for all participants.</p>
<p><picture><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0225-991x661.avif 991w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0225-768x512.avif 768w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0225.avif 1500w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0225-991x661.avif" type="image/avif" /><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1818 size-large" src="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0225-991x661.jpg" alt="" width="991" height="661" srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0225-991x661.jpg 991w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0225-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0225-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0225-18x12.jpg 18w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0225.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 991px) 100vw, 991px" /></picture></p>
<h2><strong>A highlight: The repair world record attempt</strong></h2>
<p>Another highlight of Circular Week 2026:<br />
Our colleague <a href="https://www.co-do-lab.org/team/stephan-schaller/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stephan Schaller</a> is organising, together with the FAB Region Bergisches Städtedreieck and partner companies, a repair world record attempt.</p>
<p>The goal: to complete more repairs in one place on one single day than ever before – during a large public festival in Wuppertal and with partner satellites across NRW.</p>
<p>This is more than a symbolic action. It is a strong statement: repair is no longer a niche topic. It is a key pillar of economic and societal transformation. Making it a social event and easily accessible may support in offering attractive alternatives to convenient online shopping of new items.</p>
<h2><strong>Why you should join</strong></h2>
<p>By participating, companies gain fresh perspectives on upcoming regulatory requirements and receive concrete, practice-oriented solution ideas. They also benefit from increased visibility within a European high-level format, the opportunity to position themselves as frontrunners in the circular transformation, and access to young talent as well as potential new partnerships.</p>
<h2><strong>Become part of the Challenge</strong></h2>
<p>Circular Week 2026 is the stage.<br />
Your challenge is the starting point.<br />
Our community develops the solutions.</p>
<p>Would you like to <a href="mailto:stephan.schaller@co-do-lab.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">submit a challenge</a> or learn more about the <a href="https://www.cscp.org/circular-week-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Circular Week 2026</a>?</p>
<p>Let’s not just talk about transformation. Let’s co-do it.</p>
<p>We are a start-up and do-tank for sustainable transformation.<br />
<strong>We co-do transformation for a better tomorrow – for businesses, for cities, for society.</strong></p>
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		<item>
		<title>Head. Heart. Change – The Inspiration Podcast, Episode 1</title>
		<link>https://www.co-do-lab.org/head-heart-change-the-inspiration-podcast/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nils Kreft]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:08:59 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Podcast]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.co-do-lab.org/?p=1786</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Hello and welcome to Head. Heart. Change. — the inspiration podcast for sustainable transformation, real [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello and welcome to Head. Heart. Change. — the inspiration podcast for sustainable transformation, real experiences and creative solutions. Here we talk to people who not only think about change, but live it — with their heads, hearts and hands.</p>
<p>In the first episode, we have a very special guest: Daniela Chaves. Daniela has been the new driving force behind co-do lab for several months now, bringing with her an exciting combination of industry experience, lean management, expertise in the food sector and a great passion for biodiversity, the circular economy and sustainable lifestyles.</p>
<p>Daniela speaks several languages (including German, English, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian). She believes in the power of communication and participation to change people, mindsets and behaviour — and is exactly the right person at co-do lab to explore with us what happens when we not only plan real transformation, but experience it. With our heads, hearts and hands.</p>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/1161406122?share=copy&amp;fl=sv&amp;fe=ci" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen here</a> to the episode with Daniela.</p>
<p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6bjRahGLxuzcgsar5WdNh1?si=j_Dv8w0tR_SlKkZ-cJswyA">Listen on Spotify </a></p>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/1161406122?share=copy&amp;fl=sv&amp;fe=ci" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><picture><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Copy-of-TEMPLATE-Video--991x557.avif 991w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Copy-of-TEMPLATE-Video--768x432.avif 768w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Copy-of-TEMPLATE-Video-.avif 1500w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Copy-of-TEMPLATE-Video--991x557.avif" type="image/avif" /><img decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1787 size-large" src="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Copy-of-TEMPLATE-Video--991x557.png" alt="" width="991" height="557" srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Copy-of-TEMPLATE-Video--991x557.png 991w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Copy-of-TEMPLATE-Video--768x432.png 768w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Copy-of-TEMPLATE-Video--1536x864.png 1536w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Copy-of-TEMPLATE-Video--18x10.png 18w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Copy-of-TEMPLATE-Video-.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 991px) 100vw, 991px" /></picture></a></p>
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		<item>
		<title>Stuck between crisis and change: How we move from intention to action – 2/2</title>
		<link>https://www.co-do-lab.org/stuck-between-crisis-and-change-how-we-move-from-intention-to-action/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nils Kreft]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 12:01:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Story]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.co-do-lab.org/?p=1772</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Over the past months, we have asked the following question to around 100 people – [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p data-start="0" data-end="221">Over the past months, we have asked the following question to around 100 people – from very different walks of life:<br data-start="145" data-end="148" /><em>What does it take for sustainable thinking and action to become the norm?</em></p>
<p data-start="223" data-end="383">The answers were diverse. And they are encouraging.<br data-start="274" data-end="277" />Because they show this clearly: the ideas, the hope, the desire for change – all of that is already there. However, the gap between intention and action is real. At the co-do lab we want to bridge this gap.</p>
