German Resource Efficiency Programme II Programme for the sustainable use and conservation of natural resources Imprint Published by Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) Public Relations Division · 11055 Berlin · Germany Email: [email protected] · Website: www.bmub.bund.de/english Edited by BMUB, Division WR III 1 Design design.idee, Büro für Gestaltung, Erfurt Printed by Druck- und Verlagshaus Zarbock GmbH & Co. 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German Resource Efficiency Programme II Programme for the sustainable use and conservation of natural resources adopted by the Federal Cabinet on 2 March 2016 German Resource Efficiency Programme II Programme for the sustainable use and conservation of natural resources Contents 1 Introduction 6 2 Current challenges for sustainable use of natural resources 8 3 Germany’s resource use 11 3.1 Raw material productivity 11 3.2 Unused material extraction 13 3.3 Cumulative resource use in imports and exports 13 3.4 Savings in primary raw material due to use of secondary raw materials 15 3.5 Anthropogenic stock 15 4 German Resource Efficiency Programme 2012 to 2015 16 4.1 Implementation process 17 4.2 Outcomes 18 4.2.1 Securing a sustainable raw material supply 18 4.2.2 Raising resource efficiency in production 22 4.2.3 Resource-efficient consumption 24 4.2.4 Enhancing resource-efficient closed cycle management 26 4.2.5 Use of cross-cutting instruments 29 5 Onward development of the German Resource Efficiency Programme 34 5.1 Combined analysis of material efficiency and energy efficiency 35 5.2 Interaction with other natural resources 37 5.2.1 Water 37 5.2.2 Air 37 5.2.3 Soil 38 5.2.4 Land 38 5.2.5 Living organisms 38 5.2.6 Resources as food and feedstuffs 38 5.3 Public participation 39 6 Indicators and targets 40 6.1 Resources 41 6.2 Recycling and recovery indicators 41 6.3 Looking ahead 43 7 Action areas 2016 to 2019 44 7.1 Securing a sustainable raw material supply 46 7.1.1 More environment-friendly extraction of mineral and fossil raw materials 46 7.1.2 Strengthening environmental, social and transparency standards internationally and making supply chains more sustainable 46 7.1.3 Considering ecological limits and social inequalities in the appraisal of raw material availability 48 7.1.4 Reducing dependence on critical raw materials by substitution 48 7.1.5 Environment-friendly expansion of material use of regenerative resources 49 7.1.6 Adding to the resource base by using CO2 as a feedstock 49 7.2 Increasing resource efficiency in production 50 7.2.1 Developing and disseminating resource-efficient production and processing methods 50 7.2.2 Expanding efficiency consulting for companies 50 7.2.3 Creating incentives to use energy and environmental management systems 51 7.3. Making production and consumption more resource-efficient 52 7.3.1 Implementing the National Programme for Sustainable Consumption 52 7.3.2 Introducing resource efficiency as a criterion for retailers and consumers 53 7.3.3 Incorporating resource efficiency in product development 53 7.3.4 Using social innovations and (product) service systems to enhance resource efficiency 54 4 German Resource Efficiency Programme II Programme for the sustainable use and conservation of natural resources 7.3.5 Expanding incentives for better market penetration with resource-efficient products and services 55 7.3.6 Promoting resource efficiency in procurement 55 7.4 Developing a resource-efficient circular economy 56 7.4.1 Avoiding waste 56 7.4.2 Strengthening product responsibility 57 7.4.3 Supporting recycling and recovery structures in emerging and developing countries 58 7.4.4 Improving the collection and recycling of resource-relevant bulk waste streams 58 7.4.5 Better exploiting recycling potential in organic and green waste 59 7.4.6 Increasing the collection and recycling of precious and rare metals 60 7.4.7 Improving phosphorus recycling 60 7.4.8 Urban mining: extracting secondary raw materials from anthropogenic stocks 61 7.5 Sustainable building and sustainable urban development 61 7.5.1 Resource-efficient neighbourhood and building development, construction, refurbishment and use 62 7.5.2 Resource-efficient infrastructure 64 7.5.3 Labelling of building products with regard to environmental performance, resource use and health 65 7.5.4 