Food

Factsheet 3: Einkauf unverpackter Lebensmittel - Ergebnisse einer Kund*innen-Umfrage

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 13:00:12 +0000

Factsheet 3: Purchasing unpackaged products - Results of a customer survey janna.vakili@e… Thu, 04/08/2021 - 15:00

Titelbild

Beschreibung

We encounter plastic in many forms and functions in everyday life. Especially in supermarkets, extensive plastic packaging often catches the eye of consumers. However, the desire to shop with less packaging does not always translate into the use of more sustainable products.

In this context, the survey presented in the third factsheet deals with shopping habits when buying unpackaged products. The aim of the survey was to find out to what extent customers accept not using packaging and what potential unpackaged products offer.

The survey was conducted as part of the joint project Innoredux. The project uses a real-lab research approach to develop innovative packaging solutions to avoid or reduce plastic waste along the value chain.

The factsheet is available here for PDF download.

Attachments

Factsheet 4 of the BMBF Research Focus Plastics in the Environment.

Joint project

Innoredux

Year

2021

Author

Gesa Marken

Frieder Rubik

Authors

Type of Result

factsheets

Citation

Marken, Gesa; Rubik, Frieder (2021): Purchasing unpackaged products: Results of a customer survey. Fact sheet 3 of the BMBF research focus „Plastics in the Environment“.

Tags

Waste reduction

Awareness raising

Food

Food retail

Food packaging

Market analysis

Reduction of plastic use

Prevention of plastics

Publikationstyp

Querschnittsthema

Plastikvermeidung auf kommunaler Ebene

linda.mederake@ecologic.eu — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 11:22:05 +0000

Plastic waste prevention at the municipal level linda.mederake… Tue, 01/05/2021 - 12:22

Titelbild

Beschreibung

The discussion about plastic waste is anything but new for German municipalities. In fact, as early as the 1980s, numerous German municipalities were experimenting with plastic waste prevention regulations and waste prevention in general. A further impetus for plastic waste prevention was provided in the early 1990s with the discussions on the introduction of a nationwide packaging ordinance. After almost three decades of stagnation - including setbacks with regard to the expansion of return systems and the increase of single-use packaging - the issue of plastic prevention and packaging reduction in municipalities is now receiving renewed attention as a result of increased societal awareness and political regulations at EU level.

This book chapter by Linda Mederake (Ecologic Institute) and Dorothea Seeger (BUND) deals with the possibilities for municipal action to avoid plastics. These options range from information and awareness-raising activities to political decisions, regulatory requirements and public procurement as a driver of packaging reduction. The authors point out that the greatest untapped potential for reducing packaging waste at the municipal level lies in the areas of informal administrative action and public procurement.

The best practice examples presented in this article show that it is possible to do things differently. In addition, private-sector and civil-society initiatives can harness additional potential for plastic prevention.

Further Links

Publisher's page for the anthology "Einfach weglassen".

ISBN

978-3-96238-243-8

Year

2020

Author

Authors

Linda Mederake

Dorothea Seeger

Type of Result

(scientific) publications (peer-review, essays, book chapters, poster etc.)

Citation

Mederake, Linda; Seeger, Dorothea (2020): Plastikvermeidung auf kommunaler Ebene. In: Kröger, Melanie; Pape, Jens; Wittwer, Alexandra (eds.) (2020): Einfach weglassen? Ein wissenschaftliches Lesebuch zur Reduktion von Plastikverpackungen im Lebensmittelhandel. ISBN: 978-3-96238-243-8. Oekom Verlag, München.

Tags

Reduction of plastic use

Prevention of plastics

Publikationstyp

Diskussionspapier: Plastikverpackungen in der Lebensmittelindustrie

KALEH — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 13:20:58 +0000

Discussion Paper: Plastic packaging in the food industry KALEH Tue, 11/05/2019 - 14:20

Untertitel

An analysis from the perspective of consumers, industry and trade.

Titelbild

Beschreibung

When buying food, more and more consumers want to avoid plastic packaging. However, it is often difficult to actually shop without plastic packaging. Many times there is a lack of alternatives or knowledge about which packaging is the most ecological. In addition, many would have to completely change their shopping behavior and, e.g., shop more frequently, because unpacked fresh goods are not that durable. This is often incompatible with everyday life.

