Invigorating Summer Tour Sparks Creative Vibes
In a recent visit to Nettetal, Germany, Federal Minister for the Environment, Svenja Schulze, was impressed by the innovative spirit and commitment to sustainable construction and the circular economy.
Markus Steppler, Managing Director of W. u. J. Derix GmbH & Co., showcased his pioneering work in engineered wood construction with a take-back commitment for wooden elements. The focus of the visit was on the reuse of buildings as valuable raw material deposits after their useful life.
Mayor Christian Küsters welcomed numerous representatives from innovative companies in Nettetal and surrounding areas, expressing the need for reliable framework conditions from state and federal governments for these companies. The administrative building, constructed in 2022 according to the principles of circular economy, serves as a learning site for climate and resource-efficient construction.
Peter Klocke, Head of Networks at Stadtwerke Nettetal, and Holger Michels, deputy chairman of the supervisory board of Stadtwerke Nettetal, were also present at the conversation. Minister Neubaur underlined that the learning curve from experts' long-term experiences is crucial for the circular economy.
In addition to these initiatives, the Nettetal area boasts project certifications linked to sustainable energy infrastructure. Companies like HUBER+SUHNER, operating with a focus on sustainability, optimize production processes and provide solutions that ensure efficient electrical transmission and data transfer, underpinning sustainable infrastructure and mobility solutions.
Dr. Peter Welters, founder of Phytowelt GreenTechnologies GmbH, uses biotechnology for species breeding and phytoremediation to filter pollutants from soils. Peter Breidenbach, Managing Director of ClayTec GmbH & Co. KG, uses natural clay products for healthy and restorative indoor climates.
Meral Thoms, health policy spokeswoman of the Greens in the state parliament, took part in the conversation. Minister Neubaur advocated for a temporary reduction in the electricity tax to lower energy costs for both companies and households.
While explicit innovative initiatives in sustainable construction and circular economy locally are not directly documented in the current search results, the broader regional efforts are evident. Broader international initiatives by companies like Evonik address sustainability in large-scale environmental projects, showing a corporate trend towards sustainability that could inspire or interact with projects in Nettetal.
Mayor Küsters questioned the practice of demolishing buildings at the end of their useful life, referring to the Cradle-to-Cradle concept. He emphasized the importance of functional networks between business, science, and politics for the implementation of circular economy. Minister Neubaur highlighted this significance, stating that the implementation of circular economy relies on such networks.
In conclusion, Nettetal stands as a shining example of a community committed to sustainable construction and the circular economy. Despite a lack of directly documented local initiatives, the region's focus on sustainable energy infrastructure, corporate sustainability efforts, and progressive local leaders suggest a promising future for circular economy initiatives in Nettetal.
- The focus on circular economy in Nettetal extends beyond construction, with companies like HUBER+SUHNER optimizing production processes for sustainable energy infrastructure.
- Minister Neubaur advocates for the importance of collaboration between business, science, and politics for the successful implementation of environmental-science policies, such as the circular economy and climate-change mitigation.
- In the realm of engineering and social policy, Markus Steppler's pioneering work in sustainable, engineered wood construction offers a model for sustainable-living solutions in home-and-garden environments through a commitment to reuse materials for future construction projects.