<p data-start="385" data-end="677">That’s why we now invite you to a short thought experiment of your own:<br data-start="456" data-end="459" />Imagine it is the year 2050. How old will you be then? And now think of a child who is important to you. How old will this child be in 2050?<br data-start="599" data-end="602" />What kind of world will this child live in? What does this world feel like?</p>
<p data-start="679" data-end="772">Often, very clear images emerge. And a quiet knowing: we cannot continue the way we do today.</p>
<h2 data-start="774" data-end="896">co-do lab: shaping transformation together</h2>
<p data-start="774" data-end="896">Our response to this insight is already embedded in our name:<br data-start="880" data-end="883" />co – do – lab</p>
<h3 data-start="898" data-end="1285">co: collaboration</h3>
<p data-start="898" data-end="1285">Complex challenges cannot be solved in silos.<br data-start="963" data-end="966" />Transformation needs diversity of perspectives, real participation and collaboration across departments, organisations and sectors.<br data-start="1097" data-end="1100" />We foster a culture of co-creation instead of competition – or better: co-competition.<br data-start="1186" data-end="1189" />Because sustainable solutions emerge where shared impact matters more than individual interests.</p>
<h3 data-start="1287" data-end="1818">do: moving into action</h3>
<p data-start="1287" data-end="1818">Transformation must not fail at the threshold of implementation.<br data-start="1376" data-end="1379" />Our goal is to lower this threshold – not through pressure, but through intrinsic motivation.<br data-start="1472" data-end="1475" />Studies show: around 10% engaged people in an organisation are enough to set change in motion from within.<br data-start="1581" data-end="1584" />These are exactly the people we support – for example through our programme Hello Transformation.<br data-start="1681" data-end="1684" />We take them out of their daily routines and into nature, strengthening self-efficacy, resilience and the courage to take the first step.</p>
<p data-start="1287" data-end="1818"><picture><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/nathan-mcbride-9QjbejABFn8-unsplash-1-991x662.avif 991w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/nathan-mcbride-9QjbejABFn8-unsplash-1-768x513.avif 768w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/nathan-mcbride-9QjbejABFn8-unsplash-1.avif 1500w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/nathan-mcbride-9QjbejABFn8-unsplash-1-991x662.avif" type="image/avif" /><img decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1775 size-large" src="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/nathan-mcbride-9QjbejABFn8-unsplash-1-991x662.jpg" alt="" width="991" height="662" srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/nathan-mcbride-9QjbejABFn8-unsplash-1-991x662.jpg 991w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/nathan-mcbride-9QjbejABFn8-unsplash-1-768x513.jpg 768w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/nathan-mcbride-9QjbejABFn8-unsplash-1-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/nathan-mcbride-9QjbejABFn8-unsplash-1-18x12.jpg 18w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/nathan-mcbride-9QjbejABFn8-unsplash-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 991px) 100vw, 991px" /></picture></p>
<h3 data-start="1820" data-end="2188">lab: space to experiment</h3>
<p data-start="1820" data-end="2188">Sustainable change does not emerge on the drawing board.<br data-start="1903" data-end="1906" />There is no single right path – but many learning loops.<br data-start="1962" data-end="1965" />That is why we create spaces for experimentation:<br data-start="2014" data-end="2017" />places where people can try new things, develop prototypes, make mistakes and learn together.<br data-start="2110" data-end="2113" />From these experiences, solutions emerge that are resilient – and scalable.</p>
<h3 data-start="2190" data-end="2580">Why now?</h3>
<p data-start="2190" data-end="2580">The consequences of inaction are already tangible – ecologically, economically and socially. Planetary boundaries are being exceeded, societal polarisation is increasing, and resilience is under pressure.<br data-start="2405" data-end="2408" />At the same time, we see this clearly: there are countless people who are already taking action – and many more who want to act but are still looking for the right impulse.</p>
<p data-start="2582" data-end="2718">Our goal is to bring exactly these people together.<br data-start="2633" data-end="2636" />And to show pathways for how sustainable transformation can already succeed today.</p>
<h2 data-start="2720" data-end="2835">Our stance</h2>
<p data-start="2720" data-end="2835">Sustainable transformation begins in the heart.<br data-start="2780" data-end="2783" />It becomes a mindset – and grows through connection.</p>
<p data-start="2837" data-end="2934">Or, in other words:<br data-start="2856" data-end="2859" />We co-do transformation for a better tomorrow – with head, heart and hands.</p>
<p data-start="2936" data-end="3033">The question is no longer whether transformation is possible.<br data-start="2997" data-end="3000" />It is: what is your contribution?</p>
<p data-start="3035" data-end="3179" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">Let’s move into action together. And shape transformation in a way that feels aligned – for ourselves, for others and for the world of tomorrow.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>How can sustainable action become the norm? – 1/2</title>
		<link>https://www.co-do-lab.org/how-can-sustainable-action-become-the-norm/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nils Kreft]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 12:00:26 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Story]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.co-do-lab.org/?p=1765</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[How can we shape a world in which sustainable action is a matter of course? [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>How can we shape a world in which sustainable action is a matter of course?</p>
<p>This question sounds simple. And yet it touches on one of the greatest challenges of our time.</p>
<p>At the co-do lab, this is exactly what we work on – every single day. Because one thing is clear: 2050, set as a climate target, is no longer an abstract date. It is a very concrete future that we are shaping today. With every decision we make. In companies, cities, organisations – and on a very personal level.</p>
<p>So the key question is no longer whether we need to act, but rather: How do we start acting now?</p>
<h2>Between momentum and standstill</h2>
<p>After years of momentum – the Paris Climate Agreement, the EU Green Deal, Fridays for Future – it feels as if the movement has slowed down.<br />
For many, transformation seems further away again than it did just a few years ago.</p>
<p>At the same time, we are standing at a societal tipping point:<br />
Right now, it is being decided whether we actively shape change – or whether we remain stuck in a mix of overwhelm, polarisation and “business as usual”.</p>
<p>In this context, sustainable transformation should not be seen only as a duty or a risk.<br />
But consciously also as an opportunity: for new business models, innovation, resilience and long-term viability.</p>
<p>Because one thing is clear: by moving into action, we have more to gain than to lose.</p>
<h2>Why good intentions are not enough</h2>
<p>And yet, transformation often fails precisely where the willingness to change actually exists. Why is that?</p>
