Description: This assessment report identifies six key areas of sustainable consumption. Transforming those areas is associated with a significant, positive impact on sustainable development. In this way, those key areas lay the foundation to set clear priorities and formulate concrete policy measures and recommendations. The report describes recent developments and relevant actors in those six fields, outlines drivers and barriers to reach a shift towards more sustainability in those specific areas, and explores international good-practice examples. On top of this, overarching topics in the scientific discourse concerning sustainable consumption (e.g. collaborative economy, behavioural economics and nudging) are revealed by using innovative text-mining techniques. Subsequently, the report outlines the contributions of these research approaches to transforming the key areas of sustainable consumption. Finally, the report derives policy recommendations to improve the German Sustainable Development Strategy (DNS) in order to achieve a stronger stimulus effect for sustainable consumption.

Description: Two thirds of today's world trade is based on global value chains and supply networks. Purely regional supply chains have become less important in recent decades. The effects of these globalised structures are manifold. On the one hand, they promote employment and generate prosperity. On the other hand, they are beset by extreme social, ecological and economic imbalances. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the fragility of existing supply chain systems. The lockdown continues to disrupt complex supply chains and many problems of existing production and consumption continue to worsen. COVID-19 is one example of the crises that can shake globally networked supply chains in the short term. Other crises, such as climate change, develop more insidiously and are less immediately recognisable. Different as they are, such crises have one thing in common: they highlight the vulnerability of global social and economic structures and illustrate the impact of global trade on the regions and people of the world. This is precisely where global sustainability strategy comes in - it aims to fundamentally reduce differences and inequalities in opportunities and quality of life. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the entire world into upheaval, creating an opportunity to make sustainability a central political resilience strategy. In the wake of the Corona pandemic, the discussion about resilient communities has flared up. In order to guarantee supply in the face of such crises, these should be more strongly regional and circular in their economic approach and global and sustainable in their perspective. The aim should be sustainable, transparent, non-exploitative supply chains that guarantee the security of supply to cover basic needs and public services despite sudden changes and crises. This discussion paper draws a future scenario of globally cooperative, circular regional economies that fundamentally reduce global inequalities in opportunities and quality of life, while at the same time permanently preserving the natural foundations of life.

Description: Zwei Drittel des heutigen Welthandels gründen auf globalen Wertschöpfungsketten und Versorgungsnetzen. Rein regionalwirtschaftlich organisierte Lieferketten haben in den letzten Jahrzehnten an Bedeutung verloren. Die Auswirkungen dieser globalisierten Strukturen sind vielfältig: Zum einen haben sie beschäftigungsfördernde Effekte und wirken wohlstandsstiftend. Zum anderen existieren entlang der Lieferketten extreme soziale, ökologische und ökonomische Schieflagen. Die COVID-19-Pandemie zeigt in erheblichem Maße, wie fragil bestehende Lieferkettensysteme sind. Der Lockdown unterbricht noch immer komplexe Lieferketten und viele Probleme der bestehenden Produktions- und Konsumweise verschärfen sich weiterhin. COVID-19 ist ein Beispiel einer der möglichen Krisen, welche die globalen und vernetzten Wertschöpfungsketten kurzfristig erschüttern kann. Andere Krisen entwickeln sich schleichender und damit weniger schnell erkennbar, wie etwa der globale Klimawandel. So unterschiedlich sie sind, haben die Krisen eines gemein: Sie zeigen die Verletzlichkeit globaler Gesellschafts- und Wirtschaftsstrukturen auf und verdeutlichen die Wirkungen globalen Handels auf die Regionen und Menschen der Welt. Die globale Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie setzt genau hier an - sie zielt darauf ab, Unterschiede und Ungleichheit in Chancen und Lebensqualität grundlegend zu vermindern. Deshalb sollte die Umsetzung der Nachhaltigkeitsziele auf internationaler, nationaler und regionaler Ebene eine Antwort auf solche Krisen sein. Da durch die Covid-19-Pandemie zeitgleich die komplette Welt in eine Umbruchsituation gedrängt wurde, bietet die Reaktion darauf an, Nachhaltigkeit als zentrale politische Resilienz-Strategie zu nutzen. Im Zuge der Corona-Pandemie flammte die Diskussion um resiliente Kommunen auf. Diese sollten sich stärker an regional- und kreislaufwirtschaftlichen Ansätzen orientieren, um angesichts solcher Pandemien die Versorgung weiterhin gewährleisten zu können. So wichtig und richtig die Entwicklung eigener regionalwirtschaftlicher und kreislauforientierter Ansätze im Kern ist, so wenig resilient ist es, wenn deren Entwicklung nicht unter globaler und nachhaltiger Perspektive erfolgt. Ziel sollten menschengerechte, nachhaltige und transparente Lieferketten sein, die auch bei plötzlich veränderten Rahmenbedingungen und Krisen richtungssicher die Versorgungssicherheit zur Deckung von Grundbedürfnissen und Daseinsvorsorge sicherstellen können. Das vorliegende Diskussionspapier zeichnet als Zukunftsszenario global kooperative, kreislauforientierte Regionalwirtschaften, die weltweite Ungleichheiten in Chancen und Lebensqualität grundlegend vermindern und dabei gleichsam die natürlichen Lebensgrundlagen dauerhaft bewahrt werden.

