Race to Triple Zero: Kick-off in the Emscher-Lippe Region

Pioneer companies, science and local authorities want economic growth without waste, environmental pollution and climate killers
In the north of the Ruhr area, the circular transformation is intended to secure competitiveness, value creation, and jobs. 

Bottrop, 12.09.2022 – Nothing more and nothing less than a new economic system is what they have set out to achieve in the north of the Ruhr area: The new business initiative „TTZ – Transform To Zero“, two universities, three municipalities, the IHK North Westphalia and the Münster Chamber of Crafts have today formed an alliance in Bottrop to implement circular economy principles in the Emscher-Lippe region. The partners want to be at the forefront of the „Race to Triple Zero“, which the European Union has called for in its „Green Deal“. This involves achieving three goals simultaneously: Zero waste, Zero Pollution, and Zero Carbon. The Emscher-Lippe region, however, is not starting this „race“ from scratch, as it has long seen itself as a model region and innovation driver for the energetic and material decoupling of economic growth and resource consumption. Most recently, the „Prosperkolleg“ project in Bottrop developed scientific foundations and innovative solutions for „circular transformation“ in business practice. This is why the „Circular Economy Hotspot 2022“ – the first time in Germany, from 12 to 14 September – is taking place here. This international expert congress, held around the last coal mine in the Ruhr area, Prosper-Haniel, offered the ideal setting today for the partners to present the synergy between Transform To Zero and Prosperkolleg under one roof and to explain why and how the circular transformation in the north of the Ruhr area should be systematically implemented as an opportunity for competitiveness, value creation, and jobs, with measurable success.

„The requirements for circular business models are currently being incorporated into ISO standards, EU directives and regulations, as well as the planned product passports for sustainable products. Our shared conviction is that waiting would be wrong. The sooner, more proactively and efficiently we embark on the path to a circular economy, the better our companies will be positioned for the future., Lars Baumgürtel, CEO of the ZINQ Group and spokesperson for the „TTZ – Transform to Zero“ initiative, is convinced.

Numerous companies from various sectors have joined the TTZ initiative. It is supported by the Westfälische Hochschule, the Effizienz-Agentur NRW, and the Wissenschaftspark Gelsenkirchen, and is open to further partners who see themselves as pioneers for the circular transformation in the Emscher-Lippe region, wish to network, and implement projects.

Participants in the Prosperkolleg programme, which was launched in 2019, are bringing key expertise to the new alliance. In this project, which is funded by the NRW Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences and WiN Emscher-Lippe GmbH have joined forces with the City of Bottrop, the Efficiency Agency NRW and the Prosperkolleg e.V. association to pave the way for the circular economy in the region.  Through numerous initial consultations and 21 workshops held to date with small and medium-sized enterprises, circular solutions have been identified and the first steps towards implementation have been taken. The ‘Circular Economy Potential Check’, developed and evaluated as part of the project – with its core component, the Circularity Matrix – helps to identify the greatest potential for action within businesses. A ‘train-the-trainer’ qualification programme supports consultants in advising companies on circular economy measures. The Circular Digital Economy Lab at Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences demonstrates how process engineering, digitalisation and artificial intelligence can be used to recycle electrical appliances in such a way that the value of the materials they contain is largely preserved. For further implementation, businesses can also be connected with support from the extensive #CEresearchNRW research network.

Through today's merger, the partners of the „TTZ – Transform To Zero“ initiative and the Prosperkolleg aim to pool regional strengths and expertise for sustainable development and to jointly drive forward the circular transformation in the economy and society. „The interdisciplinary approach of transformation research at Prosperkolleg, combined with the great potential for implementation in the participating companies, will advance the Circular Economy significantly,“ says Prof. Dr. Uwe Handmann. „This will pool strengths and expertise for this urgent sustainable development,“ emphasises Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Irrek. Both are project managers of the Prosperkolleg and scientists at Hochschule Ruhr West.

The cities of Gelsenkirchen and Bottrop, and the district of Recklinghausen welcome the new alliance as a contribution to economic and structural policy. The IHK North Westphalia and the Münster Chamber of Crafts have also pledged their support.

The next steps are also already in sight: alongside further scientifically supervised pilot projects with companies, concepts and tools for operational transformation processes are to be developed. New initial, further and continuing education and training programmes, communication and networking measures are also intended to raise awareness and enthusiasm for the circular transformation beyond the Emscher-Lippe region, because in the end – as is the common conviction – everyone should win in the „Race to Triple Zero“.

Further information: 

www.transform-to-zero.de ; www.prosperkolleg.de