Together with 16 civil society organisations from the extended environment of the Network Resource turnaround We have submitted an opinion on the draft National Circular Economy Strategy (NCWS). In addition to this joint statement, a separate comment was also sent to the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), which focuses more on metallic raw materials and the transport sector.
The draft NPPS was published by the BMUV in June 2024. This represents an important step towards a successful transformation towards a circular economy. We particularly welcome the fact that it sets the goal of halving German primary raw material consumption by 2045 and thus reducing it to eight tonnes per capita per year. We also consider the target of doubling the circularity rate to 26 percent by 2030 to be positive.
In some places, however, the draft does not go far enough: Necessary milestones for 2030 and 2040, as well as sub-targets for the different commodity categories, are not set. In addition, halving the consumption of raw materials by 2045 and doubling the circularity rate by 2030 should only be considered as minimum targets. There is a lack of concrete action in different areas – the chapter on vehicles and mobility would need to make it clearer that there is a need to reduce the size, weight and, in particular, the number of newly registered vehicles. These measures could: More than a third of metals saved in the automotive industry will be.
The departmental vote on the NKWS is currently taking place and a cabinet decision is planned for autumn 2024. It is now important not to weaken the stated objectives, but rather to sharpen them and translate them into concrete legislation.
