Research

Since 2011, the Report "Resource Use in Austria" (RENU) has served as a key source of information on societal resource consumption in Austria for stakeholders in policy, research, NGOs etc. RENU2027 marks its fifth edition. Based on current material flow data from Statistics Austria, the report analyzes the status and trends of resource use in Austria and contextualizes them within the framework of national and global challenges. Recent years have seen a rapid succession of multiple geopolitical, economic, and environmental crises — supply bottlenecks, energy price shocks, climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequality. Approximately three years after the adoption of Austria’s Circular Economy Strategy, RENU27 therefore focuses on the following core topics: A discussion of Austria’s current material consumption and material footprint, the core indicators of the circular economy and their development, global supply chains and import dependencies — including critical raw materials — recycling and secondary raw material markets, as well as the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and its conflicts of use. The report provides a scientific analysis of these topics and complements existing monitoring tools of the Circular Economy Strategy. The goal is to provide evidence-based knowledge for policymakers, the scientific community, and the public, and to identify structural lock-in situations as well as opportunities for action toward a more sustainable, circular use of resources in Austria.

Austria's economy continues to depend on fossil carbon, with carbon from biogenic and secondary materials not yet incorporated into circular systems. The carbon economy is currently fragmented, leading to unexploited synergies, defossilization opportunities, and potential. To meet climate and circular economy objectives, a systemic transformation of carbon flows and the establishment of scalable pathways for value creation towards a circular carbon economy are essential. ReTraCC addresses this gap by employing a data-driven approach to analyze Austria’s carbon value network, develop circular solutions, and evaluate their impacts. The project utilizes a three-tiered transformation model for resource transition: (i) the system level, which analyzes the carbon value network; (ii) the pilot level, which examines use cases within specific areas; and (iii) the scaling level, which validates and scales use cases to achieve nationwide effects. Following the analysis of carbon flows, interactions, and stakeholders, the transition from the system to the pilot level involves developing solutions in focus areas such as circular production processes for CO₂ utilization, advanced recycling for carbon-containing waste and residues, circular business models, and digital tools. Each focus area develops and pilots 3–5 use cases: include carbon capture and utilization of biogenic CO₂, recycling pathways for plastic wastes, scalable reuse concepts for packaging materials, and digital decision-support tools that optimize material flows and infrastructure usage in the value chain. Technological development is integrated with organizational, regulatory, and social factors, utilizing input-output models, pilot facilities, AI-supported decision tools, and CCU infrastructure models. Participatory formats ensure the integration of acceptance, user behavior, and market dynamics. Expected outcomes include mapping Austria’s carbon flows, pilot value chains, reuse models, AI-driven decision support, and an integrated evaluation framework that links ecological, economic, and social effects. ReTraCC provides recommendations on regulation, business models, infrastructure, and governance, establishing the foundation for a circular carbon economy that reduces fossil dependencies, enhances regional value creation, and systematically embeds sustainable resource transformation.

Europe faces intensifying competition for land and sea resources, as rising demand for biomass collides with the need to safeguard biodiversity, ecosystems, and climate. Projections warn of a “sustainable biomass gap,” with demand exceeding supply by up to 70% by 2050. Current models provide only partial insights and lack transparent, participatory tools for decision-making. This project develops a novel assessment framework linking terrestrial and marine domains through a deliberation support tool. It enables policymakers to explore trade-offs and synergies between climate, biodiversity, and socio-economic goals, offering rapid, modular, and user-friendly assessments. Models act as data providers rather than a single ensemble, ensuring efficiency and flexibility. The framework combines biophysical supply and demand models, biodiversity assessments, socio-economic drivers, and climate impacts. Scenarios are co-designed with stakeholders, bridging qualitative visions with quantitative indicators. Results will clarify policy impacts on biomass use, advance understanding of trade-offs, and support integrated strategies under the European Green Deal. Ultimately, the project aims to equip European authorities with transparent, science-based tools to navigate competing land–sea demands, close the biomass gap, and foster a just, resilient bioeconomy within planetary boundaries.