NRW is fighting for the future: 12.4 million euros for green projects!

NRW is fighting for the future: 12.4 million euros for green projects!

In a ceremonial setting, Oliver Krischer, the Environment, Nature and Transport Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, handed over funding notices for around 12.4 million euros for the “:bergische Raw Materials Forge” project. Prominent personalities such as Prof. Dr. Sylvia Heuchemer, President of the TH Cologne, and District Administrator Jochen Hagt. These state funds come from the European Union and are intended to support the regional resource transition, which is more important than ever in times of climate change.

The project, which is scheduled to last three years, includes the construction of a multifunctional building and a 900 square meter research hall for plastics and building materials. This not only promotes research, but also increases the exchange between scientists, business officials and local politicians. At the handover, District Administrator Hagt welcomed colleagues, mayors and experts from the region, all of whom would like to get involved in the topics of “land” and “energy” in upcoming workshops run by the Regional 2025 Agency.

Research for the future

The pilot project of the “:bergischen raw material forge” will be ceremoniously inaugurated on October 29th at :metabolon in Lindlar and will not only receive the aforementioned EU funding through ERDF funds, but also budget funds from the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of the Environment. This project follows on from previous projects and aims to strengthen the circular economy and sustainable developments in the region. A key focus is on research into the recycling of plastics and mineral construction waste.

In total, almost all 12 faculties at TH Köln work on various aspects of the circular economy. “Circular Transformation Lab Cologne” is a new research cluster that aims to promote knowledge exchange and cooperation across all areas. Prof. Dr. Klaus Becker and Prof. Dr. Stefan Herzig from TH Cologne sees this cluster as a great opportunity to develop innovative solutions to the challenges in resource management.

The role of take-back systems

In this context, the importance of take-back systems also becomes clear. As entsorgo magazine reports, manufacturers should set up programs to return used products and recycle them. For example, companies like ROCKWOOL and Mattel already offer such systems to integrate used materials back into the cycle. The aim of these measures is to use products for as long as possible and to return them as valuable raw materials through efficient recycling.

However, challenges remain, especially when it comes to product planning. Later disposal is often not taken into account, which affects the quality of recycling. It is clear that commercial players and municipalities need to show a good hand in implementing sustainable disposal strategies in order to create high-quality recycling solutions. The project currently presented offers a valuable basis for optimizing these processes and sustainably reducing the burden on the environment.

For the Cologne region and the surrounding area, this means that the course has been set for a future-oriented resource policy. The initiatives surrounding the “:bergischen raw materials forge” and the cooperation between regional actors could be groundbreaking for the circular economy.

Overall, the developments show that Cologne companies and educational institutions have their finger on the pulse of the times and are actively working on the solutions of tomorrow. In summary, it can be said that the focus is on the issue of resources and sustainability, which is not only important for the immediate environment, but also for future generations.