Publication:Report

Cover of the report with colorful tiles showing photos of agricultural scenes in the background

The bioeconomy concept presents an attractive framework for policymakers in Europe, as it holds the potential to foster innovations that match specific community needs with regionally available resources. The SCALE-UP project aims to enhance the capacity and expertise of multi-actor partnerships to accelerate the development of market-ready bio-based products and services while facilitating their successful market deployment. Additionally, SCALE-UP strengthens collaboration among primary producers, SMEs, industry clusters, social actors, and policymakers, promoting a cohesive approach to innovation.

12 Small-scale Business Models Explored in the SCALE-UP Regions

Year 2025

Publication:Website

Ecologic Institute designed and developed the project website "Circular Textiles" within the networking and transfer project of the funding program "Resource-efficient circular economy – circular sustainable textiles: development of holistic, practical solutions for closing loops in the textile industry". The website provides an overview of all funded joint projects. It also contains information on the projects and events, as well as news from the networking and transfer project.

Zirkuläre Textilien

Ressourcheneffiziente Kreislaufwirtschaft – Zirkuläre nachhaltige Textilien

Year 2024

Publication:Document

Kemper, Melanie 2024: ZirTeNet: Websitekonzept - Planung der Informationsarchitektur von www.zirkulaere-textilien.de. Ecologic Institut. Berlin. Unpublished.

ZirTeNet: Websitekonzept

Planung der Informationsarchitektur von www.zirkulaere-textilien.de

Year 2024

Publication:Policy Brief

Cover page of the report titled 'Empfehlungen für die Umsetzung eines nachhaltigen und gesellschaftlich akzeptierten Unterbodenmanagements in Deutschland' (Recommendations for the Implementation of a Sustainable and Socially Accepted Subsoil Management in Germany). Key recommendations are listed, focusing on political frameworks, value chains, collaboration with practitioners, legal clarity, and further research support.

This policy brief outlines recommendations for sustainable and socially accepted subsoil management in Germany. Subsoil, located below the plowed topsoil layer, holds essential nutrients and water reserves crucial for plant growth and sustainable bioeconomy practices. The Soil³ project (2015–2025) investigated methods to enhance subsoil usage, focusing on increasing plant root access to this layer without compromising its ecological functions.

Empfehlungen für die Umsetzung eines nachhaltigen und gesellschaftlich akzeptierten Unterbodenmanagements in Deutschland

Year 2024

Publication:Report

This report analyzes documents and formats focusing on resource efficiency, resource conservation and the circular economy at the German, European and international level. It outlines significant developments and expected trends in resource policy and identifies research needs. Given the rapid increase in global resource use, driven by population growth and economic expansion, the transition to a resource-efficient and circular economy is a key challenge. This need is reinforced by various global crises such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and increasing resource dependency. The report emphasizes that innovative and effective policies are needed at both national and international levels to promote and implement this transition.

Ressourceneffizienz und natürliche Ressourcen im internationalen Kontext

Entwicklungslinien der Ressourcenpolitik mit Schwerpunkt auf Ressourcenschonung und Ressourceneffizienz

Year 2024

Publication:Report

Cover of a report titled 'Transformation towards sustainable, resilient infrastructures - Concepts, systematization, sustainability assessment, case studies'. It's the 55th publication of 2024 in the 'TEXTE' series, intended for the German Environment Agency. Below the title are the names of the authors from various institutions including the Leibniz Institute for Ecological Spatial Development, Ecologic Institute, and the Brandenburg University of Technology.

This final report provides an analysis of the innovation and dissemination processes of infrastructure solutions that aim to increase sustainability and resilience. The research was conducted as part of the TRAFIS II project.

Transformation hin zu nachhaltigen, resilienten Infrastrukturen

Begriffe, Systematisierung, Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung, Fallstudien

Year 2024

Publication:Podcast

In this episode of "Green Deal – Big Deal?", we tackle the complex world of natural resources, a topic that underpins many aspects of Europe's ambition for a green future. In conversation with guests Florika Fink-Hooijer, Director-General of European Commission’s DG Environment, and Janez Potočnik, Co-chair of the International Resources Panel, hosts Ewa Iwaszuk and Aaron Best discuss how the use of natural resources is closely linked to the climate and biodiversity crises, highlighting the global nature of resource use and its impacts.

Material World: Using resources sustainably in a time of planetary crises

Fourteenth episode of the podcast "Green Deal – Big Deal?"

