From the Circular Economy to the Circular Society?
Paths to a true circular economy
The current consumption of raw materials and resources is unsustainable and exceeds the Earth’s carrying capacity. The increasing hunger for resources and the scarcity of individual raw materials are often the cause of conflicts, migration, environmental destruction and inhumane working conditions. Significantly reducing resource requirements is therefore a key sustainability goal. But at present, only a small proportion of the raw materials used are returned to the production process over the life cycle of a product. We are still a long way from a true circular economy.
Circular Economy refers to a systemically conceived, resource-efficient circular economy that takes ecological and economic goals into account. But how do we achieve a system in which products are used long and efficiently and then largely recycled? Are technical and product-oriented approaches alone sufficient for a change towards more circularity? What role does the social dimension play? To what extent do production and consumption patterns need to be made more sustainable and circular social practices established in the sense of a “circular society”? How can technical and socio-economic innovations be developed together? What opportunities do digitalization and innovative business models offer?
At the symposium on the DBU German Environmental Award 2020, we will discuss these questions from a national and international perspective with representatives from business, science and civil society. We are looking forward to your interest.
Registrations for the symposium are no longer possible.
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Program
20.10.2020, 14:00 h till 16:00 h
Welcome
Alexander Bonde, DBU Secretary General
Impulse
Peter Börkey, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Discussion
Dr. Henning Wilts, Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy gGmbH
Prof. Vera Susanne Rotter, Technical University Berlin
Christian Schiller, CEO cirplus GmbH
Barbara Lersch, Hans Sauer Foundation
Dr. Maximilian Hempel, DBU
Sidekick
Annika Trappmann, winner of the DBU German Environmental Award 2020
Open Q&A session
Moderation
Hanna Gersmann
