Today, 24 July, is Global Earth Overshoot Day - again earlier than last year. From this day onwards, we will consume more resources worldwide than the earth can regenerate within a year. Promoting the circular economy can help to reduce resource consumption. The packaging industry also has a responsibility here.
The German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) is calling for consistent measures to reduce resource consumption - in particular by resolutely promoting the circular economy. Industrialised countries such as Germany in particular would live well beyond their ecological means, according to the environmental organisation.
„We waste our resources like there's no tomorrow. Packaging also plays a key role here. With better reusable systems and recyclable materials, we can not only protect the environment and climate, but also make our economy fit for the future.“
Olaf Bandt, BUND Chairman
The Earth Overshoot Day has shifted forward continuously since 1970. The consumption of renewable raw materials such as wood has doubled since then, and that of non-renewable raw materials has even tripled - with serious ecological and social consequences. This is a clear call to action for the packaging industry: Less primary materials, more circular utilisation.
Introduced in 2023 National Circular Economy Strategy (NKWS) is intended to support change. The German government is currently working on a key issues paper with measures that can be realised in the short term. BUND is calling for this to include a legal framework for reducing the consumption of primary raw materials. In addition, measures from the NKWS should be prioritised and effective monitoring should be defined. The environmental organisation also believes that these measures need to be financed and that a strong platform with the involvement of civil society is required.
According to BUND, the packaging industry can make an important contribution - by:
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Expansion and promotion of Reusable systems
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Improvement of the Designs for recyclability and repair
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Prioritisation of Secondary raw materials and bio-based materials
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Structure of a sustainable circular economy infrastructure
Bandt emphasises: „We have the expertise and the companies, to ensure prosperity that is not based on a permanent waste of resources. But we have to act consistently now.“
Earth Overshoot Day marks the point in the year when humanity's consumption of resources exceeds the Earth's annual ecological budget. Worldwide, we would currently need 1.8 Earths to sustainably cover our consumption - in Germany, there would even be three.
Source: BUND