Year 2024

Publication:Article

In the article "Lang lebe der Rohstoff" (available in German), Susanne Langsdorf provides an overview of Germany's use of raw materials, its dependence on sometimes problematic trading partners and what tools Germany has to reduce this.

Lang lebe der Rohstoff!

A more sustainable use of resources is possible. There is a wide range of measures available to reduce consumption - but there is a lack of implementation.

Year 2024

Publication:Policy Brief

cover page of Policy Paper No. 9 by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection. The title reads 'Die Rolle nachhaltiger Produktionsmethoden und Investitionen sowie naturpositiver Lieferketten für die Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemen', translating to 'The Role of Sustainable Production Methods and Investments as well as Nature-Positive Supply Chains for the Restoration of Ecosystems'.

How can companies and societies effectively design the shift towards greater sustainability? This policy brief highlights the importance of sustainable production methods, investments, and nature-positive supply chains for the restoration of ecosystems and outlines action approaches for a sustainable future.

Die Rolle nachhaltiger Produktionsmethoden und Investitionen sowie naturpositiver Lieferketten für die Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemen

Year 2023

Publication:Report

This report provides an independent, systematic analysis of the structures, activities, and impacts of Germany’s Energy, Climate, Development, and Raw Materials Partnerships (ECDRPs). A particular focus lies on the partnerships with countries of the Global South. Based on the analysis, the report provides recommendations for the development of Germany’s partnerships by answering the central question: How can Germany's ECDRPs be made as impactful as possible and more transformative for a resilient transition towards climate neutrality in Germany and its partner countries?

Developing Germany's Partnerships for Transformation

Year 2023

Publication:Report

This report analyzes how innovative, sustainable infrastructure solutions can be successfully disseminated through specific mechanisms and under certain conditions. It emphasizes the importance of cooperative networks and suitable framework conditions for the dissemination of innovations at municipal and regional level.

Verbreitungswege nachhaltiger Infrastrukturlösungen

Drei Beispiele auf kommunaler und regionaler Ebene

Year 2023

Publication:Report

Cover for an evaluation report titled 'Evaluation 2020/2021 der Förderrichtlinie "Kommunale Energieeffizienz- und/oder Ressourceneffizienz-Netzwerke" im Rahmen der Nationalen Klimaschutzinitiative (NKI)'. It features logos from various German research and environmental institutes.

The evaluation of the municipal networks for the period 2018 to 2021 is now published and available for download. 28 projects were funded with Euro 5.66 million, and municipalities contributed almost Euro 3.8 Mio. own revenue for the networking activities. Over the evaluation period, the networks contributed to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 69.2 thousand tonnes of CO2.

Evaluation 2020/2021 der NKI-Förderrichtlinie "Kommunale Energieeffizienz- und/oder Ressourceneffizienz-Netzwerke"

Year 2023

Publication:Article

This article illustrates the communication strategies that were successfully applied in the citizen science program Plastic Pirates in Germany. The program engages schoolchildren, teachers and youth groups in plastic pollution research. A variety of communication strategies have been implemented and continuously revised and adapted since the start of the program in 2016.

Sharing Communication Insights of the Citizen Science Program Plastic Pirates

Best practices from 7 years of engaging schoolchildren and teachers in plastic pollution research

Year 2023

Publication:Report

This publication provides a quantitative overview of the development and status of environmental crime in Germany between 2010 and 2020, with a supplementary presentation for the year 2021, based on data from the police crime statistics ("Polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik"), as well as statistics from the Federal Statistical Office's criminal prosecution ("Strafverfolgungsstatistik"). The report provides both an overview of general trends and an in-depth account of individual environmental offences. Additionally, the publication contains data on administrative offences relating to the trafficking of protected species. The report was prepared by a team from Ecologic Institute on behalf of the German Federal Environment Agency.

Umweltdelikte 2021

Auswertung von Statistiken

Year 2023

Publication:Report

This report analyses how a circular economy can contribute to halting biodiversity loss. It concludes that while circular economy measures (directly and indirectly) contribute to meeting biodiversity and climate strategic objectives, the combination with biodiversity-friendly sourcing is crucial in order to halt biodiversity loss.

