Opportunities and limits of recycling in the context of the circular economy : framework conditions, requirements, and recommendations for action / publisher: Resource Commission at the German Environment Agency ; authors: Dr-Ing Christian Hagelüken (Umicore AG & Co. KG), Prof Dr Mario Schmidt (Hochschule Pforzheim), Prof Dr Liselotte Schebek (Technische Universität Darmstadt), Prof Dr Christa Liedtke (Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie) ; additional contributors: Dr Benjamin Bongardt (Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Verkehr und Klimaschutz Berlin), Klaus Dosch (Faktor X Agentur), Prof Dr Martin Faulstich (Technische Universität Dortmund), Prof Dr Ing Sabine Flamme (FH Münster), Prof Mareike Gast (Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle), Dipl-Ing Sascha Hermann (VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH), Prof Dr Melanie Jaeger-Erben (Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg), Prof Dr Bruno Oberle (International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN), Prof Dr Armin Reller (Emeritus, Universität Augsburg), Prof Barbara Schmidt (Weißensee Kunsthochschule Berlin), Johanna Sydow (Heinrich-Böll Stiftung), Dr Julia R. Tschesche (Effizienz-Agentur NRW), Dr Hildegard Wilken (Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, BGR), Herwart Wilms (REMONDIS SE &Co. KG) ; editor: Dr Philip Nuss

Abstract

In addition to environmental and climate policy objectives, the Circular Economy is also essential for strengthening the security of supply and for achieving further economic and socio-economic goals. Recycling is one of the key factors along with a range of other approaches and strategies (e.g., longevity, Intensity of use, and the sharing economy). In order to assess the contribution and the limits of recycling for sustainable resource use and climate protection, there is a need for a clear definition of the assessment framework and system boundaries, as well as for precisely formulated calculation approaches and indicators. In this paper, the Resource Commission at the German Environment Agency (KRU) summarizes the current state of knowledge on recycling and recommends possible indicators with a focus on metals, which play a key role in the energy transition and for climate protection.