<p>The reason is rarely a lack of knowledge.<br />
It is the so-called intention–action gap: many people want to change something – but too few actually take action.</p>
<p>We see this in businesses, in municipalities and across society as a whole.<br />
Strategies are developed, goals are defined, reports are written – and still, change often remains abstract, slow or ineffective.</p>
<p>Why? Because sustainable transformation does not happen in the head alone.</p>
<p><picture><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0886.avif 1500w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0886-768x512.avif 768w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0886-991x661.avif 991w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0886.avif" type="image/avif" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1769 size-full" src="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0886.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1280" srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0886.jpg 1500w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0886-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0886-991x661.jpg 991w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0886-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0886-18x12.jpg 18w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></picture></p>
<h2>Transformation starts with people</h2>
<p>Sustainable transformation needs more than analyses, KPIs and roadmaps.<br />
It needs clear visions – and a holistic approach that takes people and culture just as seriously as structures and processes.</p>
<p>Above all, it needs connection:</p>
<p>to nature,</p>
<p>to one another,</p>
<p>to ourselves.</p>
<p>Only when people experience meaningful action, feel a sense of self-efficacy and see themselves as part of something bigger are they truly ready to change.</p>
<p>This is exactly where the co-do lab comes in.</p>
<h2>Head, heart and hands – our approach</h2>
<p>We are convinced:<br />
There is no outer development without inner development.</p>
<p>That is why we accompany transformation processes in a way that activates head, heart and hands alike:</p>
<p>&#8211; Head: orientation, knowledge, strategic clarity</p>
<p>&#8211; Heart: purpose, connection, emotional resonance</p>
<p>&#8211; Hands: concrete action, experimentation, learning by doing</p>
<p>This is how change is not imposed from the outside, but carried from within.</p>
<p>Curious to learn more? You can read more impulses on the “how” of transformation in <a href="https://www.co-do-lab.org/stuck-between-crisis-and-change-how-we-move-from-intention-to-action/">part 2</a> of our blog series.</p>
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		<title>Will Europe&#8217;s packaging become circular — or stuck in the past?</title>
		<link>https://www.co-do-lab.org/will-europes-packaging-become-circular-or-stuck-in-the-past/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nils Kreft]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:09:26 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Projects]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.co-do-lab.org/?p=1652</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[New Futures&#8217; study: In collaboration with Forum Ökologisch Verpacken (FÖV) we created four plausible scenarios [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>New Futures&#8217; study: In collaboration with Forum Ökologisch Verpacken (FÖV) we created four plausible scenarios for the future of sustainable packaging. Find out how strategic foresight can help transforming ambition into action.</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>The Packaging Challenge: Why Good Intentions Aren’t Enough</h2>
<p>Europe’s Circular Economy Action Plan sets out ambitious goals: reducing waste, increasing recycling and creating packaging that works within planetary boundaries. However, despite the urgency, Europe’s circular economy is stuck in reverse. Since 2018, the share of recycled materials in global consumption has actually dropped from 9.1% to 6.9%. Although regulation is becoming stricter, implementation is lagging behind. Innovations emerge, but scaling up remains slow. And consumers? Many still struggle to tell what is recyclable, reusable, or just wishful thinking.</p>
<p>At the co-do lab, we believe this gap between vision and reality isn’t inevitable—it’s a design challenge. Together with the Forum Ökologisch Verpacken (FÖV) and the Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP), we dove deep into the future of packaging. The result? Four bold scenarios that show where we’re headed—and how we can steer the ship before it’s too late.</p>
<p>Using scenario planning, expert insights, and participatory workshops, we developed four plausible futures. These aren’t predictions – rather, they clarify the choices we have: Do we want a world where packaging waste disappears into clever, circular systems? Or one where half-hearted rules and lazy innovation leave us drowning in trash?</p>
<p>We brought together policymakers, businesses, scientists, and activists to imagine what 2030 could look like. We have determined that strict enforcement of regulations on the one hand and the willingness of the economy to innovate on the other will be key parameters for future development – and, of course, these two factors also influence each other. So let us take a look at what a future might look like in which these two core factors take on different forms:</p>
<p><picture><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Blog_FOEV_matt-ridley-mMgHe5h0_U4-unsplash_ER.avif 962w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Blog_FOEV_matt-ridley-mMgHe5h0_U4-unsplash_ER-768x432.avif 768w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Blog_FOEV_matt-ridley-mMgHe5h0_U4-unsplash_ER.avif" type="image/avif" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1719 size-full" src="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Blog_FOEV_matt-ridley-mMgHe5h0_U4-unsplash_ER.jpg" alt="" width="962" height="541" srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Blog_FOEV_matt-ridley-mMgHe5h0_U4-unsplash_ER.jpg 962w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Blog_FOEV_matt-ridley-mMgHe5h0_U4-unsplash_ER-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Blog_FOEV_matt-ridley-mMgHe5h0_U4-unsplash_ER-18x10.jpg 18w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 962px) 100vw, 962px" /></picture></p>
<h2>Four Futures for Packaging in 2030</h2>
<h4>1. The Great Stagnation</h4>
<p>A future where inertia wins.</p>
<p style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Weak policies, limited incentives, and short-term thinking keep the industry on autopilot.</p>
<p style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Recycling tech and materials innovation stall, while landfills and incinerators stay busy.</p>
<p style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Consumers disengage, frustrated by lack of transparency and convenience.</p>
<p style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Europe loses ground to regions with faster innovation and stronger policies.</p>
<p>The warning: Without urgent action, 2030 could look eerily like today—just with more waste.</p>
<blockquote>
<h4>2. Pioneers Lead, Laggards Lag</h4>
</blockquote>
