Market analysis

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

VerPlaPoS: Plastik entlang der textilen Lieferkette

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Thu, 28 May 2020 15:35:42 +0000

VerPlaPoS: plastics along the textile supply chain janna.vakili@e… Thu, 05/28/2020 - 17:35

Untertitel

Article in the magazine "masche"

Titelbild

Beschreibung

This article from the German magazine „masche“ portraits the joint project VerPlaPoS. The project examines consumer’s behavior concerning plastics and avoidance strategies at the point of sale.

Investigating the whole supply chain of different textile products, the researchers find that frequent packing, unpacking and repacking of goods leads to high use of plastics. Due to a lack of information consumers are often unaware of this. VerPlaPoS tries to tackle these deficits by increasing the consumer’s awareness of this problem as well as highlighting ways for the industry to reduce plastics in the supply chain.

More information about the project can be found in the article, which was published in the magazine "masche" of the German Maschen Industry Association (Gesamtverband der deutschen Maschenindustrie e.V.) in issue 01/2020 and can be downloaded in German online under this link.

Further Links

Download of the article (in German)

Joint project

VerPlaPoS

Magazine

masche

Year

2020

Type of Result

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

Tags

Prevention of plastics

Publikationstyp

Querschnittsthema

KuWert

KALEH — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 16:12:48 +0000

KuWert KALEH Tue, 12/19/2017 - 17:12

Ship-Based Treatment of Plastics for the Implementation of Value Chains in Less Developed Countries as well as for the Prevention of Plastic Inputs into the Environment and Especially in Marine Ecosystems

The aim of the project was to develop concepts and preliminary planning for the implementation of an infrastructure for the collection, ship-based treatment, and marketing of plastic waste in order to reduce the input of plastic waste into the environment and marine ecosystems. The project's target regions were primarily less developed countries in the Global South. Using West Africa as an example, strategies for reducing the input of plastics (in this case macroplastics) into the environment were researched, because the input of macroplastics into the environment is particularly high when functioning waste collection and disposal systems are lacking. Stakeholder dialogues were conducted to assess whether a commodity chain based on plastic recyclates is possible on the West African coast. A prototype model ship was developed and used to determine costs.

Main areas of work

Data collection, analysis and evaluation (local conditions in less developed countries)
Preliminary planning of waste treatment plants
Design of a concept for suitable ship and plant technology
Development of strategies for the implementation of value chains in less developed countries
Analysis and evaluation of results (economic, ecological)

Arbeitspakete

Work packages

WP 1 Basic evaluation – recording of plastic waste

Contact person
Dr. Martin Wittmaier, IEKrW, Neustadtswall 30, 28199 Bremen, e-mail: wittmaier-office@hs-bremen.de

Project partner
TECHNOLOG, Nehlsen, University of Mauritius, University of Sierra Leone

Short description
It was of utmost importance for the processing of the entire project to gain knowledge of the composition of the plastic waste that potentially was collected in less developed countries. To this end, data and information (types, qualities, quantities, framework conditions, logistics, etc.) were first collected, analysed and evaluated, including on site in the example countries Sierra Leone and Mauritius.

WP 2 Pre-design of a treatment and recovery plant

Contact person
Dr. Sven Rausch, Nehlsen GmbH & Co. KG, Wilhelm-Karmann-Str. 5, 28237 Bremen, e-mail: sven.rausch@nehlsen.com

Project partner
TECHNOLOG, IEKrW, University of Mauritius, University of Sierra Leone

Short description
In this WP, waste treatment plants were planned in various variants. For this purpose, national and international framework conditions connected with the construction and operation of the ship-based facilities to be developed were determined. Various known procedures were evaluated and tested for their suitability, as were requirements for operation, maintenance and repair. On this basis, the objectives for the treatment of plastic waste were defined, followed by the development of conceptual designs.

WP 3 Concept development (ship and plant engineering)

Contact person
Fridtjof Rohde, TECHNOLOG, Vorsetzen 50, 20459 Hamburg, e-mail: fridtjof.rohde@tlg-services.biz

Project partner
IEKrW, Nehlsen

Short description
Preliminary designs for up to three variants of carrier vessels/semi-submersibles for the treatment of plastic waste were developed with alternative shipbound logistics concepts. Rough planning included room planning and process-oriented arrangement of facilities, equipment for maritime technology, equipment for waste treatment plants, etc. The production costs and energy requirements were also determined and the variants were compared economically.

WP 4 Marketing potential of secondary raw materials

Contact person
Dr. Sven Rausch, Nehlsen GmbH & Co. KG, Wilhelm-Karmann-Straße 5, 28237 Bremen, e-mail: sven.rausch@nehlsen.com

Project partner
IEKrW, TECHNOLOG

Short description
The market for secondary raw materials was examined, since these are fundamentally valuable. Tradeable products from plastic waste were identified and the quality requirements to be met specified. Possible revenues were also estimated. The resulting technical requirements for processing technology and quality management were taken into account in the other WPs. Based on the results, strategies for the most economical processing and marketing of products made from plastic waste were developed.

