Organisationseinheit: Deutschland. Umweltbundesamt. Fachgebiet I.1.2 - Capacity building, Ressourcenschonung, Sicherheit
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Data requirements for a successful circular economy
(2026) Müller, Felix; Bookhagen, Britta; Lehmann, Christian; Mählitz, Paul; Kahrl, Andreas; Schmitz, Martin; Kohlmeyer, Regina; Liesegang, Michael; Sperlich, Kristine; Kresse, Carolin; Nuss, Philip; Deutschland. Umweltbundesamt; Deutsche Rohstoffagentur
The circular economy is a transformation towards an economy that is resource-efficient, climate-neutral and resilient. Experts from the German Environment Agency and the German Raw Materials Agency systematically analyse available data on metal material cycles, focusing on secondary raw materials, recycling metrics, and material qualities. Case studies on aluminium and cobalt are used to identify existing data gaps and develop targeted recommendations for improving the database. Measures are proposed to increase the availability and quality of relevant data, in line with the goal of reducing bureaucracy.
Rethinking science-policy-practice interaction for transformative sustainability research and innovation in Europe
(2026) Lyytimäki, Jari; Kunttu, Leena; Bartke, Stephan; Eckert, Karl; Ellen, Gerald Jan; Gaugitsch, Helmut; Lipták, Boris; Maring, Linda; Mervaala, Erkki; Molina, Camilo; Neumann, Judith; Otto, Sonja; Rijken, Bart; Savage, Kester; Sluisveld, Mariësse A. E. van
Impactful knowledge generation and utilisation, aiming at addressing environmental and sustainability challenges, requires meaningful interaction between scientists, stakeholders, policymakers and society. This study identifies key success factors and challenges at the science-policy-practice interaction, drawing on document analysis, interviews, and workshops involving experts, policymakers, and funders of environmental and sustainability research and innovation across 14 European countries. Experiences from current practices highlight the highly variable contexts for interaction and communication throughout Europe, a diverse range of tools and approaches, and differing levels of available resources. Siloed structures and the need to engage various societal sectors and levels of governance remain significant challenges. The development and employment of expertise in communication, interaction and knowledge co-creation, capable to orchestrate this variability, is essential. Greater recognition of the diverse dimensions of inclusive participation is proposed to ensure that environmental and sustainability research and innovation, aimed at societal transformation, leaves no one behind. © 2026 Lyytimäki J et al.
Digitalisation and Resources (DigitalRessourcen)
(2025) Deutschland. Umweltbundesamt
Digitalisation is becoming increasingly pervasive in almost all areas of life. However, its impact on natural resources and climate change needs to be better understood. The UBA research project ‘Digitalisation and resources (DigitalRessourcen)’ investigates these interrelations with the aim of identifying strategic levers for sustainable development.
Climate mitigation contributions from circular economy actions
(2026) Günther, Jens; Fonteyn, Pieter; Nuss, Philip; Nielsen, Tobias; European Environment Agency. European Topic Centre on Circular economy and resource use
There is growing awareness of the key role that the circular economy can play in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions based been a notable increase in publications exploring the intersection of CE and climate mitigation and adaptation. This recent surge in research and political attention makes it a timely moment to take stock of existing findings and assess the climate mitigation potential of circular economy actions. Based on a review of over130 publications published between 2020 and March 2025 on this topic, this report provides a consolidated overview of the climate mitigation potential and identifying hot spots and potential “low hanging fruits”. A key finding is that estimates of mitigation potential vary widely across studies. Therefore, the report evaluates possible reasons for the differing results. The report concludes with key lessons learned based on the literature to support future policy developments and climate modelling efforts. © European Topic Centre on Circular economy and resource use
Science-based targets for material use: A systematic review of analytical concepts and approaches in Europe
(2026) Nuss, Philip; Paleari, Susanne; Hoof, Veronique van; Acker, Andrea van; Günther, Jens; Vidal, Beatriz; Jensen, Peder
Science-based targets (SBTs) are increasingly proposed to align raw material use with environmental and societal goals, yet no consensus exists on what constitutes sustainable levels of material use. This paper reviews the scientific literature on material-use targets (2000–2025) and combines it with a dedicated review of resource-use and circular-economy targets in European policy documents. Three main approaches to setting material targets are identified: retrospective boundaries based on historically “safe” extraction levels; materials availability focusing on the accessibility and availability of resources; and impact-based approaches that derive targets from planetary boundaries or from the material requirements of sustainability scenarios. Impact-based approaches have become most prominent, supported by advances in scenario analysis, while retrospective boundaries remain influential in policy debates. The European policy inventory reveals widespread but highly heterogeneous material and wider resource targets. Most targets are strategic and non-binding, centered on economy-wide indicators (e.g., material footprints or circular use rates), with fewer sectoral or sub-national targets and substantial variation in baselines, reference years, and accounting perspectives. We find that the scientific basis behind these targets is often not clearly articulated. We argue that SBTs for materials should rely on transparent analytical frameworks explicitly linked to one of the three approaches. © 2026 The Authors.
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