For some foods, regional and seasonal products can be used as alternatives. This avoids long transport distances and thus large quantities of packaging. Yet, only a small group of products can be produced within the region and the consumption of seasonal products also implies that only a smaller range of fruits and vegetables is available in winter. In addition, the ratio of product to packaging can be optimized. Instead of opting for many individually packaged products, buying a larger unit is preferable. However, one should make sure that the food does not spoil prematurely.

The correct disposal of plastic waste is also a challenge for consumers. Many people do not know how to dispose of their waste properly. Badly sorted garbage cannot be recycled adequately. One problem, for instance, is packaging made of different materials or mixed plastics. These plastics are very difficult and costly to separate and recycle.

These and other findings are the result of the research carried out within the project VerPlaPoS. The findings on food packaging gained so far were compiled by the responsible project partners in a discussion paper (in German).

Attachments

Discussion Paper: Plastic packaging in the food industry (in German)

Further Links

VerPlaPoS-Projektwebsite

Joint project

VerPlaPoS

Year

2019

Author

Thomas Decker

Maria Lippl

Klaus Menrad

Tabea Habermehl

Hannes Krieg

Friederike Schlegl

Sven Sängerlaub

Klaus-Dieter Bauer

Type of Result

discussion papers & status papers

Citation

Decker, Thomas; Lippl, Maria; Menrad, Klaus; Habermehl, Tabea; Krieg, Hannes; Schlegl, Friederike; Sängerlaub, Sven; Bauer, Klaus-Dieter (2019): Plastikverpackungen in der Lebensmittelindustrie: Eine Analyse aus Sicht von VerbraucherInnen, Industrie und Handel. Straubing.

Tags

Consumption

Consumer behaviour

Reduction of plastic use

Food

Food packaging

Prevention of plastics

Publikationstyp

Ergebnis

Publikation

Querschnittsthema

QST 4

Innoredux

Stephan.Guertler — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 10:30:10 +0000

Innoredux Stephan.Guertler Fri, 02/15/2019 - 11:30

Business Models for Reducing Plastic Waste along the Value Chain: Paths to Innovative Trends in Retailing

The idea and goal of Innoredux was to develop and implement innovative packaging solutions in distance and stationary retailing using a living lab research approach in order to avoid or reduce plastic waste along the value chain.

The subject of investigation and the focus of research were innovations in trade for waste prevention and reduction within the framework of business models and the underlying value chains. The potential of their expansion from niches into the mainstream was investigated. The project focussed on reduction measures through a more efficient use of materials, substitution (alternative ecologically compatible materials) and through influencing consumers' decision-making behaviour in purchasing. Such innovative reduction measures can contribute significantly to the reduction of plastic discharges into the environment and at the same time generate competitive advantages.

In a living lab in the city of Heidelberg, business models were tested and implemented in cooperation with a number of partners from the retail sector and civil society. On the basis of the results of the living lab, guidelines for municipalities and companies were developed. The project focused on four product groups: food, cosmetics, office supplies and textiles.

Main areas of work

Analysis of interdependencies and decision-making processes along the value chain (production - trade - consumption)
Development of innovative business models to avoid packaging
Testing of innovative approaches for low-plastic packaging in a living lab in Heidelberg
Balancing the ecological, economic and social impacts of the business models identified as innovative
Development and dissemination of guidelines for companies and municipalities

Arbeitspakete

Work packages

WP 1 Developing a typology of plastic waste prevention business models through innovative packaging solutions

Contact person

Dr. Frieder Rubik, Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW), Bergstraße 7, 69120 Heidelberg
e-mail: frieder.rubik@ioew.de

Project partners

ifeu, Alnatura, Annas Unverpacktes Heidelberg, Avocado Store, dm, Memo, Unverpackt e. V., Zalando

Short description

In a first step, existing business models that contribute to the reduction of packaging (especially plastic packaging) along the value chain were examined and categorised. The project partners analysed existing innovative, instructive and plastic-reducing solutions with a strong leverage effect and estimated the reduction potential via quantity balances (waste types, waste quantities, etc.).

