Material efficiency and resource conservation - An analysis of material flows, sectors, categories of need, and the development of strategies and instruments

Project Manager

Prof. Dr. Mario Schmidt

Project Duration

until december 2010

External Source

Federal Environment Ministry (BMU), Federal Environment Agency (UBA)

Project Description

The project MaRess is subdivided into 13 special work packages. The Institute of Applied Research at Pforzheim University will contribute to work package 4 (“Innovative resource policy approaches at the microscopic level: instruments and approaches close to companies”). The main emphasis of this work package is put on the analysis and development of policy recommendations concerning instruments and methods close to companies which are suitable for setting appropriate incentives not only within companies but also along the supply chain in order to realise resource-efficient behaviour. Regarded instruments include improved distribution of output for companies and company networks, diffusion in the area of cross-sectional technology (e.g. membrane technology), market launch programmes for resource-saving lead products/key services/leading technologies, information campaigns and export promotion programmes.

Work Packages 3 (“Innovative resource policy approaches to design framework conditions“), 4 and 12 (“Consumer-oriented approaches”) seek to integrate findings from their respective areas of activity in an overarching policy mix. Their research agendas are therefore coordinated in a careful and targeted manner. The results, including impact appraisals, will be shared with a view to identifying interactions or links. As a synthesis a policy mix will be developed which integrates the various fields of activity as far as possible.

Within work package 4 the Institute of Applied Research at Pforzheim University will especially focus on work step 4.1 (“Analysis of resource policy options in the field of instruments close to companies”). The starting point is – as for the whole project – the question about how to stimulate companies to act more resource-efficient. The analysis within work step 4.1 is not about the internal drivers, but deals with external conditions, meaning “stimulants” or incentives coming from the external sphere close to companies.

Against the background of ecological and societal complexity a company is regarded as a self-interested and autonomous operating player that is, at the same time, open to external influence, which is not the same as external determination. Hence, it is vital to make use of the self-interest of these self-steering systems and channel the behaviour through suitable incentive systems, called institutions. By doing so, it becomes feasible to trigger widespread resource-efficient practices as well as desired societal outcomes, provided that the implemented (formal or informal) institutions cover all relevant actors and do have (positive or negative) sanction mechanisms as a basis. What external sources seem to be most likely to stimulate a change in corporate ordering momenta (strategy, structure, culture) and actions (management, business and supporting processes) will be the subject of the analysis at the Institute of Applied Research.

Project Members

Dipl.-Kffr. Stephanie Görlach

Publications

Final reports you can find on project homepage

Degree Dissertation

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URL

project website