Materialströme verstehen - Kreisläufe gestalten: Wie Forschungsprojekte zirkuläre Ressourcennutzung vorantreiben

This article is written in German and explores the transition toward a circular economy by emphasizing the necessity of systemic thinking and interdisciplinary methodologies. Authors Tamara Vobruba and Maria Wirth, from the research institute alchemia-nova , demonstrate how analytical tools, specifically Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), enable stakeholders to visualize complex material streams and navigate goal conflicts when developing sustainable, context-specific solutions. It is part of a book chapter from the Handbuch Kreislaufwirtschaft (Linde Verlag, 2026) and it highlights findings from several research initiatives, including the EU-funded project FUTURAL, which examines the potential of sewage sludge to promote a bio-based circular economy in rural areas.