Transformation der Holzwirtschaft zu einer zirkulären Bioökonomie : Auswertung eines Workshops im Rahmen der Charta für Holz 2.0 im Dialog 2024 „Holz im Kreislauf – Treiber für Innovation!“

The topic of the circular economy with wood was discussed with participants in six workshops during a Charter for Wood 2.0 in Dialogue event. The results provide a very differentiated view of a transformation towards a circular economy in the wood industry. As the majority of participants themselves come from this industry, a bias can be assumed. The participants expressed a very comprehensive understanding of the circular economy and consider it a process of holistic thinking and action. Overall, transformation is less perceived as a radical change and more as a steady progress towards sustainable modernization of the timber industry. The aim is to close material cycles and implementation strategies cover the entire life of a raw material or product - from the extraction of resources, through the product's life to the end of its life. In addition to this, strategies that reduce resource consumption and start before the actual product life were particularly present among the participants. This focus is understandable in the context of the event, as the structural properties of wood determine its use and therefore wood as a material is not fully recyclable. At the same time, however, the participants believe that the circular economy has only been successfully implemented to a limited extent in the forestry & wood cluster. The majority of participants see ecological benefits as the main advantages of implementing a circular economy, above all climate and resource protection. Positive effects on value creation, costs and innovation are most frequently cited as economic benefits. Reduced geopolitical dependencies and increased local value creation show the desire for an increased circular economy...