A perfect circle

More than waste management

The circular economy

Very often, the circular economy only extends as far as the nearest rubbish bin. For many people, the circular economy simply means waste management – the plastic bottle that is later converted into a park bench. But there is much more to it than that. The aim is not just to create closed loops for raw materials but to slow down substance cycles altogether – not only in waste management, but also in buildings, transport and the garment industry. A circular economy recognises…

More than once

The packaging cycle

The yoghurt in the fridge, the shampoo in the shower, the cheese on the dinner table all have one thing in common: they rarely reach us without some kind of packaging. In 2019, a total of 18.9 million tonnes of packaging waste was generated in Germany alone – an average of around 227 kg per capita. It consists of paper and glass, various types of metal, and plastic – precious raw materials whose extraction and processing have an impact on the environment and climate. How can the…

“A circular economy always works in times of scarcity”

Interview with Walter R. Stahel (Product-Life Institute)

What can be done to progress the circular economy? What advantages does it offer – not only for the environment and the climate, but also for the economy? We discussed these questions with Walter R. Stahel. In 1982, he founded the Product-Life Institute in Geneva, which is dedicated to product-life extension of goods and components. Walter R. Stahel has also advised the European Commission in various capacities and is a member of the Club of Rome.

Mr Stahel, a circular economy is…