Final publication on circular economy

The funding programme “Efficient use of resources in the circular economy – innovative product cycles (Ressourceneffiziente Kreislaufwirtschaft – Innovative Produktkreisläufe, ReziProK)” by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has published a final paper presenting the results of 25 research projects.

The funding programme, begun in 2019, brought together partners from business, science and industry to develop innovative business models, design concepts and digital technologies over three and a half years of research. The projects covered a broad spectrum of issues and industries and for example researched how the product design of consumer goods can make repairs easier, how recycled materials can be used in the textile, foundry, steel or construction industry, and how furniture and packaging can be used with greater sustainability.

In their final publication, the ReziProK projects have demonstrated several approaches of how to reduce the high need for valuable raw materials. So that German businesses can prevail as the leading suppliers for solutions for a circular economy, the results of the research need to quickly become practised business. In order to do so, there are however legal and economic challenges. The final publication therefore also contains suggested political actions. The publication is available free of charge from the DECHEMA homepage.