National Circular Economy Strategy: BNW Publishes Statement
Thuringia – The Bundesverband Nachhaltige Wirtschaft e.V. (BNW) has recently released its official statement regarding the draft of the Nationalen Kreislaufwirtschaftsstrategie (NKWS), or National Circular Economy Strategy. Dr. Katharina Reuter, the Managing Director of BNW, emphasized the need for a regulatory framework that enhances the competitiveness of circular materials, products, and business models. The strategy’s outlined objectives align with BNW’s perspective on how a circular economy should be driven.
One of the key areas the BNW addresses in its statement is the importance of reusable systems in waste prevention. While the standardization of these systems is seen as a positive step, the BNW believes that more concrete measures are needed, particularly in the to-go sector. Strengthening the enforcement of reusable options and promoting material-neutrality would significantly contribute to waste reduction goals.
The BNW also highlights the potential for improvement and clarification in the areas of information and communication technology (ICT) and electronic devices. Economic incentives, such as the successful introduction of a repair bonus in Thuringia, have proven to be effective in promoting circular business models. Additionally, funds from the extended producer responsibility system should be allocated to improving collection facilities and rates, encouraging the early collection and preparation for reuse of out-of-service devices. Furthermore, raising public awareness about return and recycling options is crucial, and the BNW welcomes the future emphasis on reuse in public procurement.
Beyond these sectors, the BNW urges a stronger focus on specific measures to facilitate a circular economy in the fields of clothing, textiles, and plastics. The strategy should address the establishment of technical capacities for sorting, collection, and recycling processes related to clothing and textiles. The BNW also advocates for the introduction of economic incentives, such as fee differentiation, to promote long-lasting and recyclable textile products. Likewise, time-limited economic incentives can be implemented to support circular business models, including reuse, repair, and leasing.
Regarding the construction and building sector, the BNW supports the strategy’s objectives that emphasize the importance of circular practices in these industries. Highlighted measures such as recycling, preservation of existing structures, and the promotion of component reuse are seen as positive steps towards a resource-efficient and digitally-driven construction sector.
Furthermore, the BNW emphasizes the necessity of reducing market-distorting subsidies, such as the energy tax privilege for petrochemical products, in the plastic sector. Building stable markets for plastic recyclates and considering feed-in tariffs for recyclates are also endorsed by the BNW. The association suggests that the level of feed-in tariffs should be linked to the emissions avoided through the use of recyclates.
Additionally, the BNW acknowledges the German government’s active engagement in promoting circular economy practices by integrating them into public procurement. Consideration of lifecycle costs and the CO2 shadow price in procurement decisions paves the way for selecting economically and ecologically optimal offers.
To effectively implement the proposed measures in the long term, the BNW insists on the allocation of corresponding budgets for investments and research, as well as the announced „Zirkuläre Wirtschaft“ action program. Financing these initiatives can be achieved, in part, by eliminating environmentally harmful subsidies.
Contact:
Bundesverband Nachhaltige Wirtschaft e.V.
Joscha Frost, Press Officer
presse@bnw-bundesverband.de
Tel.: +49 152 53088545
About Bundesverband Nachhaltige Wirtschaft e.V. (BNW)
The Bundesverband Nachhaltige Wirtschaft e.V. (BNW) represents the voice of progressive companies directly in Berlin politics. Since its establishment in 1992, BNW has been advocating for environmental, climate, and social sustainability aspects as an independent business association. With its 700 member companies, BNW represents over 200,000 jobs. The network consists of large corporations, SMEs, cleantech startups, and social entrepreneurs, forming a cross-sector collaborative effort towards sustainability.
