Circular economy
Circular economy - circular economic activities in the focus of the Export Initiative Environmental Protection
Circular economy has become one of the keywords for the effective reduction and recycling of waste, but it means so much more than that: Circular economy must be considered as a holistic concept and stands for the idea of circular business practices. The Export Initiative Environmental Protection supports German Green Tech companies in the transfer of know-how and technology in this field of action in order to contribute to measurable environmental benefit worldwide.
Contact
Export Initiative Environmental Protection +49 30 72618 0999 Email
Eight billion people, seven billion tonnes of waste
More than eight billion people live here on Earth.1 The rapid growth of population and the consequential rising consumption, is leading to an equally steady increase in waste volumes. Over seven billion tonnes of waste are produced worldwide every year, more than two billion tonnes of which are municipal solid waste.2, 3 Not only cities and metropolitan areas suffer from considerable waste problems, but also the entire environment.
Climate and environmental protection, sustainable business practices and a functioning circular economy are closely interrelated. Improvements to the circular economy system are accompanied by significant greenhouse gas savings. One thing is clear here: There is no universal solution. The success of introducing new technologies and concepts is closely dependent on local conditions: ecological, socio-economic and political requirements determine the possibilities for action.
The modern concept of circular economy, also referred to as “circular waste management” 4, based on the European Green Deal "Circular Economy", takes a holistic approach to sustainable economics by decoupling the use of resources from economic growth.
Export Initiative Environmental Protection opens up market opportunities for German enterprises
Germany is one of the world's leading countries in recycling and reuse of its waste. Regulations, recycling rates, quality standards and incentive systems contribute to this success. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the recycling rate for municipal solid waste, i.e. waste produced in households, trade, commerce and offices, now amounts to more than 67 per cent in Germany. In comparison, an average of only 48.8 per cent of municipal solid waste was recycled in the EU in 2021.5 This results in a wealth of opportunities for German companies on the way towards circular economic activities in international markets, with the active support of the Export Initiative Environmental Protection (EXI) of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN).
Objectives of the funding programme
Since 2016, the Export Initiative Environmental Protection of the BMUKN has been promoting a wide variety of projects in its “Circular Economy” field of action that support the transfer of know-how and the application of German environmental protection and resource efficiency technologies, prioritising emerging and developing countries. Feasibility and viability studies, pilot and model projects, initial projects, capacity building and networking initiatives are among the funding priorities for establishing sustainable infrastructures and framework conditions for a circular economy abroad.
EXI funding measures in the circular economy field
Since the Export Initiative Environmental Protection was founded in 2016, more than 70 projects and initiatives have already dealt with the topic of “circular economy”, while others have addressed “cross-sectoral technologies”, i.e. projects not only in the field of circular economy, but also in water and wastewater management.
Projects in the field of action in 2022 and 2023
The field of action circular economy has become a priority topic of the EXI funding programme. In the funding period 2022 and 2023 alone, 30 projects were funded (23 grants and 7 assignments).
Asia is at the top of the list with nine projects, followed by six projects in Europe, Latin America and Africa respectively (status March 2023).
The Export Initiative cooperates with international partners to implement its projects. In the circular economy field of action, seven projects were implemented globally as part of the “Global Programme to Support EXI” of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) GmbH in the country modules Egypt, India, Jordan, Thailand and Ukraine. Eleven projects were implemented with locally situated Chambers of Commerce (AHK) abroad.
The funding volume for the projects active in 2022 and 2023 amounted to a total of EUR 18 million.
Selected projects
Almost 60 projects or undertakings related to circular business activities have been and are being promoted by the Export Initiative Environmental Protection, 30 of these in the 2022/23 funding period alone. Many have already been successfully completed. Selected projects and undertakings with a duration of 2024 or beyond are indicated below.
Export Initiative Environmental Protection factsheet
The Export Initiative Environmental Protection factsheet provides you with a compact and clear introduction to funding objectives and procedures, target groups and more.
Download Factsheet Export Initiative Environmental Protection (accesible pdf)