<p>A future where a few drive change—but most wait to be forced.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; A handful of front-runner brands invest in reusable systems, smart materials, and closed-loop recycling, gaining market share and loyalty.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Most companies stick to the status quo, waiting for regulation (or consumer pressure) to catch up.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Consumers reward innovators, but without clear standards, greenwashing thrives.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Global competition intensifies—European pioneers thrive, while latecomers struggle to keep up.</p>
<p>The question<strong>:</strong> Can market leaders alone drag the entire industry forward—or will fragmentation hold everyone back?</p>
<h4>3. Halfway There: Compliance Without Momentum</h4>
<p>A future where regulations exist—but fall short of real change.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Laws are strict on paper, but their impact is diluted by patchy enforcement and bureaucratic hurdles.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Companies meet the minimum requirements, but innovation stagnates. Recycling rates increase slowly, but breakthroughs remain rare.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Consumers want to make better choices, but confusing systems and greenwashing undermine trust.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Secondary materials remain scarce and expensive, which keeps demand for raw materials high.</p>
<p>The risk? A false sense of progress—where everyone looks sustainable, but the system stays linear.</p>
<blockquote>
<h4>4. Circular Transformation Takes Flight</h4>
</blockquote>
<p>A future where policy, innovation, and collaboration align.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Strong, harmonized EU regulations set clear standards for recyclability, reused materials, and waste reduction—and member states actually enforce them.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; AI and automation optimize sorting and recycling, while new and better materials enter the mainstream.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Businesses increasingly compete to also make the most sustainable packaging, not just the cheapest.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Consumers are supported with smart labeling, deposit systems, and incentives<strong> </strong>that make circular products and packaging the easy choice.</p>
<p>The catch?<strong> </strong>This future demands<strong> </strong>bold harmonized regulation and leadership, investment in infrastructure, and a willingness to break from “business as usual.”</p>
<h3><picture><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Blog_FOEV_Header_annie-spratt-Ixvv3YZkd7w-unsplash-991x354.avif 991w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Blog_FOEV_Header_annie-spratt-Ixvv3YZkd7w-unsplash-768x275.avif 768w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Blog_FOEV_Header_annie-spratt-Ixvv3YZkd7w-unsplash.avif 1491w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Blog_FOEV_Header_annie-spratt-Ixvv3YZkd7w-unsplash-991x354.avif" type="image/avif" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1718 size-large" src="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Blog_FOEV_Header_annie-spratt-Ixvv3YZkd7w-unsplash-991x354.jpg" alt="" width="991" height="354" srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Blog_FOEV_Header_annie-spratt-Ixvv3YZkd7w-unsplash-991x354.jpg 991w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Blog_FOEV_Header_annie-spratt-Ixvv3YZkd7w-unsplash-768x275.jpg 768w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Blog_FOEV_Header_annie-spratt-Ixvv3YZkd7w-unsplash-18x6.jpg 18w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Blog_FOEV_Header_annie-spratt-Ixvv3YZkd7w-unsplash.jpg 1491w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 991px" /></picture></h3>
<h2>From Scenarios to Strategy: How to Build the Future We Want</h2>
<p>So, which future do we choose? The answer lies in the decisions we make today. And here’s the good news: The best future is still on the table.</p>
<p>From our stakeholder workshops, we pulled out four key moves to make the circular economy real:</p>
<p>1: Break Down Silos</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Collaboration across the value chain—from material suppliers to retailers to recyclers—is non-negotiable.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Transparency tools (like Digital Product Passports) can align goals and track progress.</p>
<p>2: Design Smarter Policies</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Regulations must be ambitious <em>and</em> practical—co-created with industry to ensure they work in the real world.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Incentives (not just penalties) can drive innovation and investment.</p>
<p>3: Invest in What Works</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Scale proven technologies (chemical recycling, AI sorting, reusable systems) with public-private funding.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Support SMEs—not just giants—to ensure no one gets left behind.</p>
<p>4: Put Retail in the Driver’s Seat</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Retailers shape consumer choices. If they demand circular packaging, the market will follow.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">&#8211; Consumer education must be clear, engaging, and actionable—no more guesswork at the bin.</p>
<h2>Why This Matters for Your Organization</h2>
<p>Whether you’re a brand, a policymaker, or just someone who’s sick of sorting trash, this is your wake-up call. The future of packaging isn’t some distant dream – it’s being built right now<strong>.</strong></p>
<p>At the co-do lab, we specialize in turning foresight into action. Our work with FÖV and CSCP shows how scenario planning, stakeholder engagement, and co-creative workshops can clarify complex challenges<strong> </strong>and reveal blind spots. How they can align diverse stakeholders<strong> </strong>around shared goals and accelerate innovation<strong> </strong>by focusing on what <em>actually</em> works.</p>
<p>The best future isn’t inevitable—it’s a choice. And it starts with asking: What role will you play?</p>
<p>Ready to shape the future?<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.co-do-lab.org/futures-visioning/"><u>Explore our Futures Visioning</u><u>.</u></a></p>
<p>P.S. Dive deeper into the findings—<a href="https://www.cscp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FOEW_Verpackung2030_Abschlussbericht.pdf"><u>read the full report here</u></a>—and see how these scenarios could reshape your strategy.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Transformation needs allies</title>
		<link>https://www.co-do-lab.org/transformation-needs-allies/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nils Kreft]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:42:19 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.co-do-lab.org/?p=1542</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[When art, culture and transformation come together: A look back at the transform.NRW symposium. Transformation [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2><strong>When art, culture and transformation come together: A look back at the transform.NRW symposium.</strong></h2>
<p>Transformation needs images we don’t just understand, but feel deeply. This was exactly the starting point of the transform.NRW symposium.</p>
<p>“Where are we now? Where do we want to go? What are we willing to dare?” – with these questions, the symposium at the Bundeskunsthalle Bonn opened two days full of exchange, inspiration and courageous visions for the future. Practitioners from design, research, politics, business and civil society came together to rethink social-ecological transformation through art, culture and design.</p>