WP 2 Balancing, identification of best practices and success factors

Contact person

Dr. Pauline Riousset, Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW), Potsdamerstraße 105, 10785 Berlin
e-mail: pauline.riousset@ioew.de

Project partners

ifeu, Alnatura, Annas Unverpacktes Heidelberg, Avocado Store, BUND, BUND Heidelberg, dm, Memo, City of Heidelberg, Unverpackt e. V., Zalando

Short description

This work package analysed the ecological, social and economic impacts of business model innovations and identifies their success factors. To this end, key data and model examples were collected as preparatory work for the company checklists and the handbook for a municipal concept for comprehensive plastic prevention and reduction (so-called "conceptual handbook for municipalities"; WP 4). The potential impact of municipal support was assessed.

WP 3 Design of options for action and testing in a living lab

Contact person

Dr. Frieder Rubik, Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW), Bergstraße 7, 69120 Heidelberg
e-mail: frieder.rubik@ioew.de

Project partners

ifeu, Alnatura, Annas Unverpacktes Heidelberg, Avocado Store, BUND, BUND Heidelberg, dm, Memo, City of Heidelberg, Unverpackt e. V., Zalando

Short description

This work package included the implementation of a living lab with retail companies, the City of Heidelberg, BUND and consumers. Here, a strategy to reduce plastic waste, consisting of suggestions to improve business models and support from municipalities, was developed and tested.
Case studies: A living lab was conducted, i. e. a geographically and temporally defined testing area was created in which knowledge was exchanged, strategic partnerships were generated and solutions were tested. Together with the associated partners, the objectives and intention of the intervention/experiments and questions were defined (co-design) before options for action were developed and adapted and tested in a strategy for the local context of Heidelberg. The effects of the living lab were evaluated during the process.

WP 4 Strategy development and development of company checklists and conceptual guidelines for municipalities

Contact person

Dr. Pauline Riousset, Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW), Potsdamerstraße 105, 10785 Berlin
e-mail: pauline.riousset@ioew.de

Project partners

ifeu, Alnatura, Annas Unverpacktes Heidelberg, Avocado Store, BUND, BUND Heidelberg, dm, Memo, City of Heidelberg, Unverpackt e. V., Zalando

Short description

The living lab results from WP 3 were transferred into the context of the considered product groups and the existing strategies are revised. The research results were used to develop company checklists and a conceptual handbook for municipalities and the dissemination phase were prepared (cf. WP 5).

WP 5 Dissemination of results

Contact person

Dr. Frieder Rubik, Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW), Bergstraße 7, 69120 Heidelberg
e-mail: frieder.rubik@ioew.de

Project partner

ifeu

Short description

The transdisciplinary research approach required a reciprocal, project-accompanying transfer of knowledge and results. Therefore, an integrative work package was planned that encompasses all project work and affects all actors. In this work package, the focus was on describing the communication measures on the basis of the analysis of target groups and goals. The communication measures were based on the pillars "Information" - "Best Practice" - "Training" - "Imitation".

Coordinator

Dr. Frieder Rubik
Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW)
Bergstraße 7
69120 Heidelberg
Phone: +49 6221-64916-6
e-mail: frieder.rubik@ioew.de

Website

www.plastik-reduzieren.de

Partner Institutions

ifeu – Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg

Associated Partners

Alnatura GmbH

Annas Unverpacktes Heidelberg

Avocado Store GmbH

Friends of the Earth Germany / BUND

Friends of the Earth Baden-Württemberg, Group in the District of Heidelberg / BUND Heidelberg

dm-drogerie markt GmbH & Co. KG / dm

Duration Period

February 2019

January 2022

Project sheet

Project-sheet-Innoredux-2019.pdf

Koordinator label

Coordinator

revolPET

KALEH — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 15:53:14 +0000

revolPET KALEH Tue, 12/19/2017 - 16:53

Development of a Recycling Technology for PET Waste Plastics from Multilayer Material and Other Waste Composites

As part of the revolPET project, a solvolytic recycling process for waste PET plastics (Polyethylene Terephthalate) from multilayer and other mixed materials was elaborated and experimentally tested. Inactive patents for solvolysis of single-variety PET waste formed the basis for this research: those solvolytic processes were be enhanced into a continuous waste treatment concept that can recycle PET waste. This enabled the recycling of the PET materials present in the mixed waste and the separation of differing amounts of interfering substances, with the latter being redirected to other uses. The recycling process generates the basic components of PET: monoethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. The flexibility of the process enables sorting of waste from very inhomogenous materials sources such as marine and technical PET wastes. The new recycling process was tested and evaluated in a pilot plant. The data from this testing is included into continuous economic and ecological assessments of the procedure and its integration into the value chain.

