Circular Economy: Uni Kassel involved in Europe-wide research project
"With ReTraCe, we want to promote the transition from a so-called linear economy to a sustainable circular economy", says Prof. Dr. Stefan Seuring, Head of the Supply Chain Management Unit at the University of Kassel. In contrast to a traditional linear economy, in which resources are "disposed of" after processing and use, products and materials are recovered and recycled in a closed-loop economy after use. From this perspective, waste is transformed into raw materials. The research project "Realising the Transition to the Circular Economy (ReTraCE)" aims to gain insights into how the transition to such a circular economy can be realised - both within existing organisations and industries and through innovative and sustainable business models.
ReTraCE is financed within the EU Horizon 2020 programme. The University of Sheffield is leading the €4 million project. Around 475,000 Euros and two of the 15 doctoral positions for young scientists will go to Kassel. The PhD students will be supervised by Prof. Dr. Stefan Seuring and Dr. Philipp Sauer. In addition, Prof. Dr. Marcus Brandenburg, who is now working at Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, is involved in the supervision.
The subproject of the Kassel scientists is primarily assessing with decision support instruments within supply chains; their performance is to be measured according to ecological, social and economic aspects. In addition, risks and barriers for the implementation of circular supply chains will be discussed within the framework of this subproject. Thus, potentials for cooperation between partners along the value chain will be investigated on both a technological and a planning level.
In addition to the University of Kassel, universities from Great Britain, Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands and research institutes from Belgium and Greece are involved. Various companies, including SMA and Bosch, are participating as partners.
Further information: www.retrace-itn.eu