Circular economy: University of Kassel involved in Europe-wide research project

"With ReTraCe, we want to promote the transition from the so-called linear economy to a sustainable circular economy," says Prof. Dr. Stefan Seuring, head of the Supply Chain Management department 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 in a circular economy are recovered and recycled after use. From this perspective, waste becomes raw materials. The research project "Realizing the Transition to the Circular Economy (ReTraCE)" aims to gain insights into how the transition to such a circular economy can be realized - both within existing organizations and industries and through innovative and sustainable business models.

ReTraCE is funded in the EU Horizon 2020 line. The €4 million project is led by the University of Sheffield (UK). Around 475,000 euros and two of the 15 doctoral positions for young scientists will go to Kassel. The doctoral students are supervised by Prof. Dr. Stefan Seuring and Dr. Philipp Sauer. In addition, Prof. Dr. Marcus Brandenburg, who is now conducting research at Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, is involved in the supervision.

The sub-project of the Kassel scientists is primarily concerned with decision support tools 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 are discussed within the framework of this sub-project. Thus, potentials for cooperation between partners along the value chain will be investigated on both the technological and planning levels.

In addition to the University of Kassel, universities from Great Britain, Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands as well as research institutes from Belgium and Greece are involved in the project. Various companies, including SMA and Bosch, are also involved as cooperation partners.

Further information: www.retrace-itn.eu

Contact:

Dr. Philipp Sauer
University of Kassel
Department of Supply Chain Management
Tel.: +49 561 804 7197
E-mail: philipp.sauer[at]uni-kassel[dot]de