Description: Digitalisation is disrupting business practices worldwide and transforming consumption patterns. While a global increase in wealth is leading to higher consumption rates, consumption-related decisions are increasingly based on digital information and marketing; furthermore, shopping increasingly takes place online and products and services are more and more digitalised. The transformative character of digitalisation calls for political action in order to ensure sustainable consumption in a new and dynamically changing context. Focusing on consumption is imperative in combatting many global challenges. Take climate change: consumption-based emissions (i.e. emissions from domestic final consumption and emissions caused by the production of imported goods) are rising more rapidly than production-based emissions in high-income countries. Meanwhile most political measures target production-based emissions (i.e. territorial emissions). The German council for sustainable development (Rat für Nachhaltige Entwicklung) has called for the §principle of sustainable development [to] serve as the political framework for digital transformation" as "digitalisation has the potential to engender disruptive developments in the business world as well as society as a whole that carry both great opportunities and significant risks". Thus, to implement the 2030 Agenda, in particular SDG 12, and the National Program Sustainable Consumption, it is key to seize the opportunities that digitalisation presents for sustainable consumption and tackle the challenges. This assessment report thus examines the following key question: "What are the implications of the digital transformation of consumption patterns for the implementation of the German sustainability strategy in, by and with Germany?"

Description: On the basis of a literature research, this subtask develops a conceptional framework for a common understanding of CE within the project team and for the following work packages and tasks. After a brief introduction into the objectives and the context of a circular economy, a more elaborated look into the necessity of an explicit understanding of CE, the objectives, the spatial perspective of CE and the specific challenges within the CICERONE context will be done, in order to develop a basis for a common understanding within the project context. Circular economy can and has to be understood as an (eco-)innovation agenda. Therefore, the paper investigates the role policy has to play to support innovation for a CE transition, for creating the framework conditions and why CE has also to be build from the ground up. Finally, the paper looks from two perspectives at emerging trends and business models in a CE to sketch next steps towards the transition in a selection of central sectors. Conclusions are drawn on the basis of the insights gained by the preceding chapters.

Description: The basic materials industries are a cornerstone of Europe's economic prosperity, increasing gross value added and providing around 2 million high-quality jobs. But they are also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Despite efficiency improvements, emissions from these industries were mostly constant for several years prior to the Covid-19 crisis and today account for 20 per cent of the EU's total greenhouse gas emissions. A central question is therefore: How can the basic material industries in the EU become climate-neutral by 2050 while maintaining a strong position in a highly competitive global market? And how can these industries help the EU reach the higher 2030 climate target - a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of at least 55 per cent relative to 1990 levels? In the EU policy debate on the European Green Deal, many suppose that the basic materials industries can do little to achieve deep cuts in emissions by 2030. Beyond improvements to the efficiency of existing technologies, they assume that no further innovations will be feasible within that period. This study takes a different view. It shows that a more ambitious approach involving the early implementation of key low-carbon technologies and a Clean Industry Package is not just possible, but in fact necessary to safeguard global competitiveness.

Description: Within the Shaping Digitalisation project, we aim to highlight and discuss the opportunities that digitalisation can bring to Germany. In particular, we are discussing three stand-out areas where action is most needed to achieve ecological transformation: mobility, the circular economy, and agriculture and food. This report addresses the second area in need of action. Up until now, discussions on the circular economy have been limited to recycling and the re-use of materials. We must expand the scope of these discussions to include new, resource-efficient business models and the comprehensive transformation of value chains and industrial structures. Our analysis has found that digitalisation is indispensable for this transformation if used properly. We hope this report will provide the impetus needed to kick-start a climate- and resource-friendly industrial transformation in Germany. Here, we have incorporated the findings of our interdisciplinary workshop on "Shaping the Digital-Ecological Industrial Transformation - Business Models and Political Framework Conditions for Climate and Resource Protection" that was attended by experts from international research institutes, civil organizations, public authorities, and private companies.

