Circularity Scouts: IHK Cologne and Interseroh+ make trainees fit for the circular economy

Köln. Basic knowledge for the circular economy of tomorrow: With the "Circularity Scouts" project, the Cologne Chamber of Industry and Commerce is offering trainees the opportunity to obtain a free additional qualification in the field of circular economy for the first time this year. Together with other partners from the region, Interseroh+, the recycling alliance of Interzero, Europe's leading provider of circular solutions, is also participating in the initiative to promote young talent.

"It is very important to us to sensitize trainees to this essential topic of the future at an early stage," says Markus Müller-Drexel, CEO of Interseroh+, Chairman of the Environment and Energy Committee of the  Cologne Chamber of Industry and Commerce and initiator of the project. "Only if we succeed in motivating and involving employees in the SME sector can we successfully drive the change to a sustainable circular economy."

The project is so far unique in Germany.

With some of the events at: metabolon in Lindlar – formerly a landfill, now a research and innovation centre for material conversion and environmental technologies – the organisers have chosen the right location. In five full-day modules, participants from various industries acquire basic, practice-oriented know-how about circular economy, resource efficiency and climate protection. Interseroh+ has already contributed a workshop on packaging recycling and design for circularity; further technical input comes from the NRW Efficiency Agency, various universities and the VDI Centre for Resource Efficiency, among others.  In addition, skills in project management and communication are  taught.

On the basis of the training courses, the trainees should  be able to develop project ideas for sustainable process optimization in their own company and implement them in practice. "Following the example of the already established energy scouts, the circularity scouts also take on an important function in the companies," says Markus Müller-Drexel. "With their knowledge, they will be able to lead the way in closing loops in the future and contribute, for example, to saving  waste disposal costs, resources and CO2 emissions."

The current project, under the patronage of Mona Neubaur, Minister of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, will run until June 2023. At a closing event on June 7 at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Cologne, the projects developed by the trainees will be presented  and evaluated in front of a jury. The winning teams with the best ideas will receive, prize money totaling 2,400 Euros and sponsored by NRW. Bank, as well as certificates from the minister.

Picture: BAV

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