Project launch

Sharing instead of throwing away – sustainably reducing resources and waste volumes

Press release /

Every year, each person in Germany produces around 600 kilograms of waste1. Can this amount be reduced by sharing and reusing tools, appliances, or leisure equipment? This question is the focus of the research project "Investigation, development, and evaluation of structures and centers for sharing at the municipal level." The partners – the city of Essen, Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts, and the Fraunhofer institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT – met in Oberhausen for the kick-off.

Zentren des Teilens: Kommunale Lösungen für die Circular Economy
© Fraunhofer UMSICHT
The project team met at Fraunhofer UMSICHT in Oberhausen for the kick-off of "Investigation, development, and evaluation of structures and centers for sharing at the municipal level."

"Until now, the focus on reducing resource consumption and waste volumes has been primarily on recycling. Aspects such as sharing, intensified use, or repair were mostly ignored, as were technological sovereignty and education. We want to change that," explained Jürgen Bertling, head of the subproject at Fraunhofer UMSICHT. "Our approach: to differentiate circular strategies and focus specifically on decentralized, scalable, and networked centers of sharing."

The project focuses on two research questions:

1)    What conditions must be met for borrowing and sharing to become a successful circular strategy?

2)    How can these requirements be successfully integrated into the municipal environment?

To answer these questions, the project partners are conducting needs and acceptance analyses as a first step. Based on the results, the conceptual planning of the sharing centers will take place – with a view to the rental portfolio, business model, urban planning, rental system, and user communication.

The next step will be to implement a prototype based on the example of the city of Essen. Jürgen Bertling: "In our vision, these sharing centers are physical locations in cities, districts, or neighborhoods for borrowing and sharing technical consumer goods—from lawnmowers to tennis rackets. These can be automated rental containers, but also rental bars or rental centers where, in addition to rental, maintenance and repair as well as networking and workshops are possible."

The project partners will then examine how these formats are received and prove themselves in a socio-ecological assessment and an economic analysis. The end result should be validated implementation concepts that other municipalities can use as a basis for similar projects. "Our vision," says Jürgen Bertling, "is to establish and expand a municipal infrastructure for sharing services with the aim of further increasing circularity and sustainability in society."

 

1 Source: eurostat

 

Funding information
The project "Investigation, Development, and Evaluation of Structures and Centers for Sharing at the Municipal Level" is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia with funds from the European Regional Development Fund and the Just Transition Fund (JTF). It will run until March 2028.

 

PROJECT PARTNERS

  • City of Essen (Green Capital Agency and City Library)
  • Dortmund University of Applied Sciences (Specialist Department of Scenography and Communication)

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