NON TOX DAY 2026 – Invisible Impacts of Materials
13 October 2026 | Pod gradom 4, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia
In person + online | Language: English | Participation: Free
A full day connecting health, science, architecture, materials, public decision-making, material choices, innovation, industry and implementation.
Programme Overview
MORNING | HEALTH, SCIENCE & MATERIALS
08:30–09:00 | Registration & welcome coffee
09:00–09:10 | Official opening
Saša Galonja, Univ. Dipl. Ing, Arch, Head of the Spatial Planning and Connstruction System Division, Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Slovenia
09:10–09:30 | The Non Tox Shift: Putting Health at the Table
Petra Marinko, Univ. Dipl. Ing, Arch, Founder of Non Tox Uni Kum and Non Tox Hub
An introduction to why health should become a real criterion in decisions about buildings, materials and spaces.
09:30–09:50 | Official Welcome Address and Setting the Scene
Mag. Borut Cink, European Commission, New European Bauhaus | ONLINE
A welcome address introducing the New European Bauhaus context for the conference.
09:50–10:00 | World Health Organisation WHO Welcome Address
Dr Sinaia Netanyahu, WHO Regional Office for Europe / European Centre for Environment and Health | ONLINE
10:00–10:25 | WHO Perspective: The Broader Environment and Health Context
Dr Sinaia Netanyahu, WHO Regional Office for Europe / European Centre for Environment and Health | ONLINE
A broader perspective on the links between environment and health, including the health implications of contaminated-site rehabilitation, waste management and circular economy in urban settings.
10:25–10:55 | Environmental Exposure, Chemicals and Human Health
Prof. Dr Milena Horvat, Head of Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute
Materials, chemicals, environmental exposure and human health, and why understanding these impacts matters for healthier built environments.
10:55–11:10 | Coffee break & material experience
11:15–11:55 | The Shift from Science to Reality
Assoc. Prof. Dr Mike Burnard, InnoRenew CoE / University of Primorska
Translating research on materials, buildings and human health into better design, construction and real-world practice, with a New European Bauhaus perspective.
11:55–12:15 | Healthy built environment
Dr Anja Jutraž, Architect and Researcher, National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ)
A public-health perspective on the built environment and the role of spatial and design decisions in healthier living environments.
12:15–12:25 | From EU Priorities to Better Places
Doc. Dr. Draško Veselinovič, Slovenian Business and Research Association (SBRA) | ONLINE
Why health and quality of life matter for the next generation of European projects.
12:25–12:35 | The Industry Perspective: From Material Innovation to Practice
Mag. Valentina Kuzma, Chamber of Construction and Building Materials Industry, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS ZGIGM)
The construction industry’s perspective on opportunities and challenges in bringing material innovation into practice.
12:35–13:45 | Lunch, B2B networking & material experience
AFTERNOON | PUBLIC DECISIONS, TRANSITION & PRACTICE
13:45–14:15 | PANEL 1 — Health in Public Decisions
Saša Galonja (Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning); Dr. Vesna Viher Hrženjak (NIJZ); Prof. Dr Milena Horvat (Jožef Stefan Institute); Ladeja Godina Košir (Circular Change, ECESP); Nina Meglič (Director, ACT-SI)
How can health become a real criterion in decisions about public buildings, schools and spatial planning? Moderated discussion including audience questions.
14:15–14:20 | Speaker transition
14:20–14:40 | The Trbovlje Case: Integrating Health as a Value into Municipal Decision-Making
Mag. Zoran Poznič, Mayor of Trbovlje; Dr Katarina Bebar, Advisor to the Mayor, Municipality of Trbovlje
A municipal perspective on bringing health into local priorities and public decision-making.
14:40–15:00 | Lessons from a Transition
Mag. Ladeja Godina Košir, Founder and Executive Director, Circular Change / European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform
What the circular economy teaches us about moving systemic change into strategy, business and practice.
15:00–15:15 | Coffee break & networking
15:15–15:35 | Healthy materials and how material choices shape the environments we create
Leila Behjat, Co-Founder and Director, Healthy Materials Lab EU | RECORDING
How material choices shape the quality and health of the environments we create.
15:40–16:00 | Material Intervention: Latest Material Innovations in Biocircularity
Prof. Dr Sascha Peters, Founder, Haute Innovation, Berlin | ONLINE
A look at emerging bio-based and circular material innovations and their potential applications.
16:00–16:20 | Hemp, Popcorn and a House. From Innovation to Implementation
Datty G. Ruth, CEO, Smarter Habitat
How bio-based materials move from a bold idea to a real building product.
16:20–17:00 | PANEL 2 — From Systems to Practice
Datty G. Ruth (CEO and Owner, Smarter Habitat); Primož Mlačnik ( (CEO and Owner , KO-SI d.o.o.); Robert Veselko ( RVA Arhitektura); Jasmina Bevc (President of Slovenian Consumer Association – ZPS); Prof. Nada Rožmanec Matičič (Dean of Faculty of Design)
What does it take to bring healthier, circular and responsible materials into real-world projects? Moderated discussion including audience questions.
17:00–17:10 | Closing Reflections — From Invisible Impacts to Informed Choices
Petra Marinko, Non Tox Uni Kum / Non Tox Hub
Key reflections on translating awareness of material impacts into better decisions.
17:20–17:50 | Guided KO-SI Factory Visit | IN PERSON ONLY
THROUGHOUT THE DAY
B2B networking I · NON TOX POP UP material showcase · NON TOX ART intervention: Making the Invisible Visible, by Vesna Poznič · KO-SI natural fibre experience · Informal networking
Organiser: Non Tox Hub | Co-organiser: Non Tox Uni Kum | Host: KO-SI
Co-financed by the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia. Organised in the spirit of the New European Bauhaus. Partnered by: Spirit Slovenia, Ministry of the Economy, Labour and Sport
Participation is free. In-person places are limited.
ZAPS – Zbornica za arhitekturo in prostor Slovenije: 2 CPD credit points, Category C
ZT Kammer Süd, Austria, Recognised as professional continuing education “Fortbildung”
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