Circular economy opportunities in Germany
Germany shows interesting characteristics for doing business with in the field of circular economy. With its GDP ranking 4th in the world, a geographically favorable location and having ambitious circular economy and waste management goals, German-Dutch collaboration is not unlikely.
Thinking about doing business in Germany? Below you will find information on policy landscape, circular economy strategy and selected priority areas!
Facts & Figures
Economic indicators
- Population (2019): 83 mln
- Nominal GDP (2019): €3 435 210 mln, world rank: 4th
- Purchasing power (2018): €42 423
- Import from the NL (2018): €113,2 milliard
- Economic growth (2018): 1,5%
- Ease of doing business rank (2020): 22/190
- Corruption index (2019): 9/198
- Unemployment rate (2019): 3,2%
- Currency: €
- Time difference NL: +0.00 hrs
Circular economy indicators
- Global innovation index (2019): 9/129
- Municipal waste recycling rate (2018): 67,3%
- Circular material use rate (2017): 11,6%
Policy landscape
EU level
In 2015 European Commission adopted the Circular Economy Action Plan, which included comprehensive measures addressing waste management. The EU laws set minimum recycling, landfilling, material recovery and renewable energy consumption targets. Among other initiatives introduced in the Plan is the plastics strategy which aims to ban and reduce consumption of certain types of single-use plastic. Germany performs well in attaining EU CE legislation targets. The New Circular Economy Action Plan adopted in March 2020 will aim among others to facilitate circularity in textile industry and production of electronic equipment.
Currently main targets include:
- min. 65% of municipal waste to be recycled by 2035
- min. 70% of all packaging waste to be recycled by 2030
- max. 10% of municipal waste to be landfilled by 2035
- certain types of single use plastic will be prohibited to place on market as of July 2021
- min. 32% of the Union’s gross final consumption of energy to originate from renewable sources by 2030
National level
Germany is recognized as a global leader in waste management. However, there is no overall policy on CE as it is the case in the Netherlands. On a federal level several strategies for resource efficiency have been initiated. The first national 4-year Resource Efficiency Program (ProgRess) was launched in 2012; in 2020 the 3rd generation, ProgRess III, will be launched. The strategy considers entire value chains and is expected to consist of more than 100 measures addressing sectors like chemical industry, logistics, product design, recycling, public transport as well as the role of digitalization should in the transition to resource efficiency.
The Renewable Energy Act not only boosts domestic generation of renewable energies, wind power, and photovoltaics in particular, but also fosters innovation in renewable energy industries.
The basis of the German federal waste legislation is the European Directive from 2008 on waste. In 2012 the German Bundestag adopted the Act Reorganizing the Law on Closed Cycle Management and Waste (Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz) and to implement the European directives. The German Closed Substance Cycle and Waste Management Act of 1994 increases the responsibility of producers by holding them responsible for coordinating handling and utilization of own-produced waste.
However, it should be noted that since Germany is a federal republic, regional authorities have autonomy in defining CE priorities and on Länder level. Therefore, CE trends and developments differ considerably per federal state.
We see four priority areas when it comes to circular economy opportunities and need: plastics & chemical recycling, textiles, the automotive industry and windfarms
Dutch Embassy in GermanyPlastics and chemical recycling
In Germany and the Netherlands about 50% of plastic packaging waste is mechanically recycled at present. Very unique in the chemical sector is the Trilateral Strategy initiated by and between The Netherlands, Flanders (BE) and Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) with the goal to transform towards a sustainable chemical industry.
Due to proximity of productions sides, the cooperation not only helps to optimize the use of raw materials by transforming waste and by-products into new or secondary raw materials but is also a supplier to virtually every other industry and a central player in enabling the CE throughout all value chain processes in its downstream industries, as well as opening new market opportunities. Collaboration and adoption of chemical recycling technologies could therefore be a key element to reach the target of developing a sustainable chemical industry whilst improving its competitiveness within the global market.
Textiles
The transition towards a circular textile industry in Germany is still in its infancy due to a wide range of socio-economic, environmental and legal barriers which create path dependencies and inhibit the adoption of circular solutions on a broader scale. Still, Germany is among frontrunners of post-consumer textile collection in Europe, mainly due to well-established collection networks of charitable organizations. Although, most volumes are reused or recycled, a considerable share is still incinerated. While annual collection rates have increased, the consumption rank is among the highest across all European countries. Germany makes profits through garment export but, due to the economic rationale of textile exports, fails to take advantage of post-consumer textiles as unused resources.
In the presence of globalized and highly complex textile supply chains, there is a need for better international cooperation to implement joint processes to foster a shift towards a circular textile sector. Among others, sharing information and best practices between Dutch and German knowledge institutes, businesses and public actors is perceived as particularly important in order to advance circular practices in the textile industry.
Many innovative companies active in the textile sector in Germany. A cooperation with Dutch circular textile companies that developed new business models for all stages of the value chain (design and production, distribution retail and use) might open new opportunities for both countries. An example of a successful German-Dutch cooperation in circular textile on a regional level between NRW, Limburg and Overijssel is an INTERREG supported project that develops industrial standard for yarns made of old textiles.
CE in the automotive industry
The German automotive industry is one of the largest in the world, it secures jobs, drives national export and invests in research and development. With growing concerns about climate change and environmental degradation, sustainability has become a strategic priority for most of the German automotive companies. Among the main challenges the industry is facing today is the fuel economy, GHG emissions reduction, electrification, autonomous driving and car sharing.
Increased energy efficiency, recycling and a reduction in emissions benefit both companies and consumers. Incorporating circular economy practices across the automotive value chain helps to effectively address these challenges. It has the potential to offer big economic benefits and make electric vehicles more sustainable, improve design and introduce new business models that support longer lifetimes of products and services.
The Dutch market offers attractive opportunities for many types of companies active in e-mobility: electric vehicle manufacturers, charging infrastructure companies, battery makers, and auxiliary power unit producers. Cooperation with the Dutch automotive industry, which is characterized by a dynamic mix of innovative approach and component suppliers could support German automotive industry in a faster transition towards a circular economy.
Circular windfarms
The planned transition towards a low-carbon, nuclear-free economy ‘Energiewende’ is high on the agenda in Germany. Renewable energy should make up 60% of the gross final consumption of energy and 80% of the gross electricity consumption by 2050. Another objective is a significant increase in energy efficiency. To achieve these targets Germany relies on international cooperation, particularly with the Netherlands. In October 2019, the countries signed a joint declaration, intending to intensify close cooperation as the energy transition progresses. Both Germany and the Netherlands see a great potential in the development of offshore wind projects and infrastructure in the North Sea region to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy.
The massive expansion of offshore wind power in recent years will create an equally large demand for decommissioning capacity in the near future. Developing new circular or modular offshore windfarms designed for reuse or remanufacturing and recycling solutions for composites might not only increase sustainability of the sector but also open up a huge export market for the Netherlands where such solutions are already being designed with support of knowledge institutes and Versnellingshuis Nederland Circulair.
Major upcoming events
See related items below.
Relevant networks
CE think tanks/research institutes
- Systemiq
- National Academy of Science and Engineering
- Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy
- Hamburgische Welt Wirtschafts Institut (HWWI)
- Agora Energiewende
- Fraunhofer Cluster Circular Plastics Economy
Active in NRW
- CLIB
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology
- IKV Institute for Plastics Processing
- Deutsche Textilforschungszentrum Nord-West e.V
Business networks
Active in NRW
Embassies
Useful reports
- The circular economy in Southern Germany: opportunities and obstacles for Dutch entrepreneurs in the infrastructure and construction sectors
- Market analysis DECOM Tools
- Wind Energy in Europe: Outlook to 2023
- Stakeholder analysis DECOM Tools
- Circular Economy in the Textile Sector
- ACEA Position Paper on Circular Economy
- Chemical plastics recycling – potentials and development prospects
NRW-Dutch cross-border opportunities in Chemical Recycling
Bottrop, Germany | 15th of September 2022

