HARALD FRIEDL
Circular Economist, Systems Thinker, Activator of Change
In the great unfolding story of our planet, some voices remind us not of what is lost, but of what can still be found. Harald Friedl is one such voice. A circular economist, a bridge-builder and above all, an activator of change.
Harald has dedicated his life to restoring the circle: to reimagine how humanity lives, leads, and belongs in harmony with the systems that sustain us.
The Work Begins on the Ground
Before Harald ever stood on global stages, he was working at the most ordinary level, hands in the real world, picking up what others left behind. This is what sets him apart. He is not a theorist observing from a distance. He is someone who believes leadership starts with action, responsibility and integrity.
Circularity, for Harald, is not just an idea. It is lived and practiced.
From 2017 to 2020, Harald stood at the helm of Circle Economy, guiding its transformation from a visionary idea into a global organisation. Under his leadership, the movement did not merely grow, it scaled, becoming a force that influenced leaders, corporations, and communities across continents. In 2018, he and his team launched the Circularity Gap Report, introducing a bold new metric: the world is only 9% circular. Harald was the first to say it aloud on a global stage. That simple yet striking fact became a wake-up call, one that has since spread worldwide, shaping policy discussions and accelerating national strategies, including Austria’s government-led circular economy program.
That same year, his leadership was recognised by Manager Magazine, who named him Sustainability CEO of the Year 2018.
Harald’s contribution to the global conversation on circularity has been both visionary and practical. He co-authored two influential books: Circular Economy, a foundational text on regenerative systems, and the Amazon bestseller (2024) The Customer Is the Planet, a powerful call to reimagine business around care for people and Earth. His ideas have reached millions, not least through one of the most popular global TEDx talks on the circular economy, where his message of connection and regeneration struck a chord with audiences worldwide.
What sets Harald apart is his way of bringing forward facts and then using them to explain solutions. He knows that data alone does not move people, but when facts are translated into meaning and possibility, they can activate courage and collective action. This ability to weave evidence into stories that inspire courage and clarity has made him one of the most effective voices for systemic change.
For Harald, circularity is not just a framework but a way of being. He invites us to see differently, to act differently, and to design ecosystems that regenerate rather than extract. His message is disarmingly simple: waste is just value in exile. His mission, deeply human: to reconnect leaders, organisations, and communities with meaning, transforming sustainability from an obligation into an invitation to belong.