Despite all the warnings, global demand for raw materials was already growing immensely in 2007. Using the example of the use of copper in two important sectors (automotive and information and communication technology) as well as the example of the particularly extensive use of resources in the steel industry and in the construction and housing sectors, scientists have therefore analysed the following question in particular: What innovations and incentive instruments can help to reduce Germany's demand for raw materials and improve the recycling of products and materials?

The answers to this question were presented at the final event of the research project "Resource Productivity and Resource Conservation - Future Dialogue". High-ranking representatives from politics, business and science, including State Secretary Matthias Machnig (Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety) and Prof. Dr Andreas Troge (President of the Federal Environment Agency), have agreed to speak at the closing event. Stakeholders from business, science and politics were involved in the research project in an open dialogue process.

The project identified options for improving raw material productivity and resource conservation in Germany for various priority areas. In order to initiate future coalitions for system innovations, potentials, players and packages of measures were identified in the selected focal areas of "Construction and housing", "Copper as a raw material system and ICT technologies" and the "Steel industry". Three workshop dialogues were the central elements of the implementation-oriented project. The following focal points were addressed in detail:

  • "Hot spot" analysis and potentials (incl. literature study): An overview of the potential for improving raw material productivity and resource conservation was compiled on the basis of other ongoing research projects. "Hot spots of raw material consumption" were identified at national level. In addition, drivers ('driving forces') of raw material consumption were presented. Raw material systems, sectors and areas of need, including their product lines, were used as analysis systems. Extrapolations were made using statistical methods. The "hot spots" were used as the basis for stakeholder-centred dialogues at workshops, where they were explored in greater depth.
  • Proposals for measures to utilise the potential: Based on the results of the literature study and our own research, proposals for measures were developed for priority raw material systems, sectors and areas of need for all relevant stakeholders involved (= key players). Measures of a technical, organisational, systemic, legal or financial nature were developed, taking into account the options available to state and economic actors. In addition to the measures, the interests of the stakeholders involved (profiteers and losers) as well as obstacles to implementation on the part of the stakeholders and against the background of the international (EU and global) market situation were identified. This was also used as the basis for stakeholder-centred dialogues at workshops, where it was explored in greater depth.
  • Strategically oriented dialogue process (three workshops): The dialogue process was designed in three workshops in such a way that, on the one hand, participation effects were achieved in the participating areas and, on the other hand, the incentive instruments were addressed with the objective of developing a package of measures to improve raw material productivity and resource conservation in the participating areas at the end of the process.
  • Supporting the dialogue process: An adapted dialogue/communication strategy made it possible to reach specific key players in politics, business and science as well as the interested public. Various transfer products were used for this purpose.