Which new technology saves resources and is particularly climate-friendly at the same time? For example, compostable plastic packaging made from maize or potatoes? Or electric cars that fill up with renewable electricity, but whose batteries require resource-intensive high-tech metals? Answers to such questions are complex and often characterised by ambivalence. Accordingly, the research project developed a model that can make the diverse impacts of resource efficiency measures on greenhouse gas emissions transparent and also estimate their magnitude.

In this project, IZT worked on identifying and prioritising technological trends with particular relevance for the development of resource consumption and policy and estimating their effects on greenhouse gas emissions. Methodologically, the work package relied on literature and document analysis, surveys and interviews as well as expert workshops. The qualitative trends were quantified and fed into the model. In an innovative way, the IZT and its research partners brought together qualitative and quantitative methods for futurology.