Main areas of work

Development of the technical basis for continuous solvolysis
Operation of the pilot plant for experimental development and technological validation of the solvolysis process
Development of a mass and energy balances of the continuous processing methods (for pure and mixed PET waste)
Development of a model-based tool for the analysis and assessment of environmental impacts
Determination of market requirements with regard to recycling routes and required specifications for new streams of recyclable materials
Opening up new sources of supply for PET waste composites from post-consumer collections and technical applications

Arbeitspakete

Work packages

WP 1 Basic research, process and apparatus design

Contact person
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Scholl, Technical University of Braunschweig, Institute for Chemical and Thermal Process Engineering, Langer Kamp 7, 38106 Braunschweig, e-mail: s.scholl@tu-braunschweig.de

Project partner
Fraunhofer ICT, Reclay Materials GmbH, RITTEC Umwelttechnik GmbH, SCHILLER Apparatebau GmbH, VTU Engineering Deutschland GmbH

Short description
The technical fundamentals for continuous solvolysis of initially pure PET to multilayer and mixed PET were developed. The data served as the basis for the planning, design, construction and commissioning of a modular pilot plant, which enabled investigations of different apparatus.

WP 2 Pilot studies

Contact person
Carsten Eichert, RITTEC Umwelttechnik GmbH, Feldstraße 29, 21335 Lüneburg, e-mail: eichert@rittec.eu

Project partner
Fraunhofer ICT, TU Braunschweig ICTV, Reclay Materials GmbH, SCHILLER Apparatebau GmbH, VTU Engineering Deutschland GmbH

Short description
The central experimental elaboration and technological validation of the solvolysis process took place through the operation of the pilot plant. The process engineering solutions found in the basic investigations in WP 1 were implemented here. First, PET of a higher purity was processed. For this purpose, the continuous operation is represented. The final goal was the continuous operation of the pilot plant for mixed PET waste streams.

WP 3 Accounting and multi-criteria rating

Contact person
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christoph Herrmann, Technical University of Braunschweig, Institute of Machine Tools and Production Technology, Langer Kamp 19B, 38106 Braunschweig, e-mail: c.herrmann@tu-braunschweig.de

Project partner
TU Braunschweig ICTV, RITTEC Umwelttechnik GmbH, Reclay Materials GmbH

Short description
The aim was to establish a closed and consistent mass and energy balance of the continuous processing method (for single-variety and mixed PET waste) parallel to the experimental development of the recycling process. This was first created for the continuous operation of the pilot plant, compared with the operating data and then scaled to potential market scenarios. Based on the formulated requirements and the data from the pilot plant, a model-based tool for the analysis and evaluation of environmental impacts was developed.

WP 4 Market analysis and technology implementation

Contact person
Carsten Eichert, RITTEC Umwelttechnik GmbH, Feldstraße 29, 21335 Lüneburg, e-mail: eichert@rittec.eu

Project partner
Fraunhofer ICT, TU Braunschweig ICTV, TU Braunschweig IWF, Reclay Materials GmbH, SCHILLER Apparatebau GmbH, VTU Engineering Deutschland GmbH

Short description
The market requirements with regard to recycling routes and required specifications for new streams of recyclable materials was determined. By means of potential analysis, the proportion of recyclable technical waste in machine tools and industrial plants in Germany was also estimated. Based on this, new sources of supply for PET waste composites from post-consumer collections and technical applications was developed. New potential partners for the implementation of the newly developed solvolysis process in the value chain and the new disposal channels was identified.

Coordinator

Carsten Eichert
RITTEC Umwelttechnik GmbH
Feldstraße 29
21335 Lüneburg
Phone: +49 4131 - 408 55 44
e-mail: eichert@rittec.eu

