Sustainable Resources Management

The demand for raw materials and energy is increasing worldwide causing scarcities and increases in the volatility of prices of raw materials since many resources remain insufficiently renewable. Additionally the progressive pollution of soil, air and water resources with harmful emissions is threatening a sustainable development in many parts of the world.

The "Sustainable resources management" working group analyses and addresses such challenges. It helps develop environmentally and socially compatible resources and waste management methods, encourages the sustainable use of water resources through a comprehensive water and drainage basin management, and develops strategies to avoid waste streams or to reuse/recycle material flows and energy using cleaner production (CP) and industrial symbiosis (IS) approaches. Our collaborative work with Swiss and foreign partners as part of national and international cooperations has proven to be instrumental to find regionally adapted and accepted solutions.