Ruhr region becomes the engine of the Circular Economy
Sustainable business is moving away from classic linear business models. It thinks circularly - and asks: How can natural resources be conserved and preserved? How can we replace fossil fuels with renewable raw materials? How can materials be used, recovered and reused more efficiently?
The concept of the Circular Economy is gaining increasing attention. The products and services in the future market Materials, Material Efficiency and Resource Management form its core.
The goods of the Circular Economy in the Ruhr are in demand internationally
With 191,000 employees and a gross value added of around 15.1 billion euros, it is by far the largest submarket in North Rhine-Westphalia - and also shapes the industry in the Metropole Ruhr: Here it has 54,000 employees, more than a third of the total number of employees in the environmental industry in the Ruhr.
The figures come from the state's Environmental Economic Report 2022. The goods are in demand internationally: One third of North Rhine-Westphalia's exports come from this submarket alone. Waste and scrap of iron, steel, aluminum and copper are the number one export commodity of the entire NRW environmental industry. However, machines that separate waste or process paper are also export hits.
The Metropole Ruhr has very good chances of placing ahead in the competition
Circular Economy solutions therefore not only help to protect the environment and the climate. They are also a competitive factor. Circular value creation is thus playing a growing role in action plans and innovation strategies at European, national and regional level. For example, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia wants to become a pioneer in the circular economy.
The Metropole Ruhr has very good chances of placing itself at the forefront of the competition among the regions. In a recent analysis of potential, the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy highlights not only the strong market positioning of North Rhine-Westphalia as a whole, but also the "spatial concentration of relevant market players in the Ruhr region".
According to the study, the region can benefit from a dense research landscape, many manufacturing companies and a market with millions of consuming people. Among the important players are the many universities, technology and start-up centers, as well as companies and start-ups.
Alternative materials and innovative technologies are created in the Ruhr region
The range of forward-looking solutions from the region is colorful: Alternative materials such as bioplastics are created from natural fibers. High-performance materials withstand enormous pressures and temperatures, are corrosion and scratch resistant, or always return to their original form.
New processes recover rare raw materials from end-of-life cars and electronic scrap, separate waste and reprocess plastics. Innovative technologies improve recycling cycles of iron or aluminum. Slag and carbon dioxide from the steel and cement industries are used to make new construction and insulating materials, and smelter gas is turned into chemicals.
With green hydrogen, the Metropole Ruhr becomes the engine for the mobility of the future
With its activities in universities, research institutions and companies, the Metropole Ruhr is already broadly positioned in the future market of environmentally friendly mobility. Whether it is a matter of topics such as electromobility in passenger transport or green hydrogen for trucks and buses, whether it is a matter of sustainable logistics in inland navigation or integrated transport concepts in urban areas: The Metropole Ruhr combines the know-how of today and works on the expertise of tomorrow.
Environmental Economy Network
The innovative power of the future market is great. Many companies are looking for help on how to make their business circular. More startups are taking notice of the Circular Economy. At Greentech.Ruhr, we have set ourselves the task of joining forces in a large network - to promote exchange and expand shared expertise.
Network with us.
Do you have questions about the environmental economy in the Ruhr region? Or are you interested in our Greentech.Ruhr network? Call us or contact us directly via contact form.
Image credit: Birgit Brügmann