Website

https://revolpet.eu/?lang=en

Partner Institutions

Technical University of Braunschweig

Institute for Chemical and Thermal Process Engineering / ICTV

Institute of Machine Tools and Production Technology / IWF

Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering / ICT

Reclay Materials GmbH

SCHILLER Apparatebau GmbH

VTU Engineering Deutschland GmbH

Duration Period

October 2017

March 2021

Tags

Fluorescence marker-based sorting technology

Industry

Industrial emissions

Consumption

Life Cycle Assessment

Environmental accounting

Optimization process

Plastic littering

Polyester

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

Resource conservation

Secondary raw materials

Solvolysis

Sorting

Material flow managment

Project sheet

11_Projektblatt_solvoPET_ENG_2018.pdf

Koordinator label

Coordinator

ResolVe

KALEH — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 15:41:57 +0000

ResolVe KALEH Tue, 12/19/2017 - 16:41

Recycling of Polystyrene by Raw Material Recovery

In view of climate change, environmental pollution, population growth, and resource dependency, the transition from a linear economy to a closed-loop economy is both ecologically and economically necessary. Within the ResolVe project, a logistics and an industrial plant concept for the economic use of polystyrene waste as a raw material for high-quality new plastic products were developed. Thermally-induced depolymerisation as material recycling of waste plastics can lead to the production of new polymers. In this process, the polymer is split thermally into low-molecular substances such as monomers and oligomers. Compared to the thermal utilisation or mechanical recycling of plastic waste that has been common up to now, this project aimed to actually close a cycle. Since the depolymerisation process does not lead to a "downcycling" of the recyclable materials and only makes moderate demands on the purity of the waste streams, many post-consumer waste streams can be used.

INEOS Styrolution managed the joint research project with the aim of using the styrene monomer, which is the main component of depolymerisation, in its own production process. To this end, the overall process was subjected to an intensive evaluation and the prerequisites for an investment were examined, too.

Main areas of work

Logistical and economic evaluation
Preconditioning in processing technology
Depolymerisation of polystyrene wastes on a laboratory scale
Depolymerisation of polystyrene in the twin screw extruder
Distillative treatment
Investigations on the influence of impurities on the depolymerisation process of polystyrene
Ultilisation of by-products through steam cracking

Arbeitspakete

Work packages

WP 1 Project leadership

Contact person
Dr. Hannes Kerschbaumer, INEOS Styrolution Group GmbH, Mainzer Landstraße 50, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, e-mail: hannes.kerschbaumer@ineos.com

Short description
The successful implementation of the project required a regular exchange of information between the partners and with the project management. The consortium consisted of five partners and other subcontractors and thus required careful management to ensure targeted and result-oriented cooperation. The individual tasks included: coordination of the project partners; thematic summaries of the developed results; reporting (including meeting minutes, milestone report and regular reports); organisation of project meetings and regular telephone conferences; organisation of the dispatch of hazardous substances between Aachen, Bayreuth and Cologne; and observation of parallel approaches to the raw material recycling of polystyrene.

WP 2 Procurement of waste samples and development of a recycling concept

Contact person
Prof. Dr. Thomas Pretz, RWTH Aachen University, Department of Processing and Recycling, Wüllnerstraße 2, 52056 Aachen, e-mail: pretz@ifa.rwth-aachen.de

Project partner
INEOS Styrolution

Short description
In dialogue with relevant waste disposal companies, the most important material flows were detected and samples procured. These were examined, processed and evaluated with regard to their suitability for chemical recycling. Specific logistics concepts were developed for these material flows so that a high recycling rate could be achieved. In addition, existing contacts with other research groups dealing with the collection of marine plastic waste were used. Other contacts were established to integrate the availability of material flows from the environment into the logistics concept.

WP 3 Depolymerisation of pure polystyrene granules with targeted variation of relevant material parameters

Contact person
Prof. Dr. Hans-Werner Schmidt, Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH, Gottlieb-Keim-Straße 60, 95448 Bayreuth, e-mail: hans-werner.schmidt@uni-bayreuth.de

Project partner
RWTH Aachen University IKV, INEOS Styrolution, INEOS Köln

Short description
The aim was to gain basic knowledge about the type of products resulting from the depolymerisation of polystyrene. For this purpose, depolymerisation was carried out on model substances on a laboratory scale. Parallel to this, a suitable extruder arrangement with separator was set up and depolymerisation was carried out in order to determine achievable yields and parameter influences. The reaction products were investigated by means of GC-MS. First experiments with real samples were carried out and the distillative separation of styrene was demonstrated. The by-products were evaluated for their suitability for the cracking process and the process parameters were optimized in both depolymerisation plants.

