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Policy paper of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action: Ways to a sustainable and resilient supply of raw materials

Last updated: 8 December 2023

The Federal Ministry of Economic Policy and Climate Action published this policy paper in 2023 to establish a new orientation of raw materials policy with a number of key objectives under three topical areas. 

  1. Circular economy, resource efficiency and recycling
    • Harmonisation of circular economy and raw materials strategies and leveraging synergies in the development of the National Circular Economy Strategy
    • Individual material flow analysis and identification of measures to reduce barriers to recycling
    • Establishment of economic incentives, regulatory minimum requirements and financing instruments to stimulate innovation in resource efficiency and recycling
    • Expansion of R&D in raw material extraction, processing, recycling, and substitution, where promising research results should be put into practical application and incorporated directly into teaching in universities and research institutions 
  2. Diversification of raw material supply chains
    • Critical raw material supply chain monitoring, supporting companies in analysing supply concentration and risk minimalisation
    • Preservation and expansion of domestic and EU raw material extraction, including by modernising the legal framework for minerals extraction
    • Raw material stockpiling: support storage in the private sector and undertake strategic government stockpiling, prioritising private finance instruments to mitigate external shocks to the supply chain
    • Increase production capacities domestically and abroad through a raw materials fund in compliance with high ESG standards
    • International cooperation through bilateral and regional partnerships, supported with measures to promote sustainable extraction, processing and recycling
  3. Ensuring a fair and sustainable market framework
    • Support the development of coherent ESG standards for the import of raw materials and their processed products within the framework of the EU Raw Materials Act
    • Join efforts with international partners for consistent ESG standards (e.g., IGF, OECD)
    • Expand advice and support to SMEs on sustainable and resilient raw material supply

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