Circular Economy and Biodiversity

ETC CE Report 2023/7

Year 2023

Publication:Document

This paper addresses a gap by providing a conceptual basis to further the understanding of security implications of the EU’s transformation to a net-zero economy. It first defines the aspects of security under consideration (Section 2) and proposes a typology to classify fossil fuel exporting countries based on their exposure to world market prices, their capacity to adjust and their importance to the EU in terms of security issues (Section 3). It then takes stock of policy options that can be adopted in other countries to reduce adjustment costs to a changed economic environment (Section 4) and discusses how the EU can support these policies (Section 5). Finally, it highlights key implications for EU policy makers (Section 6).

How the Net-Zero Transformation Affects Fossil Fuel Exporters

Security Implications and Policy Options for the EU

Year 2023

Publication:Article

This blog post shows why the EU Renovation Wave should link environmental and social issues. EU member states are currently facing three crises: the climate crisis, an energy security crisis and a social crisis. The EU Renovation Wave has a key role in responding to all three crises. However, it can only fulfill this key role if the implementation of the renovation wave is socially fair.

Kein Pfusch am Bau! Verteilungspolitische Effekte der EU-Renovierungswelle

Blog Post

Year 2023

Publication:Document

1 page of the summary of the Online Expert Dialogue on Reusable Transport Packaging

Almost one third of all packaging in Germany is so-called transport packaging, which becomes waste after its single use. Despite the factual relevance of this packaging group, it is strongly underrepresented in the public perception as well as in the political discourse. During the online expert dialogue "Reusable Transport Packaging" on 27 February 2023, good examples from practice were presented and potentials, challenges and necessary elements for the expansion of reusable transport packaging were discussed together with experts from trade, logistics industry, civil society and politics. The summary is available for download.

Online-Fachdialog "Mehrweg-Transportverpackungen"

Year 2023

Publication:Article

Cover Journal Circular Economy and Sustainability

To tackle the "plastic crisis", the concept of circular economy has attracted considerable attention over the past years, both by practitioners and scholars alike. Against this background, Linda Mederake, Ecologic Institute, reflects in this opinion paper from a political scientist's point of view on key issues currently under discussion regarding the implementation of a circular plastics economy.

Without a Debate on Sufficiency, a Circular Plastics Economy will Remain an Illusion

Year 2022

Publication:Conference Paper

In December 2022, the 6th European Resources Forum – "Transformative approaches for sustainable resource use and a circular economy" took place. Aaron Best of Ecologic Institute supported the German Environment Agency in content-related issues surrounding the Forum, including the preparation of this background paper.

50 Years 'Limits to Growth' – Where are we now, where should we go?

Background paper for the European Resource Forum 2022

Year 2022

Publication:Conference Paper

1st page of the Background paper for the European Resource Forum 2022 "Sustainable Resource Use & Circular Economy – The political landscape"

The transition to sustainable resource use and a circular economy is broadly recognised as an important lever in dealing with the various current crises. Debates in various international organisations suggest that such a transition will require profound systemic changes and the increased integration of previously separated policy fields in order to deliver the expected benefits. Moreover, current efforts are largely focused on entire product value chains.

Sustainable Resource Use and Circular Economy – the political landscape

Background paper for the European Resource Forum 2022

Year 2022

Publication:Conference Paper

There is a clear need for sustainable resource use to confront the multiple environmental crises while allowing societies to thrive. Governments around the world seek to establish systematic policies towards the implementation of sustainable resource use and a circular economy. In the session "Sustainable Resource Use and Circular Economy – the Social Dimension" we take a closer look at how these developments affect the social aspects of sustainability. What implications can changing resource use patterns in Europe have for well-being, development, prosperity and health, especially in the global South? How can an inter- and intragenerational just resource use be achieved and what are the stumbling blocks? In December 2022, the 6th European Resources Forum – "Transformative approaches for sustainable resource use and a circular economy" took place. Dr. Aissa Rechlin of Ecologic Institute supported the German Environment Agency in content-related issues surrounding the Forum, including the preparation of this background paper.

Sustainable Resource Use and Circular Economy – the Social Dimension

Background paper for the European Resource Forum 2022

Year 2022

Publication:Report

This analysis shows that there is considerable potential in Germany to facilitate, stimulate, and ultimately increase the use of recycled materials through political regulation and incentivization. It provides recommendations for a successful policy mix to increase the use of recyclates.