WP 4 Depolymerisation of pure polystyrene granules with targeted variation of relevant impurities

Contact person
Maximilian Adamy, RWTH Aachen University, Institute of Plastics Processing, Seffenter Weg 201, 52074 Aachen, e-mail: maximilian.adamy@ikv.rwthaachen.de

Project partner
RWTH Aachen University I.A.R., INEOS Styrolution, Neue Materialien Bayreuth

Short description
The material to be recycled generally contained a wide range of different impurities. These were characterized and their influence on the depolymerisation process of PS was investigated. Possible sources of polystyrene waste are: the polystyrene fraction from household waste (dual system), polystyrene from commercial waste collection, and samples of marine plastic waste. The next steps included: pre-sorting, conditioning of the waste, depolymerisation process in the piston and in the extruder, adaptation of the real samples to the optimum process conditions, and determination of the optimum operating mode depending on the material source.

WP 5 Fractionating distillation and utilisation of styrene monomers and by-products

Contact person
Dr. Ralf Gesthuisen, INEOS Köln GmbH, Alte Straße 201, 50769 Köln, e-mail: ralf.gesthuisen@ineos.com

Project partner
Neue Materialien Bayreuth, INEOS Styrolution

Short description
Depolymerisation does not produce a pure monomer stream, but rather a mixture of monomers, oligomers and other volatile components. For repolymerisation, the monomers must be separated from this mixture by fractionated distillation. Further fractions remain, which can be converted into recyclable substances by a suitable steam cracking process. The resulting products were examined qualitatively and quantitatively. Based on this, the cracking process was optimised by adjusting the process parameters and possibly adding naphtha and/or hydrogen.

WP 6 Economic and ecological considerations of the recycling concept

Contact person
Dr. Hannes Kerschbaumer, INEOS Styrolution Group GmbH, Mainzer Landstraße 50, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, e-mail: hannes.kerschbaumer@ineos.com

Project partner
RWTH Aachen University I.A.R.

Short description
The knowledge gained in the project was used to adapt the logistics concept developed in WP 2. The costs of the entire value chain, including collection and recycling, were determined. The question of the location of a depolymerisation plant had a major influence on the overall calculation: the provision of raw materials in sufficient quantity and quality could be realized with varying ease regionally and nationally. A special case took into account whether collected plastic from the environment is also suitable for economic use. An ecological assessment (CO2 footprint) of the depolymerisation was carried out.

Coordinator

Dr. Hannes Kerschbaumer
INEOS Styrolution Group GmbH
Mainzer Landstraße 50
60325 Frankfurt am Main
Phone: +49 69 509550-1322
e-mail: hannes.kerschbaumer@ineos.com

Website

https://depolymerisation.com

Partner Institutions

INEOS Köln GmbH

RWTH Aachen University

Department of Processing and Recycling / I.A.R.

Institute of Plastics Processing / IKV

Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH / NMB

Duration Period

August 2017

July 2020

Tags

Decomposition products

Life Cycle Assessment

Polymer

Polystyrene (PS)

Recycling

Secondary raw materials

Sorting

Project sheet

10_Projektblatt_ResolVe_ENG_2018.pdf

Koordinator label

Coordinator

VerPlaPoS

KALEH — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 12:27:25 +0000

VerPlaPoS KALEH Tue, 12/19/2017 - 13:27

Consumer Behavior Related to Plastic and its Avoidance at the Point of Sale

Consumers buying products made of or wrapped in plastic play a decisive role in plastic consumption in Germany. A complete avoidance of plastic in everyday life, while unlikely to occur in full, would only be possible with extremely high restrictions. Moreover, many consumers are not aware of how much plastic is put into circulation or into the environment by buying a product. The consumer can, however, influence the use of plastics with targeted product selection at the point of sale (PoS) (e.g. the choice of plastic-free products).

Against this background, this project investigated to what extent the consumer can avoid the generation of plastic waste by making a purchase decision at the PoS. Another aspect was to what extent help can be provided for this decision, e.g. through different avoidance strategies. This was examined using food packaging and clothing textiles as examples. The former was chosen because food packaging has the highest capital costs for the environment in absolute terms (UNEP 2014). Textiles were chosen because they are made of plastic, a high proportion of synthetic fibres is used and a lot of plastic is produced by packaging the textiles.