<p>For us at the co-do lab, it was a special space: filled with people who translate complexity into images, stories and emotions – and who can therefore offer exactly what transformation needs most.</p>
<p><picture><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_04-768x410.avif 768w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_04.avif 992w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_04-768x410.avif" type="image/avif" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1553 size-medium" src="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_04-768x410.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="410" srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_04-768x410.jpg 768w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_04-18x10.jpg 18w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_04.jpg 992w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></picture></p>
<h2><strong>Head, heart and hands</strong></h2>
<p>Together with my colleague Stephan Schaller, I joined the panel “Networks, Accomplices and Other Allies” to introduce the co-do lab and talk about why transformation only succeeds when head, heart and hands work together.</p>
<p>Our work is rooted in nature-based experiences – because connection and shared experiences create the foundation that enables people to move from intention to action. That’s why it was so important for us to meet likeminded others who turn data and facts into meaningful narratives and use creativity to offer orientation and courage.</p>
<p><picture><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_01-768x410.avif 768w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_01.avif 992w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_01-768x410.avif" type="image/avif" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1546 size-medium" src="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_01-768x410.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="410" srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_01-768x410.jpg 768w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_01-18x10.jpg 18w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_01.jpg 992w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></picture></p>
<h2><strong>Transformation needs images that move us</strong></h2>
<blockquote><p>Prof. Manfred Fischedick (Wuppertal Institute) emphasized in his remarks that we are facing an action gap—one that requires collective strength and the courage to take a significant leap forward. It was a reminder of what this moment calls for: transforming complexity into momentum, uncertainty into curiosity, and intentions into shared action.</p></blockquote>
<p>How art can translate issues such as, for example, the overproduction of the textile industry into emotional experiences became clear at the end of the event, through the powerful dance performance <em>“</em>Tree Tree<em>”</em> by Japanese dancer and choreographer Kenji Shinohe. These kinds of images stay with us – and can move people to take action.</p>
<p><picture><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_02-768x410.avif 768w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_02.avif 992w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_02-768x410.avif" type="image/avif" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1545 size-medium" src="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_02-768x410.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="410" srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_02-768x410.jpg 768w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_02-18x10.jpg 18w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/codolab_website_blogpost_transformNRW_02.jpg 992w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></picture></p>
<h2><strong>What we at the co-do lab contribute</strong></h2>
<p>At the co-do lab, we also aim to create experiences that touch people – and spark inspiration and momentum for the next steps of their transformation journey. At Gut Einern in Wuppertal, we enable teams to shape their future actively – through deep, shared experiences with others and nature.</p>
<p>Whether in our co-creation kitchen, around the campfire, in the co-do mobile or in the permaculture garden: Here, teams find spaces to think differently, decide more clearly and move from intention to action. Conversations turn into ideas. Ideas turn into impact – curious, bold, effective.</p>
<h2><strong>Ready for co-creation?</strong></h2>
<p>Do you want to experience transformation instead of merely discussing it? Are you looking for formats that connect people and spark real innovation? Do you want to prototype, explore and prepare your organisation for a future that lasts?</p>
<p>Then let’s explore what you’re ready to dare and how we can work together.</p>
<p>We co-create formats tailored to your team, your organisation or your city – so you can try out new approaches together and move into meaningful action. From team days to strategy and storytelling workshops to multi-stakeholder sessions with partners or clients.</p>
<p>Get in touch – we’re excited to support and shape your transformation journey alongside you.</p>
<p>– Author: <a href="https://www.co-do-lab.org/team/eva-rudolf/">Eva Rudolf</a></p>
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		<title>Transformation begins with people</title>
		<link>https://www.co-do-lab.org/transformation-begins-with-people/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nils Kreft]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:13:54 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.co-do-lab.org/?p=1532</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Sustainable transformation is on many people&#8217;s lips – but one thing is often overlooked: it [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sustainable transformation is on many people&#8217;s lips – but one thing is often overlooked: it can only succeed if people are at its center.</p>
<p>Many organisations, cities and companies are working hard on sustainability strategies. But as long as they do not pay attention to the needs of the people they work for and with, transformation often remains superficial. Instead of freeing up energy for future issues, structures go round in circles and intentions never turn into behaviour.</p>
<p><picture><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0387.avif 1500w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0387-768x512.avif 768w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0387-991x661.avif 991w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0387.avif" type="image/avif" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1534 size-full" src="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0387.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1280" srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0387.jpg 1500w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0387-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0387-991x661.jpg 991w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0387-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0387-18x12.jpg 18w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></picture></p>
<h2><strong>People-centred thinking means taking basic needs seriously</strong></h2>
<p>What does ‘people-centred’ mean for us concretely? It means recognising well-being, health and social connectedness as core elements of sustainable goals.</p>