Latest developments and innovations in the field of chemical recycling
Seminar Prosperkolleg: EU Circular Economy Action Plan on Plastics
Online | 5th of May 2022

Dedicated monthly seminar to listen to exciting lectures on circular topics
Mechanical Engineering in a Circular Economy
online | 18th of February 2022

Find innovative SMEs and their approaches to circular engineering
From Ambition to Action– Roadmaps towards circularity
online | 2nd of February 2022

Circular experiences from the Netherlands, the Nordics, and Germany!
Circular Economy Hotspot 2022 in Bottrop
Bottrop, Germany | 12th until 14th of September 2022

The Circular Economy Hotspot is coming to North Rhine-Westphalia, Bottrop!
Getting started on the German CE market
online | 23rd of November 2021

Webinar on the circular economy in the Netherlands and Germany
Circular Futures Festival
Munich, Germany | 7th until 8th of October 2021

First German festival on circular economy is a social innovation event
bio! PAC 2022 - Conference in bio-based packing
Online | 15th until 16th of March 2022

Conference on Bioplastics & Packaging!
Circular Hubs across Europe
online | 28th of April 2021

Circular Hubs across Europe: trends, challenges, and approaches
Renewable Materials Conference
online | 18th until 20th of May 2021

Concept to present bio-based, CO2-based and recycled materials.
Circular Valley: Start-ups wanted for EU Green Deal

Opportunity for circular start-ups in Germany
E-waste Race - local collection of old electronic devices

Educational competition between primary schools to collect e-waste