Politikinstrumente zur Steigerung des Einsatzes von Rezyklaten

Year 2022

Publication:Case Study

In light of current experiences in energy markets, Western democracies, and the EU in particular, are exploring new supply chains and strategies to reduce their raw material dependence on China. The findings presented here by the authors of this study provide an overview of the main options that the EU can currently use to counter the pressures of growing dependencies. This study discusses some positive examples of feasible circular approaches that aim to achieve savings in the use of rare earths.

Europäische Ressourcensouveränität

Seltene Erden und das Potenzial der Kreislaufwirtschaft: Eine Fallstudie

Year 2022

Publication:Book Section

Cover of the book "Zukünfte nachhaltiger Bioökonomie. Kommunikation und Partizipation in neuen Wirtschaftsformen"

A democratic dialogue with a broad spectrum of stakeholders and the society is considered necessary for the transformation to a sustainable bio-based economy. As such, several dedicated bioeconomy strategies across Europe and beyond outline objectives towards broader stakeholder and public engagement. In this book chapter Zoritza Kiresiewa, Laurens Duin and Holger Gerdes address the degree of participation and the role of the individual actor groups and society in strategy development processes and recommend concrete actions for more inclusive and effective stakeholder and public engagement.

Limitations of Stakeholder and Public Engagement in Bioeconomy Strategy Development Processes

Year 2022

Publication:Brochure

This study presents innovative processes and technologies of the circular economy. The case studies come from a range of industries that are of particular importance to Hesse and demonstrate the broad applicability of the technologies presented. The case studies are split into five main groups, each containing a few innovative and sustainable projects by various institutions and firms. They also offer insights into the economic and ecological advantages of the projects and provide the readers with a thorough understanding of the processes.

Kreislaufführung und Sekundärrohstoffe

Praxisbeispiele und Potenziale

Year 2022

Publication:Report

This report provides the context and justification for the development of BE-Rural's Sustainability Screening, a description of its methodological procedure, and the syntheses of results from the two experimental implementations of the approach in the Stara Zagora and Vidzeme regions, which are included in full as annexes to this report. The last chapters present the main lessons learned from these two pilots and the overall conclusions of the task.

Note on the Development of a Sustainability Screening for Regional Bioeconomy Strategies

Deliverable 5.4 H2020 Research project BE-Rural

Year 2022

Publication:Postcard

For the project, "Green Deal – Big Deal? Discussing Europe's Green Future", Ecologic Institute designed a postcard series. The postcard series promotes the podcast itself and on two cards in particular the third episode Sustainability in Style: Circular fashion in the European Green Deal. The postcards are designed according to the project's style guidelines and also include a QR code to the podcast (episode).

Green Deal – Big Deal? – Postcard series

Year 2022

Publication:Report

Report Cover "Global Rules in a New Global Treaty"

In March 2022, at the resumed fifth meeting of the United Nations Environment Assembly, UN Member States adopted the historic decision to start negotiating a global treaty to combat plastic pollution. As national delegations and relevant stakeholders in Asia start preparing for the upcoming negotiations, this report by Linda Mederake and Doris Knoblauch (both Ecologic Institute), aims to provide an analysis of the region’s opportunities to end single-use plastics (SUPs) pollution through the development of this new global treaty.

Global Rules in a New Global Treaty: Asia's opportunity to end single-use plastic pollution

Year 2022

Publication:Brochure

This brochure summarizes the most important key messages from 20 joint research projects and seven cross-cutting topics of the German research focus "Plastics in the Environment". The brochure is structured along the life cycle of plastics and includes five sections: Green Economy, Consumption, Recycling, Fresh-water Ecosystems, and Saltwater Ecosystems.

Key Messages of the BMBF Research Focus "Plastics in the Environment"

Short version

Year 2022

Publication:Podcast

Together with our interview guests Arianna Nicoletti (Circular Textiles Lead at Circular Berlin) and Mandy Hinzmann (Fellow at Ecologic Institute) we explore the concepts of circular and sustainable fashion and discuss the potential impact of the recently published European Union Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. We also get philosophical and ask: is the constant change and quick consumption an inherent characteristic of fashion?

Sustainability in Style: Circular fashion in the European Green Deal

Third episode of the podcast "Green Deal – Big Deal?"

Year 2022

Publication:Brochure

The publication summarizes the key messages from all 20 joint research projects and the seven cross-cutting topics of the German research focus "Plastics in the Environment". Structured by main topics, the central results are presented in order to derive recommendations for various addressees. More than 70 researchers and practitioners from across the research focus have jointly co-authored the key messages.

