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Albin Kaelin
Founder, owner, CEO, epeaswitzerland gmbh | Pioneer of Cradle to Cradle® Innovation | Award-Winning Leader in Circular Economy Transformation.
Albin Kaelin has built his life and career around a simple but profound principle: never accept anything that lacks clarity or purpose. A visionary in sustainable innovation, he is internationally recognized for leading the transformation from linear to circular economy and one of the globally most awarded leaders in sustainability.
From 1981 to 2004, Kaelin served as Managing Director of Rohner Textil AG in Switzerland, where he led the creation of Climatex®, the world’s first Cradle to Cradle® certified textile line. Under his leadership, Rohner Textil earned 19 international design awards, and in 2001 he was named Rhine Valley Entrepreneur of the Year by UBS.
He went on to serve as CEO of EPEA Internationale Umweltforschung GmbH (Germany) and EPEA Nederland, as well as a board member of Fein Elast Group (Austria). In 2009, Kaelin founded epeaswitzerland gmbh, a pioneering consulting and innovation company guiding global organizations in implementing Cradle to Cradle® and circularity design principles.
Through epeaswitzerland, Kaelin has supported companies, governments, and organizations across Europe, Asia, and the Americas in developing sustainable production systems that close material loops and inspire a new industrial mindset.
His influence extends far beyond business. Kaelin is known for combining scientific rigor with moral clarity, a rare balance that has made him one of Europe’s most trusted voices on sustainable transformation.
Awards and Recognition (2022–2026)
2022 (10 Awards): CEO Today Europe Award, Global 100, M&A Today Global Awards, and Business Worldwide Magazine CEO Awards recognized for leadership, innovation, and sustainable manufacturing excellence.
2023 (11 Awards): The European Global Sustainability & ESG Award, Fortunes Crown Top 10 Most Innovative Technology Leaders, and Acquisition International’s Best Cradle to Cradle® Products & Services Provider.
2024 (9 Awards): IE100 Most Innovative CEO of the Year (Europe), The European’s Most Innovative CEO in Textile Manufacturing, and the Trailblazer Award for Circular & Sustainable Textile Innovation.
2025 (5 Awards): Global 100, Corporate America Today Best CEO of the Year, IE 100 Most Innovative CEO (Europe), Global Excellence Award, and Sustainable Switzerland Shapers.
2026 (2 Awards): Global 100 and American Business Vanguard Best CEO of the Year honoring Kaelin’s continued leadership in global sustainability and circular economy innovation.
Kaelin continues to advise leaders, educators, government officials, and innovators on designing systems that respect both people and the planet, proving that circular design is not just a concept, but a movement shaping the future of business.
He is the author of From Rebel to Radical Innovator: Leading the Transformation through Circularity, a guide inspiring organizations worldwide to embrace the future of sustainable innovation.
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