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A policy mix for resource efficiency in the EU : key instruments, challenges and research needs
(2019)
Against the background of an often wasteful use of natural resources, the European Union has made resource efficiency a top policy priority. Policy formulation is, however, at a very early stage in many Member States, with often vague notions of what resource efficiency means, characterised by fragmented instruments and overlapping competencies. This paper develops a conceptual framework for defining, assessing and developing resource efficiency policy mixes. It argues that a mix of policies and instruments is best suited to overcoming the complex challenges of the 21st Century. Such a mix addresses multiple resource domains at a strategic, high level and contains interacting instruments targeting multiple actors, levels of governance and sectors and life-cycle stages of resource use. This paper looks at criteria for effective resource efficiency policy instruments, presents both an indicative policy mix across 9 policy domains and case studies (on environmental harmful subsidies, supply chain efficiency in food systems and product-service systems) and identifies key challenges to overcome trade-offs in instrument design, maximise synergies, reduce conflicts, promote coherence, coordinate activities and move from theory to practice. Research needs are discussed regarding who shall devise, implement, and coordinate such a policy mix, considering negotiating power, timing and complexity.
Abfallwirtschaftliche Produktverantwortung unter Ressourcenschutzaspekten (RePro) : Abschlussbericht
(2019)
Elektro- und Elektronikaltgeräte enthalten eine Vielzahl von umwelt- und ressourcenrelevanten Metallen wie Gold und Neodym, welche derzeit noch nicht optimal recycelt werden. Im vorliegenden Projekt wurden die Mengenpotenziale von 10 dieser Metalle in 30 ressourcenrelevanten Elektrogerätearten quantifiziert und die bestehenden Verluste bei der Elektroaltgeräte-Entsorgung von der Sammlung über die Behandlung bis zur Metallrückgewinnung über Mengenstrombilanzen ermittelt, teilweise unterstützt durch Sortieranalysen und Behandlungsversuche. Die Studie leitet daraus Maßnahmenempfehlungen zur Optimierung der Erfassungsstrukturen sowie der Behandlungs- und Verwertungssysteme für Elektroaltgeräte aus privaten Haushalten zur Rückgewinnung der betrachteten Metalle ab.
The earth as we know it can only continue to exist if humanity finds a way to switch to a sustainable use of energy and resources. This work contributes to the research carried out to achieve this goal by improving the coating of adsorptive materials. These are used in heat transformation and drying processes that allow for efficient temperature and humidity control in buildings. A central component of these adsorptive coatings is the binder that acts as "glue" in the manufacturing of the coating. In this work the methods to evaluate binder performance regarding their thermal stability under the process conditions, their mechanical stability and their influence on the adsorptive properties of the coating were established. The coatings have to meet special requirements due to the thermal stresses and low pressure atmosphere they experience in these applications. A selection of silicone binders was then characterized with the established tests according to these requirements. Additionally a selection of inorganic binders was investigated because they allow for the use of high desorption temperatures and thus a high energy efficiency of the process. Out of these binders Silres® MP50E emerged as the most promising one due to very good adsorptive properties of the coating, its good temperature stability and ease of use. While some of the inorganic binders showed very good adsorptive properties and temperature stability the mechanical stability of all inorganic binders was not sufficient for their use in adsorption heat transformation technology. This is the first time that a broad selection of binders was evaluated with regards to adsorptive coatings and the results published in literature. With a suitable binder identified, the next step was to optimize the coating of the heat exchangers in order to work out how to manufacture the most efficient and powerful heat exchangers. Samples with different coating thicknesses were manufactured in small scale and full scale and their adsorption behavior was characterized. It could be shown for the first time that it is possible to increase energy efficiency by improving the mass ration of adsorber to coating and increase the delivered power at the same time. This was shown for small and full scale samples. It was shown that under the corresponding conditions the heat transfer from the coating layer to the adsorber metal substrate is the limiting step in the process. These results can now be used for the planning and construction of adsorbers. With knowledge of a suitable binder and how to coat efficient, powerful adsorbers, the coating process itself was improved to allow for industrial scale manufacturing. A central point here is the ability to control slurry rheology. Out of many rheology additives those that are suited for the application in adsorption heat transformation were identified and their influence on the slurry rheology thoroughly characterized. Additionally the process of slurry preparation could be simplified for several different adsorbents. Here it was shown that the supersonic deagglomeration step is not necessary to prepare a slurry. Extending the possible coating techniques and in addition to the dip coating process used so far, the spray coating of adsorptive coatings was established for the first time in literature. This process is widely used in the industry and allows for easier plugin into existing coating processes. For the coating of high resolution patterns a proof of concept of the screen printing process was carried out.