Increasing the use of recycling in construction processes 65 7.6 Resource-efficient information and communication technology 66 7.6.1 Improving the resource efficiency of ICT products 67 7.6.2 Reducing ICT resource use with efficient software 68 7.6.3 Preferential procurement of resource-efficient ICT products and services 68 7.6.4 Making data centres more resource-efficient 69 7.7 Cross-cutting instruments 70 7.7.1 Establishing strategic early warning systems and data pool 70 7.7.2 Making the financial sector and financial services more resource-efficient 70 7.7.3 Making use of market instruments and reducing subsidies that promote resource use 71 7.7.4 Integration of resource efficiency in the development of the national legal framework 72 7.7.5 Developing methods of assessing resource efficiency 72 7.7.6 Strengthening research and innovation together with their use in and with business enterprises 73 7.7.7 Creating public awareness of resource conservation 74 7.7.8 Integrating resource issues in the education system 75 7.8 Exploiting synergies with other policy areas and resolving goal conflicts 76 7.9 Supporting resource efficiency policy at local and regional level 77 7.10 Strengthening resource policy at international and EU level 77 7.10.1 Promoting the international establishment of resource efficiency 77 7.10.2 Supporting and implementing resource efficiency in Europe 78 7.10.3 Expanding cooperation and technology/knowledge transfer with developing and emerging countries 79 8 Appendix 80 8.1 Activities of the Federal Ministries 81 8.2 Länder activities 89 8.3 Municipal activities 105 8.4 Activities at associations and institutions 106 8.5 Public dialogue and citizens’ recommendations on resource efficiency 122 8.6 Decision of the German Bundestag 126 9 Directory 130 9.1 Glossary 131 9.2 References 135 9.3 List of abbreviations 137 9.4 List of figures 143 9.5 List of tables 143 5 German Resource Efficiency Programme II Programme for the sustainable use and conservation of natural resources 1 ,Introduction Natural resources are defined as all components of na- Resource efficiency gains should deliver benefits along ture: biotic and abiotic resources, physical space (such all three dimensions of sustainability and where possible as land), environmental media (water, soil and air), flow should mean no loss of prosperity. They are intended resources (such as geothermal, wind, tide and solar to reduce pressures on the environment and boost the energy), and the diversity of all living organisms. competitiveness and growth of the German economy while creating new and securing existing jobs. Voluntary Natural resources are essential for life on our planet, action and incentives play a key part here. When de- and always will be. Many natural resources, however, veloping and monitoring economic indicators to track are in limited supply. Conserving natural resources resource efficiency, adequate account must be given to is therefore of vital importance, including for future Germany’s existing situation as an industrial and manu- generations. facturing base with the primary extractive industry that this involves. Natural resources perform many functions: They are used as sources for the manufacture of products and Political debate has increasingly homed in on resource as sinks that absorb emissions. Interacting in ecosys- efficiency in recent years, both in Germany and at tems, they supply provisioning, regulating and cultural European Union level. Resource efficiency is also gain- ecosystem services. In the interests of present and fu- ing importance internationally. Under the German G7 ture generations, any use of natural resources must be Presidency in 2015, the G7 states addressed resource ef- sustainable. And regardless of their current utility to ficiency and discussed measures to improve it. Among humankind or of commercial interests, nature and its other things, they agreed to launch the G7 Alliance for components must be protected in any case because of Resource Efficiency as a voluntary forum for know- their intrinsic value. ledge sharing and networking. 6 The Federal Government embraces its responsibility ◆ Combining ecological necessities with economic in this regard. As early as 2002, it set a target in opportunities, innovation focus, and social respon- the