Main areas of work

Investigating the understanding and behaviour of consumers when buying (or co-acquiring) plastics
Identification of plastic avoidance strategies along the textile and food supply chains
Holistic evaluation of different plastic alternatives (life cycle assessment)
Development of new products/processes that help to reduce plastic consumption/use
Information on product-specific plastic consumption using a plastic app

Arbeitspakete

Work packages

WP 1 Project coordination and project management

Contact person
Dr. Thomas Decker, Stadt Straubing, Theresienplatz 2, 94315 Straubing, e-mail: thomas.decker@straubing.de

Project partners
Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, General and Textile Industry Research Institute, University of Muenster, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging, University of Stuttgart, Philipps-University Marburg, Ludwig Stocker Hofpfisterei GmbH

Short description
The City of Straubing coordinated the consortium in the supervisory WP 1. This included the coordination of content, operations (link between science and SMEs) and organisation (project meetings, telecons, reports, timetable, etc.). In addition, the City of Straubing was responsible for public relations (reciprocal and interactive communication with stakeholder groups in the study region and in Germany, presswork, Internet media, etc.).

WP 2 Consumer purchasing behavior when buying plastic articles

Contact person
Prof. Dr. Klaus Menrad, Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, Department of Marketing and Management of Renewable Resources, Petersgasse 18, 94315 Straubing, e-mail: klaus.menrad@hswt.de

Project partners
Stadt Straubing, Ludwig Stocker Hofpfisterei GmbH

Short description
The behaviour of customers in the shops of partners in the City of Straubing was assessed in regard to food packaging and clothing textiles, with particular attention paid to plastic. The aim was, on the one hand, to capture the open, observable shopping behaviour of consumers with its connected plastic consumption. On the other hand, the knowledge and problem awareness in plastic matters were determined. Furthermore, common themes were also examined when purchasing plastic-packed food or textiles.

WP 3 What role does plastic play in commerce?

Contact person
Dr. Thomas Decker, Stadt Straubing, Theresienplatz 2, 94315 Straubing, e-mail: thomas.decker@straubing.de

Project partners
Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, Ludwig Stocker Hofpfisterei GmbH

Short description
The respective offer at the PoS was very important for consumers' purchasing decisions. For this reason, the assortment of practical partners in the food and textile commerce as well as the disposal routes of plastic waste produced in shops were being investigated. This provided a business level overview of the respective volume of plastic. The selected shops were examples of different types of food retailing and textile merchandise management.

WP 4 Plastics along the value chain

Contact person
Sven Sängerlaub, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging, Giggenhauser Straße 35, 85354 Freising, e-mail: sven.saengerlaub@ivv.fraunhofer.de

Short description
The aim of this work package was to obtain a general overview of the occurrence and use of plastics (especially intermediate packaging) in the supply chains for textiles, with a focus on functional textiles and men’s fashion, and foodstuffs. The aim was to investigate the areas in which the use of plastic is necessary and where it could be reduced or avoided. Thus, there were various possibilities within the value chains to reduce or avoid the use of plastics, e.g. by optimizing the transport packaging systems between the individual stations.

WP 5 Development and provision of alternative packaging options

Contact person
Sven Sängerlaub, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging, Giggenhauser Straße 35, 85354 Freising, e-mail:sven.saengerlaub@ivv.fraunhofer.de

Project partners
Stadt Straubing, University of Stuttgart, Ludwig Stocker Hofpfisterei GmbH

Short description
For the practical testing of alternative packaging and communication with retailers and end customers, suitable materials were being developed, samples produced and appropriate specifications drawn up for incoming and outgoing processes for manufacture and recycling. Various packaging alternatives for the food sector were then manufactured at IVV on a pilot-plant scale for pilot applications or produced by industrial partners. These patterns represented different approaches to avoid or reduce the use of plastics.

WP 6 Avoidance of plastic along the entire textile supply chain

Contact person
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Schewe, University of Münster, Chair of Business Administration, Universitätsstraße 14–16, 48143 Münster, e-mail: orga@wiwi.uni-muenster.de

Project partners
Stadt Straubing, University of Stuttgart

Short description
Within the scope of a business case, innovative strategies were developed for analysing the entire textile supply chain regarding avoidable plastic use, together with practice partners from the textile industry. First the object of investigation was defined and delineated to provide a specification sheet for the analysis of the actual state, for the formulation of the target state under consideration of cost positions, for monetary advantages, and non-monetary aspects, and for functional, and nonfunctional requirements.