<p>Psychology shows us that only when basic needs such as safety, belonging and autonomy are met, space can arise for higher goals – such as self-actualisation, creativity or social engagement. This is where sustainability emerges.</p>
<p>If employees are constantly under stress and do not feel involved or valued, then sustainability quickly appears to be an additional burden. Or worse: a threat. Only organisations that create space for people can unlock the potential for sustainable transformation.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><strong>Our approach: bottom-up, cross-functional, connected</strong></h2>
<p>At co-do lab, we support organisations, businesses and cities in creating precisely this space:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">We strengthen bottom-up initiatives that actively involve employees and turn them into co-creators.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">We accompany cross-functional teams that bring sustainability into their respective contexts.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">We support the development of people-centred organisational cultures in which conflicts are identified, relationships are strengthened and collective energy is unleashed.</p>
<p>Because we are convinced that sustainable transformation does not emerge through top-down directives alone, but through the interplay of a clear vision and lively participation.</p>
<p><picture><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0588.avif 1500w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0588-768x512.avif 768w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0588-991x661.avif 991w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0588.avif" type="image/avif" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1535 size-full" src="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0588.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1280" srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0588.jpg 1500w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0588-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0588-991x661.jpg 991w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0588-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0588-18x12.jpg 18w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></picture></p>
<h2><strong>Sustainability needs head, heart and hand</strong></h2>
<p>For us, people-centred organisational development means enabling organisations not only to write strategies, but also to move and engage people. It is about addressing the head, heart and hands in equal measure and creating spaces in which creativity, courage and a sense of responsibility can grow.</p>
<p>Would you like to find out what people-centred organisational development could look like in your organisation? Let&#8217;s talk – we look forward to hearing your story.</p>
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		<title>Transformation flavours – recipes for change</title>
		<link>https://www.co-do-lab.org/transformation-flavours-recipes-for-change/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nils Kreft]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 09:53:14 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Event]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Story]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.co-do-lab.org/?p=1515</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[What ingredients does real transformation need? And what might change taste like? These questions were [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>What ingredients does real transformation need? And what might change taste like?</p>
<p>These questions were symbolically posed at the Co-Creation Kitchen – a station at our Grand Opening that deliciously combined sustainability, creativity and community.</p>
<p>At the co-do lab, transformation is not just something to be thought about, but something to be experienced and shaped – with your head, heart and hands. In the Co-Creation Kitchen, this vision was literally brought to the table: with shared energy, inspiring conversations and a wide variety of ingredients, ‘transformation cakes’ were baked. The result not only tasted good, but also provoked thought.</p>
<p><picture><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0018-2.avif 1500w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0018-2-768x512.avif 768w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0018-2-991x661.avif 991w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0018-2.avif" type="image/avif" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1517 size-full" src="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0018-2.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1280" srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0018-2.jpg 1500w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0018-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0018-2-991x661.jpg 991w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0018-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0018-2-18x12.jpg 18w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></picture></p>
<h2>From recipe to resonance – how a cake became a symbol</h2>
<p>The task sounded simple – but it was anything but: in just 30 minutes, teams whose members did not know each other beforehand had to create a ‘transformation cake’ together. But instead of a fixed recipe plan, the focus was on joint thinking and decision-making.</p>
<p>Each group worked on one stage of the cake – and built on the decisions of the previous teams. The result was not just a dessert, but a symbol of sustainable transformation:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">Group 1 decided on the base – the foundation for change. For example, they decided whether the dough should be based on innovation and environmental awareness (oat yoghurt) or accessibility and feasibility (cow&#8217;s milk yoghurt).</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">Group 2 added strategic flavours, such as local honey as a symbol of regional value creation or cane sugar when global perspectives were seen as an important lever.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">Group 3 took on the design – the visible differentiation, the vision of a transformation that inspires and excites: almonds for longevity or seasonal fruits for a little more freshness and zest?</p>
<p>In the end, there were several colourful, creative cakes on the table – each an expression of different approaches, beliefs and styles. And all together, proof that transformation needs diversity.</p>
<p><picture><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0123.avif 1500w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0123-768x512.avif 768w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0123-991x661.avif 991w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0123.avif" type="image/avif" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1518 size-full" src="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0123.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1280" srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0123.jpg 1500w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0123-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0123-991x661.jpg 991w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0123-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0123-18x12.jpg 18w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></picture></p>
<h2>Chaos meets creativity – and the result is impact</h2>
