Promoting the circular economy together
Start of international cooperation project: Delegation of Dutch experts explored the North Hesse region in May 2024
The Netherlands is considered a pioneer in the circular economy: by 2050, the country wants to create an economy without waste, and the circularity rate in Holland is already three times higher than in the rest of the world. In northern Hesse, too, more and more companies are developing sustainable solutions to use resources efficiently. An international cooperation project is intended to pool the experience and expertise from both regions in the future: the North Hesse Economic Development Association, Regional Management North Hesse GmbH, Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI) and the German-Dutch Chamber of Commerce are working together to achieve this. The initiative was funded by the GTAI's "Internationalization of Regions in Structural Change" (ISW) program.
In Korbach, a visit to the company mauser-Einrichtungssysteme was on the agenda. The manufacturer of steel furnishing solutions focuses on sustainability, as Klaus-Dieter Seib, General Manager Global Operations, reported to the delegation: "Around 70 percent of the flat steel we use is made from recycled steel. Our steel furniture and systems are extremely durable and almost 100 percent recyclable in order to save resources." Among other things, the company has invested in a thin-film powder coating system, which saves 35 percent of the powder normally used.
The delegation from the Netherlands was also impressed by the new town hall in Korbach: This innovative project was the first to examine the possibilities of circular construction for a solid building. After the selective dismantling of the old town hall, the materials were separated and processed into, among other things, resource-saving concrete. As many as 62 percent of the demolition material found a new use. The end of the three-day delegation trip was celebrated in the large hall with a networking dinner and an exchange of experiences. The end of the three-day delegation trip was celebrated in the large hall with a networking dinner and an exchange of experiences, which was organized by the Waldeck-Frankenberg Economic Development Agency and the City of Korbach.