WP 5 Profitability analysis and life cycle assessment

Contact person
Dr. Martin Wittmaier, IEKrW, Neustadtswall 30, 28199 Bremen, e-mail: wittmaier-office@hs-bremen.de

Project partner
TECHNOLOG, Nehlsen

Short description
The concepts and preliminary planning for the ship-based collection, processing and marketing of plastic waste from less developed countries developed in the project were evaluated under economic and ecological aspects. On the basis of the results, the ecological advantages (reduction of the input of plastics into the environment, protection of resources by recycling plastic waste) were determined. The evaluation of the economic efficiency was intended to assess the chances of realisation and provide a planning framework for potential investors, funding providers and operators of a ship-based collection and treatment plant for plastic waste.

WP 6 Project management, public relations, recycling concept

Contact person
Fridtjof Rohde, TECHNOLOG, Vorsetzen 50, 20459 Hamburg, e-mail: fridtjof.rohde@tlg-services.biz

Project partner
IEKrW, Nehlsen

Short description
Within the framework of WP 6, work was carried out on internal and external communication (project meetings, workshops, communication between national and international partners including maintaining contacts with interested shipping companies/shipowners, public relations, etc.) and project management (administrative and content-related reporting, work and progress control and coordination, etc.).

Coordinator

Fridtjof Rohde
TECHNOLOG Services GmbH
Vorsetzen 50
20459 Hamburg
Phone: +49 40 7070768-20
e-mail: fridtjof.rohde@tlg-services.biz

Website

http://www.KuWert.hs-bremen.de

Partner Institutions

Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences, Institute for Energy, Recycling and Environmental Protection / IEKrW

Nehlsen GmbH & Co. KG

Duration Period

August 2017

December 2019

Tags

Waste reduction

Waste management

Methodology of analyses

Environmental accounting

Optimization process

Plastic littering

Reduction of plastic use

Polyamide (PA)

Polyester

Polyethylene (PE)

High density polyethylene PE-HD

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Resource conservation

Risk assessment

Secondary raw materials

Sorting

Stakeholder

Material flow managment

Project sheet

13_Projektblatt_KUWERT_ENG_2018.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

PLASTRAT

KALEH — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 14:34:18 +0000

PLASTRAT KALEH Tue, 12/19/2017 - 15:34

Strategies for Reducing the Entry of Urban Plastics into Limnic Systems

The common element of all investigations in PLASTRAT was the development of solution strategies for sustainable limitation of the spread of plastic residues in the aquatic environment on technical, environmental, scientific and social-ecological levels. The objective consisted of developing a multi-criteria evaluation approach for the environmental compatibility of different types of plastics. In addition, a quality label for practical application was designed. The focus lay on the analysis and evaluation of the degradation stages of different types of plastics as well as leaching, adsorption and desorption in different wastewater treatment stages, the effects of different plastic species (in different degradation stages) and their additives on aquatic organisms in limnic systems, as well as a risk characterisation of the human toxicological effect of microplastics on consumers of drinking water. Furthermore, the emphasis is put on the quantification and technical reduction potential (e.g. use of membrane technology) of plastic emissions in urban water management, including sewage sludge/fermentation residue treatment, taking into account suitable sampling, treatment and analysis methods. Besides, studies were carried out on the social relevance, i.e. how plastics are handled in German households, what demands the consumer places on plastics, what possibilities exist for the use of substitutes and the resulting effects on commerce, logistics and consumers.

Main areas of work

Determination and evaluation of microplastic pathways in limnic systems
Investigation and evaluation of technical measures for microplastic elimination
Sampling strategies for further processing and analysis of microplastics
Sample preparation for analysis of microplastics
Identification and quantification of microplastics in all samples
Automation of particle recognition, measurement and identification using databases
Adsorption/desorption of pollutants on microplastics
Degradation and leaching of polymers of different groups
Ecotoxicological studies of released substances from microplastics
Human toxicological investigations of released substances from microplastics
Risk analysis of drinking water
Investigation of societal relevance
Development of a multi-criteria evaluation system
Development of a quality label through an accompanying stakeholder dialogue

Arbeitspakete

Work packages

WP K Coordination und Communikation

Contact persons
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Schaum, apl. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Krause, Bundeswehr University Munich, Institute of Hydroscience, Chair of Sanitary Engineering and Waste Management, Werner-Heisenberg-Weg 39, 85577 Neubiberg, e-mail: swa@unibw.de

Short description
In addition to the tasks of general scientific project management, internal communication between the network partners and external communication (increasing public awareness of the project) were also covered. This includes, among other things, uniform guidelines for public relations work by individual network partners and within the overall consortium, organisation of meetings, monitoring of work progress, document management and coordination of the associated partners.

WP 1 Microplastics in the urban water cycle

Project partner
UF, IWW, BfG, a2i, TUDa, inge, IPF, IOW

Short description
Basic data and definitions for PLASTRAT were specified in consultation with all project partners. This relates to the definition of the upper and lower limit of the particle size for microplastic particles to be examined, the selection of specific plastic species from the categories conventional plastics, recyclates, and biobased or biodegradable polymers. Further work included the selection or determination of suitable sites for investigations of WP 2 and 3, taking into account the products considered in WP 5. In addition, a stakeholder analysis was carried out along with a more detailed evaluation for developing the quality label.

