Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) views the planned action program for the National Circular Economy Strategy, which the Federal Cabinet intends to adopt on Wednesday, as presenting significant opportunities not only for the environment but also for ensuring resource independence. Speaking to RTL and ntv, Schneider called the practice of simply sending materials or industrial byproducts-whether manufactured domestically or imported-straight to landfill or incinerator “absurd”. He stressed that taking products apart to salvage raw materials and recycling them is “circular economy at its best”. This approach, he argues, helps Germany become less dependent on foreign sources, such as oil imports.
According to Schneider, oil is a fundamental raw material not just for fuel, but also for plastics. By reusing these materials and addressing issues like lithium from batteries, Germany, he stated, can lessen its reliance on regimes that are often authoritarian. The action plan also establishes the structure needed to close supply chains within Germany and make materials, such as those extracted from used cars, available again. While acknowledging that the initial costs might be slightly higher, he concluded that the resulting increase in independence makes the model viable. Furthermore, if the legal framework is applied equally to all, it will prove to be economically beneficial for individual companies.
