Karin Bornett
Instead of producing more and more waste, the resources have to be used for as long as possible - they should remain in the cycle as long as possible. Representatives of the European Union are convinced: “It is obvious that the linear model of economic growth on which we have previously relied is no longer suitable for the requirements of today's modern society in a globalized world. We cannot build our future on a throwaway society model. Many natural resources are limited; That is why we have to find ecologically and economically sustainable ways to use them. ”
The circular economy idea is nothing new anymore. Basically, the term means that products and raw materials retain their value for as long as possible. Back in 2015, the European Commission adopted an action plan for the circular economy to support the switch to the circular economy in the EU and "to promote global competitiveness, sustainable economic growth and job creation", as it says on the website the commission is called.
This plan includes measures to reduce food waste by half by 2030, promote the repairability, durability and recyclability of products, in addition to energy efficiency, as well as a strategy for plastics in the circular economy, in terms of recyclability, biological Degradability, the presence of hazardous substances in plastics and the sustainability goal to significantly reduce marine litter, as well as a number of measures to reuse water.
54 EU actions on the way to a circular economy
The campaign comprises a total of 54 actions EU action plan. These include, for example, the prohibition of certain single-use plastic articles as well as the promotion of innovation and investments. A report has recently been published that summarizes the first results and developments based on these actions.
One is satisfied. In 2016, for example, more than four million employees were employed in sectors relevant to the circular economy, which corresponds to an increase of six percent compared to 2012. “The restructuring of our economy is ongoing. The principles of the circular economy have found their way into production, consumption, water management, the food industry and the management of certain waste streams and in particular plastics, ”said the first Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans.
EU circular economy needs decline in raw material consumption
In fact, the recycling rate has actually increased, for example. The recovery rate of construction and demolition waste was 2016 percent in 89 and the recycling rate of packaging waste was more than 67 percent compared to 64 percent in 2010, with over 2016 percent of plastic packaging being recycled in 42 (compared to 24 percent in 2005). The recycling rate for plastic packaging within the European Union has almost doubled since 2005. Matthias Neitsch, managing director of RepaNet - Re-use and repair network Austria, an association for the promotion of reuse, resource conservation and employment in the environmental field, is however critical: “As long as there is no decrease in raw material consumption in absolute numbers, i.e. in kilos per person, we cannot do it Circular economy talk. At the moment there are no signals that the annual increase in raw material consumption would even slow, let alone come to a standstill. Furthermore, more raw materials are currently being built into buildings and infrastructure than are disposed of, burned and recycled. The "circularity gap" (currently only about nine percent of the raw material consumption is covered by recycling, 91 percent of the raw materials are still primary raw materials!) Is not decreasing, and the raw material consumption is increasing annually, which means that increased recycling cannot even meet the annual one Compensate for additional consumption. ”He is also convinced:“ Increased recycling is nice, but the ever shorter life cycles of buildings, infrastructure and consumer products do not solve the basic problem of the still increasing annual raw material withdrawals. Even renewable raw materials do not help, because their availability is just as limited due to the limited agricultural area as that of non-renewable resources. ”
Eco-design is coming
It all sounds less optimistic. So maybe you shouldn't saddle up the horse from behind, but put ecological considerations at the beginning of the life cycle of products. The right key word here: ecodesign. It aims to design and produce products that are as resource-efficient and recyclable as possible right from the start. The EU Commission has also drawn up a directive for this. This includes regulations on material efficiency requirements such as the availability of spare parts, facilitating repairs and end-of-life treatment. However, Neitsch believes that at the product level, ecodesign only plays a minor role for the EU circular economy, “because that Rebound effects will eat up the efficiency gains. Instead of products, design finally has to take care of people and ask how they can meet their needs with minimal use of resources and a high level of happiness or satisfaction. Sustainable companies then have to develop their innovative business models from this. So you have to learn to sell satisfaction and well-being, with the minimum use of raw materials, whether primary or secondary raw materials. We must finally understand that prosperity cannot grow continuously and that more happiness does not come from more materials and more goods. Our planet has limits. "
Recycling in Austria
Around 1,34 million tons of packaging waste are generated in Austria every year. This is shown in the current status report of the Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism, for which the Federal Environment Agency has created the data basis. Plastic packaging makes up around 300.000 tons. The separate collection of glass, metal and plastic packaging from the household sector has increased by 2009% since 6.
The recycling targets for plastic packaging, which must be achieved by 2025, represent a major challenge. Here Austria lies with 100.000 t of recycling volume and 34% far above the current EU recycling target of 22,5%, but in 2025 50% Recycling rate can be achieved, by 2030 a recycling rate of 55% and a collection rate of PET beverage bottles of 90% can be achieved.
Source: Recycling Austria
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