<p>Of course, not everything went according to plan. Quantities were mixed up, ingredients improvised, time slots stretched. But that was precisely where the magic lay: despite (or perhaps because of) the lively chaos, moments of genuine collaboration arose in which people laughed, took responsibility and embraced new ideas.</p>
<p>The feedback was clear:</p>
<p>The participants wanted exchange between the groups and space for mutual learning and connecting perspectives. It was surprising how quickly an atmosphere of trust and interest developed despite time pressure and unfamiliar team constellations. Transformation, it turned out, does not begin with perfection – but with openness.</p>
<h2>Co-creation as a recipe for success</h2>
<p>Behind the scenes, too, it became clear how much power there is in genuine co-creation. Michael provided the vision, Ada coordinated the planning, and Jakob – star chef at Restaurant Winkelmann – took care of the culinary implementation.</p>
<p>This collaboration made tangible what we live by at co-do lab: Transformation succeeds when people with different perspectives combine their strengths – when thinking, feeling and acting come together.</p>
<p><picture><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0632.avif 1500w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0632-768x512.avif 768w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0632-991x661.avif 991w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0632.avif" type="image/avif" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1519 size-full" src="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0632.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1280" srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0632.jpg 1500w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0632-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0632-991x661.jpg 991w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0632-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-05-22_co-do-lab_0632-18x12.jpg 18w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></picture></p>
<h2>Conclusion: Change goes through the stomach – and the heart</h2>
<p>The co-creation kitchen is more than just a cooking station. It is a living example of how ideas become tangible experiences – and how joint action makes change tangible. Transformation happens when people take responsibility, feel joy and experience meaning. And sometimes it starts with a spoonful of dough – and the question: How does change taste to you?</p>
<p>Curious to experience this yourself and with your team? Get in touch!</p>
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		<title>Storytelling for Innovation: How Stories Drive Transformation</title>
		<link>https://www.co-do-lab.org/storytelling-for-innovation-how-stories-drive-transformation/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nils Kreft]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Sep 2025 13:08:46 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Story]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.co-do-lab.org/?p=1502</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A September Day Full of Stories Let&#8217;s set off on a short journey. Imagine it [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>A September Day Full of Stories</h2>
<p>Let&#8217;s set off on a short journey. Imagine it is a sunny September day at Gut Einern, our inspiring pioneering place. In the outdoor kitchen, between the permaculture garden and fluffy clouds, ten people sit relaxed on pallet sofas. One by one each person talks about their favourite sustainable product. There is the old rucksack that carries memories of an entire youth. There is grandma&#8217;s yellow cookbook, which brings back childhood time and again. Or the newly discovered joy of second-hand clothing, which is more individual than any new piece of clothing ever could be. We hear laughter as common ground is discovered and connections are made. It quickly becomes clear that sustainable living doesn&#8217;t have to be complicated – and that everyone is a natural at telling stories that touch and motivate others.</p>
<h2>Why storytelling?</h2>
<p>This is exactly where our workshop comes in: storytelling means exchange, diversity of perspectives and a shared search for meaning. It&#8217;s about distilling the essence:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">Why do we do what we do – and what is our North Star?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">Which products, services or ideas will take us from today to tomorrow?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">What challenges stand in our way – and how do we overcome them?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">What impact do we want to make, and what do the people we do it for need?</p>
<h2>From questions to stories</h2>
<p>Working in groups, participants use storytelling canvases, develop micro-stories, test initial approaches and refine their narratives iteratively. Each round brings new facets, new perspectives and new ideas. This results in stories that not only tell a tale, but also work well to trigger emotions. Some stories clearly show a positive ending – they inspire and call for action. Others are still in the midst of conflict. This is also valuable, because it allows obstacles to be made visible, priorities to be clarified and next steps to be defined. Storytelling becomes a tool that makes innovation possible.</p>
<p><picture><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-08-30_CSCP_FAB-Region-Wuppertal_0434-991x528.avif 991w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-08-30_CSCP_FAB-Region-Wuppertal_0434-768x409.avif 768w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-08-30_CSCP_FAB-Region-Wuppertal_0434.avif 1000w" type="image/avif" /><source srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-08-30_CSCP_FAB-Region-Wuppertal_0434-991x528.avif" type="image/avif" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1503 size-large" src="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-08-30_CSCP_FAB-Region-Wuppertal_0434-991x528.jpg" alt="" width="991" height="528" srcset="https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-08-30_CSCP_FAB-Region-Wuppertal_0434-991x528.jpg 991w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-08-30_CSCP_FAB-Region-Wuppertal_0434-768x409.jpg 768w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-08-30_CSCP_FAB-Region-Wuppertal_0434-18x10.jpg 18w, https://www.co-do-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-08-30_CSCP_FAB-Region-Wuppertal_0434.jpg 1000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 991px" /></picture></p>
<h2>What does storytelling create?</h2>
<p>The resulting stories can be used in many ways:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">for corporate communications</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">for change management</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">for employee engagement and co-creation</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">for new ideas, value propositions and innovation paths</p>
<p>But above all, storytelling connects. It makes complex issues understandable, conveys motivation and creates shared images that everyone can relate to. It is precisely this common ground that we need to make sustainability transformation truly possible.</p>
<h2>Interested in telling your own story?</h2>
<p>How could you and your team use storytelling to sharpen ideas, get people on board and drive innovation? What stories are still waiting to be told?</p>
