On 6 and 7 September, the conference "Keep turning! Systemic Circular Economy as a Driver of Rural Development" took place with over 100 participants. Five German case studies presented how they use the systemic circular economy for the development of enterprises and the region. By systemic circular economy, the participants and the project understand not only waste management, but also systemic thinking from product development to use and recycling. The case studies showed that the networking of different stakeholder groups and common regional development goals are important. Less important is the question of whether primary resources are available. Because alternatively, secondary resources can be used or products can be reprocessed for a second life cycle. In addition to innovative technologies, skilled, artisanal activities can also represent a development perspective in the systemic circular economy. Whether it is a company network, structural and spin-off support from science or municipalities, the important thing is that an initiative is driven forward, regardless of the driving force.
The event is the final conference of the research project "Potentials of the circular economy for rural development in Germany and Europe". Until the end of the project, the policy recommendations will be elaborated and the project results will be published in an accessible way. The project is coordinated by Prognos AG and implemented together with the IfLS. The client is the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development. The project is financed by the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building through the programme "Region gestalten" [link in German].
Contact person at the IfLS: Christoph Mathias (mathias[ifls].de)
