全球智库信息集成服务系统

In the framework of the scientific accompanying research (PlastikNet) of the funding programme "Plastic in the environment – sources, sinks, solutions" (Plastik in der Umwelt – Quellen, Senken, Lösungsansätze) Ecologic Institute coordinates 18 research projects, which deal with plastic in the environment funded by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF).

Plastic waste in cities, in the landscape, rivers, beaches, and eventually in the oceans – plastic in the environment is directly and negatively visible. Sources and consequences are wide-ranging and not always easy to identify. The main input is mostly land based and covers the whole chain of production and distribution of plastic as well as waste management and consumer behavior. Environmental impact is identifiable mostly in aquatic ecosystems – in form of dying marine animals and birds, primary and secondary plastic containing marine food, and in form of human- and ecotoxical substances in water bodies and sewage. In the framework of the funding programme of the BMBF eighteen perennial research and development projects (cooperative projects) are supported, which research sources and develop and test transdisciplinary solutions. These projects are accompanied by PlastikNet with the main focus of cross-linking contents and synthesis.

For that reason, a number of research projects in the framework of societal and economical research are funded by the BMBF as part of its funding programme Plastic in the environment (in German only). The funded projects investigate a variety of topics, such as Green Economy, consume, fresh water (limnological systems), and recycling as well as seas and oceans. Hence, the projects cover a wide range of ideas, levels of action (from local to global) and methods. There is great potential for thematic and methodic synergies between all of these projects, which should be used. The identification and use of these synergies is the ultimate goal of the PlastikNet project.

The project consists of activities in five areas:

• Identification of the coordination and transfer requirements of the individual projects (document analysis, interviews with the funded projects, creation of a web platform).
• Knowledge exchange among and cross-linking of the individual projects (through national and international conferences as well as thematic workshops).
• Synthesis of overarching project results through synthesis papers (with recommendations for action) and special issues of scientific journals.
• Knowledge transfer and public outreach (media outreach, transfer workshops and a network of relevant actors from business, politics and civil society).
• Transfer to educational concepts and strategies (Project weeks for schools, university seminars, travelling exhibitions, training for specialists).

With these activities, the project team aims to contribute to the political and societal impact of the funded research projects.