Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment, Energy

Member since: 05/2019

Active in: WG Plastics

www.wupperinst.org

Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment, Energy

The Wuppertal Institute researches and develops concepts, strategies and tools for the transition to sustainable development at local, regional, national and international level, with a particular focus on dealing with resource, climate and energy challenges and their consequences for the economy and society. Analysing and promoting innovations designed to break the link between high living standards and the consumption of natural resources is a major part of its research. The Wuppertal Institute’s research is focused on the transformative processes required to achieve sustainable development. Our research in this area is built on insights from a number of scientific disciplines. We combine these insights to work through complex sustainability-related problems using an inter-disciplinary approach, and to help find solutions that are both practically relevant and tailored to stakeholders’ needs. The problems we work on are as global as they are national and regional/local – as are our approach and our networks.

In contrast to ‘end-of-pipe’ initiatives, creating a circular economy and avoiding waste requires various stakeholders to work together at every stage of the value chain. This makes the PREVENT Waste Alliance the perfect platform to drive forward efforts to reduce plastic waste, to examine and communicate best practice, and to work together to discuss and deliver additional action as required.

The Wuppertal Institute has been working hard to meet the complex challenges associated with the transition to a circular economy for many years, including by finding effective strategies for reducing waste. We have gained significant expertise in this area, and are keen to share it with the PREVENT Waste Alliance.

Both Germany and the European Union have set themselves the target of transforming their economies along sustainable lines. Specifically, they are aiming to create a circular economy in which waste is avoided wherever possible, products and parts remain in use for as long as possible, and waste is viewed holistically as a potential resource. The research being undertaken in the Wuppertal Institute’s Circular Economy Department is geared towards finding solutions to the challenges and issues that accompany this transformation and is focused on designing infrastructure, policy mixes and governance structures, as well as on the innovative processes that will be required to support the circular economy.