WP 7 Innovative recycling strategies for the textile sector

Contact person
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Schewe, University of Münster, Chair of Business Administration, Universitätsstraße 14–16, 48143 Münster, e-mail: orga@wiwi.uni-muenster.de

Project partners
Stadt Straubing, University of Stuttgart

Short description
For the unavoidable use of plastics in the textile supply chain, sustainable recycling strategies were developed in a business case in cooperation with practice partners from the textile commerce who see plastics as a promising resource for innovative manufacturing and production processes (for the areas of men’s fashion and functional textiles). The focus was on additive manufacturing processes (colloquially: 3D printing) that offer innovative recycling solutions across divisions and industries thus forming a link to the research area of food packaging.

WP 8 Context-specific life cycle analysis of the product examples

Contact person
Dr.-Ing. Stefan Albrecht, University of Stuttgart, Faculty 2: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Institute for Acoustics and Building Physics (IABP), Department of Life Cycle Engineering, Wankelstraße 5, 70563 Stuttgart, e-mail: gabi@iabp.uni-stuttgart.de

Project partners
Stadt Straubing, Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, General and Textile Industry Research Institute, University of Muenster, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging, University of Stuttgart, Philipps-University Marburg, Ludwig Stocker Hofpfisterei GmbH

Short description
Which global problems were caused by plastics along their supply chain and how severe are these? This question was answered by means of a context-specific analysis with regard to the entire life cycle of possible product solutions (textile, food) or plastics (e.g. food packaging) and the entire range of problems based on the life cycle assessment method and information from the previous work packages. Various practice partners from the textile and food commerce provided support.

WP 9 Testing "new solutions"

Project partners
Stadt Straubing, General and Textile Industry Research Institute, University of Muenster, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging, University of Stuttgart, Philipps-University Marburg, Ludwig Stocker Hofpfisterei GmbH

Short description
The newly developed products/solutions of WP 5 and 6 were verified for consumer acceptance and tested in the stores of partner companies in the food and textile industry for a period of two weeks. In addition to the sales figures, further consumer reactions were also collected in 300 personal interviews. The developed app (Android and iOS version) was also included in the test and tested for applicability.

WP 10 Elaboration and documentation of practice-oriented recommendations for action

Contact persons
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Schewe, University of Münster, Chair of Business Administration, Universitätsstraße 14–16, 48143 Münster, e-mail: orga@wiwi.uni-muenster.de

Sven Sängerlaub, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging, Giggenhauser Straße 35, 85354 Freising, e-mail:sven.saengerlaub@ivv.fraunhofer.de

Prof. Dr. Klaus Menrad, Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, Department of Marketing and Management of Renewable Resources, Petersgasse 18, 94315 Straubing, e-mail: klaus.menrad@hswt.de

Project partners
Stadt Straubing, Philipps-University Marburg, Ludwig Stocker Hofpfisterei GmbH

Short description
Based on the results obtained, recommendations for action were formulated for the industries examined and then summarised into compact documentation. The recommendations for action were derived in close coordination with all partners and on the basis of the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and risks of the solutions and strategies jointly identified throughout the course of the project. The aim was to achieve a clear impact assessment for the solutions and strategies developed and thus contribute to a reduction in use of plastics on the consumer side.

Case Studies

Several case studies in the areas of food packaging and textiles were conducted within this project. For example, alternative packaging variants were developed for the following areas: service packaging, bowls/trays and bags for baked goods. These packaging alternatives were tested in the course of the project with regard to "quality", ”consumer acceptance” and for improvement of the "plastic index".

In the field of textiles, innovative strategies for the analysis of the entire textile supply chain to identify avoidable use of plastics were established together with practice partners. In addition, sustainable recycling strategies were developed that consider plastics as a promising resource for innovative manufacturing and production processes (for men's fashion and functional textiles). The focus was on additive manufacturing processes (colloquially: 3D printing) that offer innovative recycling solutions across divisions and industries.

Coordinator

Dr. Thomas Decker
Stadt Straubing
Theresienplatz 2
94315 Straubing
Phone: +49 9421 944-60167
e-mail: thomas.decker@straubing.de

Website

http://www.plastikvermeidung.de/

Partner Institutions

Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, Department for Marketing and Management of Renewable Resources

General and Textile Industry Research Institute, University of Muenster

Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging

University of Stuttgart, Institute of Acoustics and Building Physics, Department of Life Cycle Engineering

Philipps-University Marburg, Department of Bioinformatics

Ludwig Stocker Hofpfisterei GmbH

Duration Period