The SME Energy Transition and Climate Protection Initiative aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises in identifying potential savings in energy consumption and implementing efficiency measures. To this end, it already offers a qualification programme that sensitises trainees as "energy scouts" to the topic of energy and energy efficiency. Since 2017, the SME initiative has provided an additional training module on resource efficiency. For this module, the IZT developed the "Introduction to resource efficiency" curriculum together with VDI Zentrum Ressourceneffizienz GmbH. As qualified "resource scouts" in their training companies, the trainees are to help recognise and document potential for greater resource conservation and efficiency and encourage improvements.

Details of the "Resource Scout" curriculum: In eight hours, trainees learn that natural resources are limited and recognise where resources are used inefficiently. In a basic section on natural resources, they learn about the need to conserve resources using examples such as the smartphone. They learn about the raw materials contained in everyday products and which are used for their development and production. The trainees can implement exemplary measures for more resource conservation and efficiency in the company (e.g. waste, paper and water). They recognise that measures for greater resource efficiency reduce material costs. In addition to the slides on the technical and scientific basics of natural resources and resources in operational practice, the lecturers receive detailed information on the didactic and methodological implementation of the content.

Work packages of the IZT

  1. Development of the didactic concept for the "Introduction to resource efficiency" curriculum.
  2. Content and didactic development of curriculum: Basics, Natural resources, Economic importance of resources, Resources in mobile phones and smartphones