Key Messages of the BMBF-Research Focus "Plastics in the Environment – Sources· Sinks · Solutions"

Year 2022

Publication:Video

On 6 May 2022, Ecologic Institute organized the "Theme Day Plastic in the Environment" to present to the public the research findings achieved since 2017 from 20 research projects with more than 100 participating institutions from science, industry and practice. Ecologic Institute produced a reel to contribute to the visibility of the event.

Informiere dich am 6. Mai beim Thementag: Plastik in der Umwelt

Year 2022

Publication:Video

On 6 May 2022, Ecologic Institute organized the "Theme Day Plastic in the Environment" to present to the public the research findings achieved since 2017 from 20 research projects with more than 100 participating institutions from science, industry and practice. Ecologic Institute developed a trailer for passenger television in Berlin's subways (Berliner Fenster) for Berlin-wide visibility of the event.

Welche Auswirkungen hat Plastik auf uns Berliner:innen und unsere Umwelt?

Year 2022

Publication:Poster

Plastic waste is a global environmental problem, the consequences of our increasing plastic use are visible worldwide. Therefore, water pollution (oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater) and plastics in the environment are among the top environmental issues of concern to many people. However, many myths, misconceptions, and ambiguities circulate in the plastics debate. This 20-part poster series sets out to clarify some of these issues. Join us for a fact check – would you have known?

Plastik-Mythen

Die 20 populärsten Plastik-Mythen im Faktencheck

Year 2022

Publication:Website

The Ecologic Institute designed and developed the theme day website "Plastic in the Environment". It contained the event documentation and programme information.

Thementag: Plastik in der Umwelt

Year 2022

Adaptation
Agriculture
Arctic
Biodiversity
Bioeconomy
Cities
Climate
Climate Foreign Policy
Coastal + Marine
Communication
Consumer Policy
Culture + Ecology
Digitalization
EU
Economics
Education
Energy
Environmental Law – Ecologic Legal
Evaluation
Events
Finance
Food
Foreign Policy
Governance
Health
Indicators
Industry
International Development
Land Use
Mobility
Nature-based Solutions and Green Infrastructure
Plastics
Public Diplomacy
Resource Conservation + Circular Economy
Trade
Water

Adaptation
Agriculture
Arctic
Biodiversity
Bioeconomy
Cities
Climate
Climate Foreign Policy
Coastal + Marine
Communication
Consumer Policy
Culture + Ecology
Digitalization
EU
Economics
Education
Energy
Environmental Law – Ecologic Legal
Evaluation
Events
Finance
Food
Foreign Policy
Governance
Health
Indicators
Industry
International Development
Land Use
Mobility
Nature-based Solutions and Green Infrastructure
Plastics
Public Diplomacy
Resource Conservation + Circular Economy
Trade
Water

Article
Book
Book Section
Brochure
Case Study
Conference Paper
Document
Fact Sheet
Flyer
Infographic
Newsletter
Podcast
Policy Brief
Postcard
Poster
Report
Thesis
Video
Web Application
Website

Publications

Ressourcheneffiziente Kreislaufwirtschaft – Zirkuläre nachhaltige Textilien

Planung der Informationsarchitektur von www.zirkulaere-textilien.de

Entwicklungslinien der Ressourcenpolitik mit Schwerpunkt auf Ressourcenschonung und Ressourceneffizienz

Begriffe, Systematisierung, Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung, Fallstudien

Fourteenth episode of the podcast "Green Deal – Big Deal?"

A more sustainable use of resources is possible. There is a wide range of measures available to reduce consumption - but there is a lack of implementation.

Drei Beispiele auf kommunaler und regionaler Ebene

Best practices from 7 years of engaging schoolchildren and teachers in plastic pollution research

Auswertung von Statistiken

ETC CE Report 2023/7

Security Implications and Policy Options for the EU

Blog Post

Background paper for the European Resource Forum 2022

Background paper for the European Resource Forum 2022

Background paper for the European Resource Forum 2022

Seltene Erden und das Potenzial der Kreislaufwirtschaft: Eine Fallstudie

Praxisbeispiele und Potenziale

Deliverable 5.4 H2020 Research project BE-Rural

Short version

Third episode of the podcast "Green Deal – Big Deal?"

Die 20 populärsten Plastik-Mythen im Faktencheck