Raw material shortages and geopolitical tensions Shift Focus to a Practiced Circular Economy in European Sustainability Strategies. The transformation to a circular economy aims to keep resources in circulation for as long as possible, reduce waste and promote a resilient economy.
As the “raw materials of the future”, secondary resources are essential for preserving primary deposits, reducing energy consumption and lowering the CO₂-footprint. This is especially important for Austria as an import-dependent country: around 80 percent of raw materials are imported.
Circular economy as a strategic resource
A large amount of the required valuable materials is already in circulation – in old devices, industrial plants, end-of-life vehicles or in buildings. The goal is to strategically utilize these material flows and ensure high-quality recycling at the end of their life cycle. The European Union is therefore planning, through the “Critical Raw Materials Act”, to increase the proportion of recycled critical raw materials by a quarter by 2030. The Austrian Federal Government also reaffirms its commitment to a practical and active circular economy in its current program. The objectives include the identification of strategically important resources, the establishment of a competitive secondary raw materials market and the development of digital residual material stock exchanges.
Raw material trading at the cutting edge
SCONTRADE recognised this potential back in 2018. Our digital marketplace for secondary raw materials brings together demand and supply – across Europe and in real time. Besides metals, plastics and glass, construction waste, wood waste and biogenic residues can be traded on the online platform. The digital solution makes it possible to react quickly to current demand on the commodity market: Since July 2024, by-products and fractions that have reached the end-of-waste stage are also available. “We give residual materials such as grape pomace, wood waste, metals or asphalt demolition waste a platform for efficient marketing as valuable materials. This opens up new business models, innovative solutions and the rapid reintegration of these resources into the economic cycle”, explains Brigitte Reich.
As a solution partner for politics, commerce and industry, our digital marketplace actively contributes to a resilient European economy.
