The Dance of the Molecules
A chemical ballet in which resources pirouette in a never-ending dance - with a little fantasy, this is how you can imagine the circular economy in the chemical industry. Waste is turned back into raw materials or is not produced at all.
This "dance of the molecules" has also fascinated our LANXESS trainees - so much so that they can now call themselves "Circularity Scouts.
This "dance of the molecules" has also fascinated our LANXESS trainees - so much so that they can now call themselves "Circularity Scouts.
LANXESS
Circularity Scouts Project
The "Circularity Scouts" project of the Cologne Chamber of Commerce and Industry took place for the first time from February to June 2023. It was aimed at trainees from companies in the greater Cologne area. The project was intended to qualify and sensitize trainees to the topic of circular economy and value creation as well as resource efficiency, but also to promote exchange on this topic among companies.
This year, a total of 16 trainees from 5 different companies took part, including 4 from LANXESS. In a 5-day program, they were taught theoretical and practical knowledge on the Circular Economy and soft skills on rhetoric, presentation and project management. Goal: They had to build their own project on the topic of circular economy in the company, which should be applicable especially at their employers.
The "Circularity Scouts" project of the Cologne Chamber of Commerce and Industry took place for the first time from February to June 2023. It was aimed at trainees from companies in the greater Cologne area. The project was intended to qualify and sensitize trainees to the topic of circular economy and value creation as well as resource efficiency, but also to promote exchange on this topic among companies.
This year, a total of 16 trainees from 5 different companies took part, including 4 from LANXESS. In a 5-day program, they were taught theoretical and practical knowledge on the Circular Economy and soft skills on rhetoric, presentation and project management. Goal: They had to build their own project on the topic of circular economy in the company, which should be applicable especially at their employers.
Digitization for resource conservation
For LANXESS, Kim Trinh, Nadja Limbach, Mike Wupperfeld and Kevin Kreider took part in the IHK initiative and together developed the project "Saving resources at work PLT through digitalization".
For LANXESS, Kim Trinh, Nadja Limbach, Mike Wupperfeld and Kevin Kreider took part in the IHK initiative and together developed the project "Saving resources at work PLT through digitalization".
The potential for savings is considerable: lists such as inspection and checklists, but also permission slips, produce a total of around 10 million sheets of paper per year in Germany alone. That's 50 tons per year.
0
OPER-ATIONS
0
LISTS PER OPER-ATION
0
PAGES PER LIST
0
MILLIONS
OF PAGES
OF PER-MISSIONS
OF PAGES
OF PER-MISSIONS
Of course, the pages do not remain blank and are printed, and printer cartridges and ink are needed for this. To be more precise: 500 toners per year. These are not exactly easy to dispose of, either, because they count as hazardous waste.
The four "Circularity Scouts" envisaged the consistent use of tablets, a server and suitable software for the process control technology instead of paper as a way out of this "waste misery" in their project. The savings potential: approx. 50 tons of CO2 per year.
The four "Circularity Scouts" envisaged the consistent use of tablets, a server and suitable software for the process control technology instead of paper as a way out of this "waste misery" in their project. The savings potential: approx. 50 tons of CO2 per year.
What is circular economy anyway?
The goal of a circular economy is sustainable, resource-efficient and low-carbon business. Creating a true circular economy requires tremendous effort from all stakeholders. It represents a paradigm shift and seeks to move away from a throwaway mentality, a linear economic system, to a circular thinking, a circular economic system. The approach of a circular economy gives a resource more lifetime and extends the life cycle beyond classic raw material recycling. Complex production systems need to be optimized and transformed, especially in the chemical industry, which supplies raw materials for many other industries and is at the center of long value chains.
The goal of a circular economy is sustainable, resource-efficient and low-carbon business. Creating a true circular economy requires tremendous effort from all stakeholders. It represents a paradigm shift and seeks to move away from a throwaway mentality, a linear economic system, to a circular thinking, a circular economic system. The approach of a circular economy gives a resource more lifetime and extends the life cycle beyond classic raw material recycling. Complex production systems need to be optimized and transformed, especially in the chemical industry, which supplies raw materials for many other industries and is at the center of long value chains.
LANXESS
Why is a circular economy actually so important?
Earth Overshoot Day reminds us that resources are not infinite. This year it fell on August 2 for the global consumption of resources. Earth Overshoot Day for Germany fell this year on May 4.
Earth Overshoot Day reminds us that resources are not infinite. This year it fell on August 2 for the global consumption of resources. Earth Overshoot Day for Germany fell this year on May 4.
Earth Overshoot Day marks the day in the year when humanity has exhausted the resources of nature for the year that it can reproduce and provide on its own within a year. The so-called Earth Overshoot Day is a campaign of the organization Global Footprint Network and motivates a more responsible and careful use of natural resources.