Digital platforms may yield a host of advantages in putting circular economy into effect. This paper analyses the related chances and discusses requirements of digital platforms for the realization of a circular economy. It specifically points to potential solutions offered by digital platforms for existing barriers. From there it identifies issues that need specific attendance to create economically and ecologically functional platforms. Three economically relevant perspectives are discussed for this: a management perspective, a legislative perspective and a social/systems perspective.
Die Autoren verdeutlichen in diesem Papier, dass der Megatrend Digitalisierung nicht zwingend unkontrollierbar über die Wirtschaft und die Gesellschaft hereinbricht. Seine Wirkung hängt vom menschlichen Verhalten, von der Gestaltung neuer Prozessen in Organisationen, aber auch Anpassungen der gesetzlichen Rahmenbedingungen ab. Dieses sozio-kulturelle, organisatorische und institutionelle Umfeld der digitalen Innovationen könne und müsse im Sinne ökologischer Nachhaltigkeit beeinflusst werden. Politik sei hier aufgefordert auf der Basis fundierter Analysen flankierend tätig zu werden. Die Autoren fordern daher, für die Digitalwirtschaft eine eigene sektorspezifische Politik zu entwickeln, wie sie für andere umweltrelevante Sektoren - etwa die Energiewirtschaft, Chemieindustrie oder Autoindustrie - bereits etabliert ist.
Der Anlass für die Evaluation des Deutschen Ressourceneffizienzprogramms ProgRess ist seine Fortschreibung im Jahr 2020. In zahlreichen Interviews identifizieren die Autorinnen und Autoren Stärken und Schwächen und zeigen Wege für eine institutionelle und strategische Weiterentwicklung auf. Die Bedeutung des Programms wird als überwiegend positiv, die bisherigen Ressourceneffizienzwirkungen hingegen als durchwachsen bewertet. Den Umsetzungsstand konnten die Befragten wenig beurteilen, da Indikatoren bislang nur für einen Teil der Maßnahmen vorhanden sind. Eine Priorisierung der Aktivitäten, verbindlichere Instrumente und Zielvorgaben sowie eine bessere Mittelausstattung gehören zu den Empfehlungen.
Das Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz (KrWG) verlangt mit Bezug auf das Abfallvermeidungsprogramm (AVP) die Benennung zweckmäßiger Maßstäbe für Abfallvermeidungsmaßnahmen (AVM), anhand derer die Fortschritte bei der Entkopplung der mit der Abfallerzeugung verbundenen Auswirkungen auf Mensch und Umwelt vom Wirtschaftswachstum erfasst werden können. Das AVP benennt mögliche Indikatoren, allerdings ist unklar, inwieweit diese das Entstehen von Abfällen darstellen oder die Effekte von AVM abbilden können. Mögliche Bewertungsmaßstäbe für die Messung des Abfallvermeidungserfolges wurden analysiert, auf ihre Eignung geprüft und ein Set an Indikatoren erarbeitet, um eine kontinuierliche Messung des Erfolges von AVM zu ermöglichen.
This report provides an overview of the main findings from the different research tasks in the CIRCTER project and delivers selected policy messages with European coverage. The report provides: (Sec. 2) a territorial definition of the circular economy; (Sec. 3) insights into the available statistics on material and waste patterns and flows and their interpretation, alongside new territorial evidence on both aspects; (Sec. 4) a sectoral characterisation of the circular economy at regional level (NUTS-2), including data on turnover and jobs; (Sec. 5) key findings from the CIRCTER case studies; (Sec. 6) a systemic interpretation of the circular economy that works as a knowledge-integration mechanism for the entire report; (Sec. 7 and 8) an analysis of the most relevant circular economy policies and strategies at various territorial levels; (Sec. 8) a subset of policy recommendations focusing in particular on territorial and cohesion policies, and; (Sec. 9) suggestions for further research.