Refine
Year of Publication
Document Type
- Report (86)
- Contribution to Periodical (44)
- Peer-Reviewed Article (31)
- Working Paper (21)
- Part of a Book (16)
- Conference Object (4)
- Doctoral Thesis (3)
- Book (1)
- Master Thesis (1)
Division
- Kreislaufwirtschaft (207) (remove)
The paper undertakes a closer look on the relation of institutions and policy mixes within the multi-level scope of the European Union in the policy field of resource efficiency and maps out different configurations. Based on an extensive analysis of scope, foci, instruments and especially the distribution of institutional responsibilities in 32 EU countries, the paper aims to amplify the categorisation of policy mix characteristics developed by Rogge and Reichardt by considerations on the institutional background of policy mixes. It specifically brings into question the potential impact of different institutional settings on the consistency and coherence of approaches in this evolving policy field. Resource efficiency is an eminently cross-cutting policy concept and a specific interesting unit of analysis due to the observable heterogeneity of implementation approaches. However, it is still mainly disconnected from energy issues and, at the same time, EU policy has shifted to the circular economy approach, indicating further need for streamlining with the resource efficiency approach. The paper stresses the need to include institutional and multi-level governance issues for policy design and the development of policy mixes, especially in the context of the now refocused resource efficiency agenda to the transition to a circular economy.
Stepping up waste prevention : challenges and opportunities for national waste prevention programmes
(2017)
Facing an ever-increasing global consumption of natural resources and related environmental as well as socioeconomic challenges, the transition towards a circular economy will be of crucial importance. The issue is high on the political agenda, especially since the European Commission published its Circular Economy Action Plan in December 2015. Apparently different stakeholders have very different perceptions of the concept as well as different expectations for its implementation. During a workshop series by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, experts from policy, science, administration, industry and unions discussed key issues for the circular economy: What's the status quo in Germany? How can the circular economy be implemented in a comprehensive and efficient way? Which instruments are available? Is the legal framework on EU and national level sufficient for the evolvement of a circular economy? What is the role of the consumer? What are the economic potentials especially with regard to job creation? How can research and innovation policy contribute to this process? This paper aims to summarise the different discussions.
Deutschland verfügt über eines der weltweit führenden Systeme im Bereich der Abfallwirtschaft - vorrangiges Ziel ist es, Abfall sicher und umweltschonend zu entsorgen. Allerdings kommen nur ca. 14 Prozent der in der Industrie eingesetzten Rohstoffe aus dem Recycling, der Rest sind noch immer Primärmaterialien. Kreislaufwirtschaft findet noch nicht ausreichend statt: Rezyklate, aus Abfällen gewonnene Sekundärrohstoffe, werden noch weit unterhalb der möglichen Mengen in Produktions- und Nutzungsprozesse zurückführt. Werteverlust, Abhängigkeit von volatilen Rohstoffmärkten, geringere Ressourcenproduktivität und Externalitäten in Form von Umweltverschmutzung ließen sich damit vermeiden. Eine Digitalisierungsoffensive in Industrie und Abfallwirtschaft könnte dies bewirken. Eine Studie des Bundesministeriums für Umwelt, Naturschutz, Bau und Reaktorsicherheit (BMUB) verweist darauf, dass kein Umweltleitmarkt so stark von der Digitalisierung profitieren könnte wie die Kreislaufwirtschaft - und dass gleichzeitig kein Sektor bisher so schlecht aufgestellt ist.
Germany's waste management system is one of the world's most advanced - its primary objective is to dispose of waste in a way that is safe for both people and the environ- ment. However, only about 14 per cent of the raw materials used in industry are derived from recycling processes; the remainder are still sourced from primary materials. The circular economy is not yet being implemented on a large enough scale. Recyclates or recycled materials, i.e. secondary raw materials recovered from waste, are being fed back into production and usage processes at volumes that are far below what is possible. If this system were to be improved, loss of value, dependence on volatile commodity markets, lower resource productivity, and externalities in the form of environmental pollution could be avoided. A drive towards digitalisation in industry and the waste management sector could make this happen. A study by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) indicates that no other lead market in the environmental sector stands to benefit from digitalisation more than the circular economy - and that, at the same time, no sector has ever been so poorly positioned.