The recently finalized research project “ZRR for municipal waste” aimed at testing and evaluating the automation of municipal waste sorting plants by supplementing or replacing manual sorting, with sorting by a robot with artificial intelligence (ZRR). The objectives were to increase the current recycling rates and the purity of the recovered materials; to collect additional materials from the current rejected flows; and to improve the working conditions of the workers, who could then concentrate on, among other things, the maintenance of the robots. Based on the empirical results of the project, this paper presents the main results of the training and operation of the robotic sorting system based on artificial intelligence, which, to our knowledge, is the first attempt at an application for the separation of bulky municipal solid waste (MSW) and an installation in a full-scale waste treatment plant. The key questions for the research project included (a) the design of test protocols to assess the quality of the sorting process and (b) the evaluation of the performance quality in the first six months of the training of the underlying artificial intelligence and its database.

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A desirable future critically depends on our ability to ensure the supply of key resources while simultaneously respecting planetary boundaries. This paper looks at the potential implications of living within the "safe operating space" for people, business and the economy. It develops a positive vision of the future based on three pillars: a safe and fair use of global resources, a sustainable society, and a transformed economy. We review and build on recent sustainability visions to develop a holistic reflection on what life in 2050 could look like, and explore the key changes in the economy needed to get there. In particular we show that resource efficiency requires a systemic shift in values, innovation, governance and management regimes. We present a bold vision for Europe underlined by indicators and targets, explore transition challenges to getting there and conclude with a list of key policies needed for overcoming challenges and reaching the vision.

Digital platforms may yield a host of advantages in putting circular economy into effect. This paper analyses the related chances and discusses requirements of digital platforms for the realization of a circular economy. It specifically points to potential solutions offered by digital platforms for existing barriers. From there it identifies issues that need specific attendance to create economically and ecologically functional platforms. Three economically relevant perspectives are discussed for this: a management perspective, a legislative perspective and a social/systems perspective. Deutscher Titel und Zusammenfassung:Voraussetzungen und Herausforderungen für Digitale Plattformen als Marktplätze der Kreislaufwirtschaft Digitale Plattformen können zahlreiche Vorteile für die Realisierung einer Kreislaufwirtschaft aufweisen. Dieser Beitrag analysiert diese Chancen und diskutiert die zu schaffenden Voraussetzungen. Er weist dabei besonders auf potentielle Lösungen für bestehende Barrieren hin, die aus Sicht der Autoren durch digitale Lösungen besonders gut überwunden werden können. Sodann wird aufgezeigt, dass noch zahlreiche Bedingungen erfüllt werden müssen, damit diese Vorteile auch ausschöpfbar sind. Dabei werden drei ökonomisch besonders relevante Perspektiven behandelt: die Perspektive des Plattformmanagements, eine regulatorisch-legislative Perspektive und die Einflüsse auf der sozialen bzw. Systemebene.