BilRess enters the IV. funding phase with new ideas funding phase

2013 was the starting signal for the first BilRess project. It began with the analysis of education for resource conservation and resource efficiency and ended in 2016 with the creation of the BilRess roadmap. From 2017 to 2024 BilRess II and BilRess Network III. Here, educational materials were created, 21 network conferences were held, more than 30 web seminars were organised, a special prize for resource conservation and resource efficiency was established at Jugend forscht, two educational games were developed and more than 200 events with thousands of contacts were held to generate enthusiasm for the topic of resource education.

And now BilRess is entering its IV funding phase until 2028. The political framework and content of the National Circular Economy Strategy (NKWS) will be systematically taken into account in the further development of BilRess and the associated BilRess network in the funding period from 2025. In principle, the four strategic goals and indicators of the NKWS are

  • Reduce consumption of new (primary) raw materials,
  • Closing material cycles,
  • Strengthen independence from raw material imports,
  • Avoid waste,

have already been included in the content of BilRess and the BilRess network. Accordingly, these will continue to be taken into account in the development of BilRess. To this end, we will continue to develop and offer the following modules over the next few years:

WebsiteNewsletter and social media: BilRess III primarily conducted public relations work through the newsletter. Third-party newsletters and public diaries were also used for the network conferences, as well as occasional adverts on scientific information systems. In BilRess IV, a concept is now to be developed to present BilRess on selected social media. At least 12 postings are to be made on these per year:

Qualification Vocational trainingThe aim of the module is to offer 10 training courses per year on the topics of resource conservation and resource efficiency in the performance period 2025 - 2028. The NKWS is to be integrated into the training programme. In order to achieve the widest possible dissemination of the topic, the main focus will be on Vocational schools, Universities and pedagogical seminars for teacher training and company training centres addressed.

Web seminarsWhen the coronavirus pandemic made it impossible to hold face-to-face events in 2020, BilRess quickly developed a new format called "BilRess web seminars". The series of web seminars is to be continued in BilRess IV. In addition to the focus on "Resource conservation and resource efficiency", the NKWS will also be addressed. 10 web seminars will be offered per year.

Educational games: BilRess network developed two educational games in 2019/2020 and used them more than 50 times for school, vocational and further education. The learning game "My event - my responsibility" has as its basic idea the resource- and climate-friendly organisation of an event. The second educational game - the travelling exhibition - consists of five suitcases - e.g. "My household" or "My school". Each suitcase contains four times two different everyday products that are to be evaluated in terms of resource conservation and efficiency. In order to achieve a wider distribution of the educational games, both games are to be further developed as online games.

Special prize for youth research: "Jugend forscht" is the most prestigious competition in Germany that promotes young talent in the field of science and research. It is aimed at pupils in grades 4 to 13 and offers them the opportunity to develop their own research projects in various subject areas. In this module, the BilRess special prize "Resource Conservation and Resource Efficiency" is to be accompanied at all levels - regional competitions, state competitions and the national competition. The BilRess Special Prize for Resource Conservation and Resource Efficiency will be awarded by the relevant juries at the respective events.

Network conferencesThe aim is to organise two network conferences per year - one in Berlin and one in Frankfurt. The events are intended to initiate and continue the exchange of experience between stakeholders in the education landscape in order to anchor education for resource conservation and resource efficiency.

 BilRess-on-site: The BilRess on-site events are organised together with a local partner, usually at the partner's premises. The topics are therefore also developed together with the partner in order to combine their needs with the topics of resource conservation and resource efficiency. Two BilRess on-site events are organised with partners throughout Germany each year.

Event participation: In the third funding period, BilRess III alone attended around 140 events. BilRess presentations were almost always given or a stand was organised. BilRess was represented on the expert panel at many events. As part of public relations work and the recruitment of new partners, the intention is to participate in around 20 events per year

Participation in trade fairs: This module is a new format for BilRess. Trade fairs also offer a number of advantages for the BilRess project, such as networking, presentation and knowledge transfer. Two trade fair participations per year are planned in this module.

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