Harald Notz-Lajtkep

Circular Economy & Textile Recycling Strategist | EU Policy (PPWR, ESPR, Green Deal) | Digital Product Passports | CEN Standardization Lead

Wangen im Allgäu, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

About

Expert in Circular Economy, Recyclability & European Policy for Textiles and Plastics I work at the intersection of circular economy, European regulation, and industry implementation, helping the textile and plastics sectors move from ambition to execution. With a background in product management, business development, sales, and marketing, I bring a pragmatic, business-oriented perspective to sustainability—combining innovation with respect for traditional textile craftsmanship. Core Areas of Expertise EU Policy & Strategy: PPWR, European Green Deal, EU Textile Strategy/ESPR Recycling & Sustainability: Textile recycling, tracer-based sorting, biodegradable textile solutions, recycling of plastic packaging materials Environmental Research: Microfiber shedding, microplastics from textiles, and sustainable fiber systems including GMO cotton Digital Product Passports (DPP): Pioneer in cross-sector DPP strategy implementation bridging EU and China CNTAC European Standardization: Expert at CEN, committee lead in multiple Circular Economy initiatives Circular Business Models & Ecosystem Engagement Product-as-a-service, rental, and repair strategies Mentor to startups in the circular economy space Speaker and advisor to industry, NGOs, educational institutions, trade fairs, and legislative bodies What Drives My Work I focus on bridging policy, research, and real-world industry constraints, translating regulatory and scientific insights into actionable, scalable solutions that support sustainable transformation across the value chain—and beyond. 📍 Based in Europe | Open to collaboration across industry, policy, and innovation ecosystems

Experience

  • Strategic Manager Circular Economy & Standards EMEA at Eastman
    Jan 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 6 mos

  • Hohenstein Group (Full-time · 3 yrs 6 mos)
    • Division Manager Material Performance & Ecology
      Jan 2021 - Dec 2022 · 2 yrs

    • Division Manager Product-Management & Business Development
      Jul 2019 - Dec 2020 · 1 yr 6 mos

  • Head of Product Engineering at A&R Textilproduktion GmbH
    Jul 2018 - Apr 2019 · 10 mos

  • Sales And Marketing Specialist at Ölmühle Oberschwaben GmbH
    Oct 2016 - Jun 2018 · 1 yr 9 mos

  • CEO at Lichtschatz Projekte Gmbh
    Mar 2012 - Sep 2016 · 4 yrs 7 mos