Description: In the coming years, we must set a course that will allow as to protect our climate, reduce resource consumption, and preserve biodiversity. A profound ecological system change is on the horizon in all central areas of action of the economy and society, or transformation arenas. Digitalisation is a prerequisite for the success in this change and will impact these arenas at multiple levels: Digital technologies and applications will make it possible to improve current procedures, processes, and structures (Improve) and help us take the first steps towards new business models and frameworks (Convert). Despite this, digitalisation itself must be effective enough to facilitate a complete ecological restructuring of our society and lives to achieve more far-reaching economic transformation and value creation (Transform). The ability to obtain, link, and use data is a basic prerequisite for tapping into the potential of digitisation for sustainability transformation. However, data is not a homogeneous raw material. Data only gains value when we know the context in which it was collected and when we can use it for a specific purpose. The discussion on what structures and prerequisites are necessary for the system-changing use of data has only just begun. This study was conducted to serve as a starting point for this discussion as it describes the opportunities and prerequisites for a data-based sustainability transformation. This study focuses on environmental data, data from plants, machines, infrastructure, and IoT products. Our task will be to increase the use this data for systemic solutions (system innovation) within transformation arenas where different stakeholders are working together to initiate infrastructure, value chain, and business model transformation.

Description: Ernährung ist einer der wichtigen Bereiche für die große Transformation. Doch wie kann eine Umstellung auf ein nachhaltiges Ernährungssystem gelingen? Der vorliegende Zukunftsimpuls setzt sich mit dieser Frage auseinander - basierend auf über zehn Jahren Forschung zu nachhaltiger Ernährung am Wuppertal Institut. Einen Schwerpunkt setzt das Papier auf die Außer-Haus-Gastronomie, denn bereits kleine Umstellungen - etwa in der Zutatenauswahl - haben hier große Wirkung. Mit geeigneten Rahmenbedingungen kann die Außer-Haus-Gastronomie den Konsumierenden als leicht zugänglicher Erlebnisort für nachhaltigere Ernährung dienen und gleichzeitig Landwirtinnen und Landwirten ein zuverlässiger Abnehmer für biodiversitätsschonende und klimafreundliche Lebensmittel sein. Doch für eine Transformation des Ernährungssystems sind auch andere Akteure gefragt: Der Zukunftsimpuls adressiert Politik, (Land-)Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft und jeden und jede Einzelne - denn die Transformation des Ernährungssystems ist eine gesamtgesellschaftliche Aufgabe.

Description: Was hat Design mit Umwelt und Nachhaltigkeit zu tun? Die globale Erwärmung und der Klimawandel lassen sich auf verschiedene Ursachen zurückführen. Design, das die Umwelt außen vor lässt, ist einer der Gründe. Viele Produkte und Dienstleistungen verbrauchen nämlich viel Energie und Ressourcen haben auch eine hohe soziale Relevanz - sie sorgen beispielsweise für Teilhabe oder Exklusion. Wie eine Transformation hin zu mehr Nachhaltigkeit in diesem Bereich besser gelingt, fasst der neue "Transition Design Guide" des Wuppertal Instituts und der Folkwang Universität der Künste in Kooperation mit der ecosign - Akademie für Gestaltung Köln und der Bergischen Universität Wuppertal zusammen. Der Leitfaden gibt interessierten Gestaltenden, Entwickelnden, Transformatorinnen und Transformatoren sowie Forschenden in Universitäten, Unternehmen und Kommunen 16 Praxis-Werkzeuge an die Hand, um Produkte, Dienstleistungen, soziale Räume oder andere Erfahrungswelten nachhaltiger und umweltbewusster zu entwerfen. Anhand der Arbeitsblätter lassen sich gestalterische Ideen und Konzepte auf ihre Nachhaltigkeitspotenziale untersuchen und weiterentwickeln. Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte werden dabei mit den Methoden und Arbeitsschritten eines klassischen Designprozesses zusammengeführt. Ausführliche Hintergrundinformationen ergänzen die Themen der Tools inhaltlich.