A modern circular economy reveals potential for climate policy

+++ Joint declaration by 51 businesses and associations +++ The German circular economy is a trailblazer in reducing greenhouse gas emissions +++ Fraunhofer UMSICHT confirms a positive effect on the climate and the environment as a result of zero waste solutions from Interseroh +++

Cologne. With its modern solutions for a closed-loop economy, INTERSEROH Dienstleistungs GmbH demonstrates how effective climate protection can be realised in practice. Last week, 51 large and medium-sized companies – also including the environmental services provider Interseroh – and business associations stipulated this in a joint declaration by the parties. According to this, the next German government should make committed and accelerated climate protection their central task and manage it within the context of a modernisation programme for Germany. 

“The best argument for the rapid political implementation of the climate and energy transition is the success of the German loop economy,” says Markus Müller-Drexel, Managing Director of INTERSEROH Dienstleistungs GmbH. “This is an international example and trailblazer when it comes to climate and resource protection, it drives technological innovations and generates thousands of jobs as a result.”

Climate protection through the closed-loop economy assessed annually

The renowned Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT has documented the positive ecological effects which Interseroh achieves with its solutions (“zero waste solutions”) in regular studies: so, for example, the processing of a notebook for a second useful life saves around 154 kilogrammes of greenhouse gas. To save as much CO2 as the use of Interseroh’s Mobile Counting Centre for non-refillable containers avoids every year, an area of forest the size of three football pitches would be needed.

Interseroh discloses the amount of by which greenhouse gas emissions were reduced once a year in an individual certificate for its customers. “Seeing the ecological benefits of their commitment in black and white motivates many of our customers to do even more for the environment and the climate,” Markus Müller-Drexel continues. “But our work is just one of many elements in the overall framework of climate protection. That’s why we are asking the government to now take the necessary action towards a comprehensive climate and energy transition quickly.”

Boosting innovation and competitiveness

“Taking on a vanguard role in climate protection represents a tremendous opportunity for promoting innovation and bolstering Germany’s economic competitiveness,” the joint declaration from the 51 companies and association which was published last week states. “The new German government should accelerate the speed of the transformation to a carbon-neutral economy.” To achieve this, all would depend on clever governmental frameworks.

The coordinators of the declaration are the business associations Stiftung 2° and B.A.U.M., and the development and environmental organisation Germanwatch. The full declaration can be found here: <link http: www.germanwatch.org en>www.germanwatch.org/en/14634.