WP 2 Degradation und material dynamics

Contact person
Prof. Dr. Thomas Ternes, German Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG), Am Mainzer Tor 1, 56068 Koblenz, e-mail: ternes@bafg.de

Project partner
UniBwM, TUDa

Short description
The environmental behaviour of biobased, synthetic and recycled plastics was analysed in WP 2. Original materials were examined, as well as artificially-aged materials. The release of pollutants (oligomers, additives and their transformation products) was analysed depending on the type of polymer and the degree of degradation. Furthermore, differences in the adsorption/desorption of environmental chemicals were investigated for different types of polymers and the role of wastewater treatment plants regarding the pollutant load of microplastics (enrichment or depletion).

WP 3 Entry points and elimination

Project partner
UniBwM, a2i, inge, IPF, IOW

Short description
Different entry points of microplastics into limnic systems were assessed, focusing on the analysis and evaluation of the waste water management system including measures for microplastic retention (e.g. membrane technology) that already exist or have been modified or developed in the course of the project. Core areas comprised rain and mixed water discharge, the assessment and evaluation of the entire wastewater treatment plant system, and an analysis of sewage sludge, digestate and compost as possible microplastic sinks. Emphasis was also put on the development and selection of suitable processing and analytical methods.

WP 4 Impact and hazard analysis

Contact persons
Prof. Dr. Jörg Oehlmann, Dr. Ulrike Schulte-Oehlmann, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60438 Frankfurt, e-mail: oehlmann@bio.uni-frankfurt.de

Project partner
IWW

Short description
Comparative analyses were conducted for biobased, synthetic and recycled plastics in different degradation stages as well as for their additives and substances adsorbed/desorbed regarding their effects applying various human and ecotoxicological methods. The results were used to derive threshold values and environmental quality objectives. These contributed to the hazard analysis and evaluation of the different plastic species with regard to their relevance and environmental compatibility for the limnic environment. The experimental investigations were supplemented by a risk analysis of the drinking water system.

WP 5 Societal relevance

Contact person
Dr. Immanuel Stieß, ISOE - Institute for Social-Ecological Research, Hamburger Allee 4, 60486 Frankfurt, e-mail: stiess@isoe.de

Short description
The social perception, use and disposal of plastic based products were analysed as well as the possibilities, conditions and obstacles for more sustainable consumption and disposal practices. The focus lay on applications in the non-food sector (hygiene articles, clothing and dog excrement bags) as their incorrect or informal disposal can lead to the emission of microplastics into limnic systems that may have negative effects on organisms and aquatic ecosystems. Analysing of the perception of environmental risks and product-specific use and disposal practices was carried out through qualitative exploration and standardised surveys.

WP 6 Evaluation system/quality label

Contact person
Kristina Wencki, IWW Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institute for Water Research gGmbH, Moritzstraße 26, 45476 Mülheim an der Ruhr, e-mail: k.wencki@iww-online.de

Project partner
ISOE, UniBwM, UF, BfG

Short description
Within the project, a multi-criteria evaluation system for plastics regarding to their environmental compatibility with limnic systems was developed. At the same time, the identification of the evaluation criteria was used to initiate the critical discourse about the quality label that demonstrates this environmental compatibility. To this end, a stakeholder dialogue was conducted. In addition to synthesizing the outcomes of the preceding work packages, this made a significant contribution to transfer the newly acquired findings into research and business practice.

Coordinator

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Schaum and apl. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Krause
Bundeswehr University Munich Institute of Hydroscience /
UniBwM Chair of Sanitary Engineering and Waste Management
Werner-Heisenberg-Weg 39
85577 Neubiberg
Phone: + 49 89-6004-2061 bzw. -2698 /-3849
e-mail: swa@unibw.de

Website

http://www.plastrat.de/project/

Partner Institutions

Goethe University Frankfurt / UF

Institute for Social-Ecological Research/ISOE

IWW Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institute for Water Research gGmbH / IWW

German Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG) / BfG

aquadrat ingenieure GmbH / a2i

Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute IWAR /TUDa

inge GmbH /inge

Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden / IPF

Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde / IOW

Associated Partners

Münchner Stadtentwässerung

Stadt Weißenburg in Bayern

Entsorgungsbetriebe der Landeshauptstadt Wiesbaden

Stadt Weiterstadt, Eigenbetrieb Stadtwerke

Gemeindliche Einrichtungen und Abwasser Holzkirchen

Autobahndirektion Südbayern

CARAT GmbH

PlasticsEurope Deutschland e.V.

Kelheim Fibres GmbH

DWA Landesverband Bayern

Technical University of Munich, Analytical Chemistry

The Sustainable People GmbH

Duration Period

September 2017

December 2020

Tags

Methodology of analyses

Infraref spectroscopy

Sewage treatment plant

Combined sewar overflows

Environmental sustainability

Consumer behaviour

Reduction

Reduction measures

Project sheet

07_Projektblatt_PLASTRAT_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