sky high
While the circular economy strategy 2.0 is already being prepared at EU level, companies in the member states are still busy implementing the 2015 guidelines. With the 6. qualityaustria Environmental and Energy Forum at Schloss Schönbrunn, speakers from business and the Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism (BMNT) presented their recycling strategies so that the word "waste" would soon be a thing of the past. In the future, only materials that are as harmless as possible should be used and returned to circulation at the end of the product cycle. To do so, it is important to think about how the materials can circulate permanently, even when developing new products. The technical term for this: Cradle to Cradle®.
"Circular economy ranks very high on the European agenda and the European Commission is accelerating the issue further", said Axel Dick, Business Developer Environment and Energy, CSR at Quality Austria, in his inauguration of this year's qualityaustria Environmental and Energy Forum. This is also clear from a recent announcement by the European Commission on the European Green Deal. Circular economy is much more than increasing quotas for the separate collection of waste. On the contrary, it presupposes healthy and safe materials in order to be able to return them to material cycles. This could also make a significant contribution to climate protection and achieving the Paris climate targets. Viability will be a megatrend and lead to a new understanding of quality 2030. But still we would live according to European Commission in a linear world. Because only twelve percent of the material streams are currently being recycled or reused.
"Cradle to Cradle Certified is the only certification that confirms viability," said Dick. The idea behind the Cradle to Cradle principle is to think from the beginning in complete biological and / or technical material cycles, so as not to let any garbage in the true sense arise. Current research results of the Institute for Integrated Quality Design and Best Practice Models showed in the climate-neutral qualityaustria Environment and Energy Forum which different solutions the companies are currently pursuing and which contribution environmental management systems can make. Cooperation partners of this year's forum were again the Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism, the Climate Neutrality Alliance and for the first time EPEA Switzerland.
Wolfgang Holzer, Head of Section V - Waste Management, Chemical Policy and Environmental Technology in the BMNT outlined the further projects in this area. "The EU's circular economy package was a first decisive step, and there are definitely more to follow. While Member States are involved in national implementation, the Circular Economic Strategy 2.0 is already being prepared at EU level. "The environmental friendliness of companies, as documented by relevant standards and certifications, will inevitably play an increasing role in public procurement.
Albin Kälin, CEO of Cradle to Cradle-based EPEA Switzerland, confused himself with misunderstandings: "Cradle to Cradle design defines and develops products that can be recycled. As a differentiation to conventional recycling, the quality of the raw materials is maintained over several product life cycles and are used exclusively as safely evaluated chemicals. "Kälin poses major problems in the packaging industry, as it would use more chemicals than other industries. "The viability is barely given in this industry - at least not in the sense of Cradle to Cradle. We see tremendous potential here for developing and implementing solutions, "says the expert. Politics is making giant strides in the area of "circular economy", which is why there is a danger to industry that it will become overwhelmed and unable to compete in the transformation. Plastic bans would not help - rather, there is a need for new, sustainable plastics. A modern society and the environment need sustainable plastics, as it is not possible to ensure enough raw materials from nature. The textile industry would prove this. EPEA Switzerland and Quality Austria will work together more closely in the future in training and auditing the complex supply chains of the industry.
Audi: saved with a measure 90.000 CO2 tons per year"Until 2050, we want to achieve CO2 balance sheet neutrality throughout the company," announced Johanna Klewitzresponsible for sustainability in the supply chain at Audi AG. Already in the year 2025 the German premium manufacturer wants to reduce its CO2 footprint over the complete life cycle compared to the year 2015 gradually by approximately 30 per cent. Audi considers the entire product life cycle of automobiles, not just emissions during use. The long-term goal is the closed circular economy. An important role is played by the involvement of suppliers. At the Neckarsulm site, for example, Audi has already introduced 2017, an "aluminum closed loop", which is to be gradually expanded to include further plants in 2020. The aluminum sheet blends that occur in the press shop are returned directly to the supplier who reprocesses them. The aluminum sheets used in this way are subsequently used by the automaker in production. In the year 2018 alone, Audi has saved around 90.000 tons of CO2 - 30 percent more than in the previous year.
Batteries are also playing an increasingly important role at Audi: In several pilot projects, Audi is investigating possible uses for batteries after their use in automobiles. Audi is demanding the use of green electricity in cell production from its battery cell suppliers. This requirement is a firm and binding part of all new HV battery cell contract awards. Before the contract is awarded, suppliers must submit a corresponding green electricity concept. Altogether, Audi defined more than 50 concrete measures for CO2 reduction last year - in direct cooperation with its suppliers. "The first results show that there are concrete potentials for reduction particularly with the closing of material cycles, the use of green electricity and the gradual increase of secondary material and the use of recycled materials," explained Klewitz.
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