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Chapter 4: Strategic starting-points for more resource efficiency
The UK’s ’’National Industrial Symbiosis Programme’’ is a
good example of a successful communication strategy (p.
64). It is based on the circular economy concept and a network
of businesses. With the assistance of this programme
a large number of companies could optimize their production
processes leading to environmental and economic
benefits. Another successful example is the initiative called
“gravel for generations” aiming at a resource efficient construction
sector (p. 66). The initiative provides information
about the possibilities of economic recycling and repro-
cessing of building demolition. The efficiency potential is
backed up by scientific studies and projects.
Promoting market entrance
The interviewed experts argue that all identified technol-
ogy fields bear remarkable resource efficiency potentials.
However, they are still only ‘tools’ depending on surround-
ing conditions (see chapter 2.2). Promising, resource effi-
cient technology and products, which require high investments,
have to be promoted through pilot projects within
the market launch phase. Attractive funding conditions
and programmes should be used to support companies
not yet adjusted to innovation programmes.
In research and development, sustainability and resource
efficiency need to be integrated. Existing funding
opportunities need to be promoted. As stated in chapter
1.2 many support programmes are already existent in Ger-
many (e.g. www.fona.de). Even with regard to resource
efficiency many federal promotion activities are in place,
such as promotion programmes for environmental technologies
of the German Ministries BMU, BMWI and BMBF,
the programmes VerMat and NeMat as well as the German
Material Efficiency Prize of the BMWI, the development of
institutional structures at the federal state level such as the
Efficiency Agency of NRW and industry initiatives.
Ressourceneffizienzatlas
Resource Efficiency Atlas
Development of international education and
cooperation networks
To accelerate the development and diffusion of resource ef-
ficient technologies and products the further expansion of
education and cooperation networks (such as the network
resource efficiency of the BMU, network of cleaner production
center of UNIDO) is desirable. Furthermore, the network
of universities integrating the paradigm of resource
efficiency in teaching and research should be internationally
expanded. A very limited amount of university departments
offer programmes (e.g. lectures, exercises, project
work) related to resource efficiency. The topic of resource
efficiency in research and teaching should be promoted in
cooperation with the leading technical universities in Germany
(TU9) and other design and technical universities of
applied science as well as international universities. A significant
expansion of teaching programmes is recommended
which needs to be integrated into the existing curricula.
Activities towards the establishment of a ’’virtual resource
university’’ (with focus on implementation processes) could
boost the widespread integration of resource efficiency in
university research and teaching (Kristof / Liedtke 2010).
The virtual resource university can be realised as online
platform to connect national and international university
chairs dealing with resource efficiency.