PAPACKS establishes industrial hemp for large-scale production

Packaging, whether plastic or paper, is an integral part of everyday life, but ends up in the bin after a short time. This wastes valuable resources. Instead of cutting down trees to obtain cellulose for the packaging industry, PAPACKS relies on industrial hemp. Founded in 2013, the Cologne-based company has now established its own supply chain for certified industrial hemp with Ukrainian Hemp, thereby securing access to the renewable raw material on an industrial scale.

GET (2025): Microplastic increase in the sea is underestimated

According to the study, the amount of plastics entering the sea each year could peak at 23 million tonnes in 2045. The concentration of microplastics would also increase significantly. The research team's calculations are based on an OECD study from 2022, but provide significantly higher values because the team used measurements and estimates of the amount of plastic in the oceans, while the OECD derived its values from population density and waste generation.

REWE: Fresh salad from the supermarket roof

A supermarket with a glass roof farm where fresh lettuce is produced: This vision of the future is now becoming a reality in the south of Berlin. At the end of March, the go-ahead was given for the construction of REWE's second green farming store in Germany on Maltester Straße in the Lankwitz district of Berlin. The supermarket of the future is due to open in spring 2026. With an area of 2,760 square metres, it will be the largest indoor farm in the capital.

Digital tools for the sustainable use of residual materials

Whether in food processing or agriculture, residues such as cereal straw, leaves or vegetable stalks usually end up as animal feed in troughs or fields. In Baden-Württemberg alone, this amounts to around 7.7 million tonnes per year. For the bioeconomy, these previously underutilised agricultural side streams can be a source of raw materials for new bio-based products and pave the way for a resource-efficient circular economy.

Revitalize damaged soils with humus

Soil is a vital resource, but is increasingly under threat. According to the European Soil Observatory (EUSO), around 76% of soils in Germany alone are degraded. Soil degradation has many causes: Erosion, intensive agriculture, monocultures, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and urbanization have all contributed to upsetting the balance in the soil - with serious consequences for agriculture, climate and nature.

Automotive sector

The transport sector causes about one fifth of Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions, with more than 95% due to road traffic. As we move towards climate neutrality, the mobility sector is facing a fundamental transformation, with the car at its centre. According to the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, there were more than 49 million registered cars in Germany in 2023. The number of e-cars is still low. Their share of the passenger car population is 2.1 %.

Construction

Construction is one of the most resource-intensive sectors in Germany. 90% of mineral raw materials are used for the production of building materials and products, and the building sector accounts for about 40% of total greenhouse gas emissions in Germany. Three quarters of these emissions are caused by the use and operation of buildings, while the rest is caused by the construction materials industry and construction activities themselves.

Chemistry

With around 2,100 companies, the chemical industry is one of the most important sectors of the German economy. In 2023, the number of people working in the chemical industry was more than 479,500. Major international corporations such as BASF and Evonik have their headquarters in Germany. These key players generate the bulk of the chemical sector’s annual turnover (2023: 225.5 billion euros). The chemical industry produces and sells a staggering 30,000 or more different products.

Energy

With the energy transition, the German Federal Government intends to considerably increase the share of renewable sources of energy. To ensure that the energy supply continues to be reliable, secure and affordable, the Federal Government has set up the Energy and Climate Fund (EKF). The programme supports projects on renewable energies, national and international climate and environmental protection, electromobility and investments into boosting energy efficiency (including building refurbishment). 

Agriculture and forestry

Agriculture and forestry are important industries. According to the BMEL, in 2020, Germany counted almost 263,000 agricultural enterprises and around 29,000 forestry enterprises. Agriculture and forestry are responsible for a large part of the value created in rural areas. Farmers and foresters manage and maintain more than three quarters of the land. Apart from their primary task of growing food and feed, they also produce bio-based raw materials for industry and biomass for the generation of renewable energy.