On 19 October 2023, the final report of the Recycling Raw Materials Dialogue Platform was ceremoniously presented at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection. This report sets out detailed options for action designed to help improve the recycling of metals and industrial minerals.

Many thanks to State Secretaries Michael Kellner from the BMWK and Bettina Hoffmann from the BMUV for supporting our efforts. We are delighted that the results will be incorporated into the National Raw Materials Strategy (NKWS) process and that our two years of work within the framework of this dialogue process has been positively received.

Many thanks also to our dedicated team members, our valued colleagues at the UBA and the external experts for their active support! Special thanks go to the leaders of the working groups and sub-working groups, who are all pictured in the photo.😊

The final report can be found here.

We are highly motivated and look forward to implementing the options for action. We still have a lot of work ahead of us!

‘The transformation requires strategic clarity, investment and positive communication. We need to “communicate success” in order to encourage people to actively participate in this change,’ emphasised Oliver Krischer, Minister for the Environment and Transport of North Rhine-Westphalia, at this year’s SUMMIT Environmental Economy.NRW ‘This is how we can make the leap into the green economy.’

The SUMMIT, which took place on 19 October 2023 at the Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, presented current trends, funding information and selected innovations from the NRW environmental economy to more than 250 participants from business, science, politics and civil society, offering them comprehensive networking opportunities and new ideas.

In our expert session on ‘Innovations and skilled workers for the green economy’, RefresherBoxx, the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, Neonyt Düsseldorf and the Association of the German Home Textile Industry eV presented innovative approaches to the future of the textile industry. From the production of sustainable clothing made from materials such as algae and hemp, to exhibitions at sustainable fashion fairs and the resource-saving removal of bacteria and odours, to subsequent attempts to make textiles recyclable, participants in our specialist session were able to follow the challenges facing the textile industry throughout the product cycle.

In the concluding discussion, particular emphasis was placed on the importance of international cooperation in order to develop a common understanding of sustainability, implement innovative solutions and, in particular, attract workers and skilled personnel to the German economy.

We would like to take this opportunity to once again express our sincere thanks to all participants: Cornelius Laaser and Lara Wever from the Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport, Gernot Sümmermann from RefresherBoxx, Prof. Ellen Bendt and Alexandra Glogowsky from the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, Nicole Blank from Igedo Exhibitions, Bianca Seidel from Bianca Seidel Consulting, Marc Schubert from Looper Textile Co., Martin Auerbach from the Association of the German Home Textile Industry, and Dr Ulrich Teich from the INZIN Institute.
Special thanks go to our moderator Sina Ramin Sadegh Nadi, who guided us superbly through our session and ultimately masterfully managed to summarise the main topics concisely and comprehensively during the concluding TIL storm.

We are already looking forward to seeing you again next year!
The 8th Green Economy Summit will take place on 7 November 2024.

We congratulate and celebrate with our colleague Alexander Gönner. On 29 September 2023, he successfully passed his doctoral examination on the topic of ‘Development of a fibre optic belt conveyor for use in recycling plants’.
Examiners:
Prof. Dr. Martin Faulstich
Prof. Dr. Michael ten Hompel

We wish Mr Gönner all the best for his future!