Gelsenkirchen. On her circular economy summer tour, Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Mona Neubaur got a first-hand look at flagship circular economy projects in North Rhine-Westphalia. 

At the Gelsenkirchen-based company ZINQ, the focus was on concrete practical implementation: using the example of the circular business model Planet ZINQ, Mona Neubaur and Lars Baumgürtel, managing partner of ZINQ, discussed the challenges and opportunities of the transformation towards a circular economy.

Alongside the future use of green hydrogen for process heat, ZINQ’s circular business model includes completely closed material loops based on the Cradle-to-Cradle approach (ReZINQ), the decarbonisation of the supply chain (Low Carbon ZINQ) and carbon credits for long-lasting zinc surfaces.

Circular products already account for over 90 % of turnover. In doing so, the climate protection company ZINQ is already putting into practice what will be necessary in the future to decouple energy and resource consumption from growth.

„However, what is missing are economic incentives – circular value creation must be worthwhile. Costs that are still externalised today need to be internalised, says Lars Baumgürtel.

He explained how this could work using product passes, which in future will enable the carbon pricing of a product over its entire life cycle. Above all, this would reward consumers and customers who opt for a circular product.

Skilled workers are naturally needed for the transition to a circular economy. In doing so, the company places particular emphasis on its own vocational training programme (process mechanic for coating technology – focus on hot-dip galvanising/ZINQ). Minister Neubaur was impressed by the commitment to dual training and by how many trainees have already found their way into management positions.

Mona Neubaur and Lars Baumgürtel jointly emphasised the importance of the Emscher-Lippe region as a key driver for NRW's transition towards a circular economy: a region of highly innovative companies of all sizes and from all sectors, featuring entrepreneurs and employees who have always viewed change as an opportunity.