<p>If you are interested in how you can use storytelling as a tool for your transformation journey, please feel free to contact us.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>One Day, Real Impact: The Hello Transformation Team Day</title>
		<link>https://www.co-do-lab.org/one-day-real-impact-the-hello-transformation-team-day/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nils Kreft]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 13:41:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Projects]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.co-do-lab.org/?p=1480</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[What happens when a team steps out of the meeting room and into nature? Clarity. [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>What happens when a team steps out of the meeting room and into nature? Clarity. Connection. Momentum. Hello Transformation is our nature-based learning experience designed to bring head, heart, and hands together for real change. While the original format runs over four days, many organisations asked for a compact version they can plug into their busy calendars. And here we are – piloting the Team Day edition as part of GS1 Germany’s annual SustainDay.</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><strong>Head, heart and hand …</strong></h2>
<p>Hello Transformation is an outdoor programme that blends experiential learning, systems thinking and reflective practice. It is full of real conversations and touching moments beyond PowerPoint presentations. Participants explore how sustainable transformation can be achieved through everyday decisions, team routines and organisational strategy. We create moments that shift perspectives and inspire action – because people don&#8217;t just learn about change; they practise doing it.</p>
<h2><strong>… brought to the team level</strong></h2>
<p>Not every team can step away for multiple days. However, especially teams can benefit from energising, hands-on formats that:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">Build shared language &amp; direction in a single day</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">Connect strategy to practice through concrete activities</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">Strengthen team culture with experiences you’ll remember (and reuse)</p>
<h2><strong>What the day can look like</strong></h2>
<p>The original format provides us with a full basket of opportunities to do, learn and experience. Your team day can be based on a selection of those tailored to your team’s current needs – and also enriched with what is strategically or operationally important to date. A typical flow might include:</p>
<p><strong>1. Arrival &amp; grounding in nature</strong><br />
Arrive in a green setting, shift gear, and set personal intentions.</p>
<p><strong>2. Circularity in action</strong><br />
Short impulses and walk-and-talks on circular economy – from materials to everyday choices. Hands-on elements make systems visible and actionable.</p>
<p><strong>3. Vertical farming encounter</strong><br />
Step into a repurposed container and experience urban food production up close. Taste, question, connect ideas to your context.</p>
<p><strong>4. Micro-gardening: plant a seed</strong><br />
A small ritual with a big meaning: sowing something to nurture beyond the day – back at the office or at home.</p>
<p><strong>5. Co-creation kitchen</strong><br />
Cook together using seasonal ingredients right from the field; translate recipes into “ingredients for transformation”. It’s playful, practical, and deeply social.</p>
<p><strong>6. Campfire conversations</strong><br />
Guided prompts spark honest exchanges about purpose, trade-offs, and next steps. Simple, human, memorable.</p>
<p><strong>7. From insight to action</strong><br />
Close with a crisp “first 3 moves” plan: what we start, stop, and share tomorrow.</p>
<p>We couldn’t do all of that with the GS1 Germany team, as they also had a one-hour bus tour to and from Cologne, followed by an evening party at their offices. This made us think of alternative formats. We came up with a personal transformation exercise that started with the seat neighbour on the bus. On the team&#8217;s way back to Cologne in the afternoon, we held a fun and inspiring quiz to help consolidate some of the learning and open up new perspectives.</p>
<h2><strong>Voices from the GS1 SustainDay</strong></h2>
<p>We are grateful that GS1 Germany was brave enough to pilot this approach with us and for the contributing participants that also provided us with feedback:</p>
<blockquote>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">“We took the fast lane through Hello Transformation and still went deep: we laughed, harvested, cooked, and learned – sustainably, holistically, innovatively. The vertical farm was a highlight.”</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">“An inspiring atmosphere with lots of practical ideas to take back – circular economy made tangible.”</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">“From building with clay to rethinking consumption, I left with doable steps for my own life. And yes, the peas we picked for lunch were amazing.”</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">“Sitting on hay bales, sowing Swiss chard, and shifting focus to ‘living better’ – plus seriously delicious food. I’ll be back.”</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">“Even as someone seasoned in the topic, being outside changed the conversation. Planting a seed became a symbol: we’re taking this energy back to the office – greening our workspace to keep it alive.”</p>
</blockquote>
<h2><strong>What teams take away</strong></h2>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;"><strong>Shared clarity</strong> on what sustainability means for your work</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;"><strong>Practical tools &amp; habits</strong> you can implement immediately</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;"><strong>Renewed motivation, </strong>because doing and being firmly connected beats debating</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;"><strong>A story to keep: </strong>photos, artifacts, and a small living reminder (yes, that seed)</p>
<h2><strong>So, when to say “Hello Transformation”?</strong></h2>
<p>Hello Transformation fits different needs depending on its format. The four-day journey is ideal when a future transformation leader, a team or an organisation wants to dive deeply into transformation, building shared understanding, personal growth, and concrete roadmaps. A one- or two-day format is perfect for moments when inspiration, reconnection, and a practical push are needed quickly. Whether you are launching a new initiative, seeking to re-energise existing efforts, or simply wanting to reconnect as a team, Hello Transformation provides the grounding, perspective, and spark to make change possible.</p>
<h2><strong>Ready to host your own?</strong></h2>
<p>We’ll co-design the experience around your goals, team size, and context – on our nature campus at Gut Einern (Wuppertal) or at a suitable partner location. You bring your curiosity; we’ll bring the space, the methods, and the spark.</p>
<p>Let’s make transformation something your team can feel and do.</p>
<p>Get in touch: <a href="mailto:hello@co-do-lab.org">hello@co-do-lab.org</a> | Learn more: <a href="https://www.co-do-lab.org/hello-transformation/">co-do-lab.org/hello-transformation</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Photo by (c) Juliane Herrmann</p>
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