Circular Economy and Lightweight Construction

Today's production and consumption patterns are linear. In order to meet challenges such as resource scarcity, economic dependence on external sources, environmental pollution and climate change, it is necessary to move towards circular, resource-conserving value creation. This represents an immense challenge for society as a whole, as it involves leaving established paths in order to close and extend material cycles. Circular thinking can also save resources and reduce CO₂ emissions in the rail industry. There is great potential here in the recycling of materials in the area of infrastructure such as steel, ballast and concrete and resource-saving production, maintenance and service life-extending measures and circular end-of-life scenarios for the fleet. In addition to preparing life cycle assessments, entire production processes must be adapted, new functional materials must be developed and used and design for circularity approaches must be pursued (including lightweight construction). Appropriate procedures must also be adapted or newly developed for end-of-life scenarios, e.g. to determine reusability or service life extension.