STRATEGY FOR RESSOURCE CITY

STRATEGY FOR RESSOURCE CITY

Introduction

The first step in the battle against climate change is to remove the use of virgin resources and to use the resources we have already dug up from the ground instead. We must develop our society, cities and buildings, and we must do it using waste. Our waste is our untapped resource.

The potential of waste as a resource is the driver for the strategy Lendager Consult has developed for Næstved Municipality. The strategy creates the basis for a holistic long term plan for Næstved. The strategy points to tangible opportunities and creates the groundwork for development, growth and the creation of jobs within a new circular economy.

As the first of its kind, Ressource City is a forerunner for sustainable development. The project has in the first phases of development drawn national and international attention. In 2015 the Danish Ministry of Environment (Miljøministeriet) funded the initiation of the strategy.

TYPE, LOCATION

Strategi

Danmark, Næstved

CUSTOMER

Næstved Kommune

PARTNERS

Center for bæredygtigt byggeri

STATUS, YEAR

Afsluttet

2015

TEAM

Ansvarshavende partner: Anders Lendager

Medarbejdere:

Malene Køster Lasthein

Janne Fjeldtved

Christopher Carlsen

Nicholas Ransome

Kaare Karrebæk Thun

Context

Næstved is a proud worker’s city and Ressource City grows out of this context. It takes its offset in the existing resources of Næstved: important recycling businesses, a derelict industrial area, and a wish to reuse existing resources where possible. These resources are transformed and combined to create a strong vision for Næstved.

Ressource City is an embodiment of sustainability in a way that has not yet been seen anywhere: It is the story of a city that wants to create new opportunities and jobs through innovation, knowledge and inspiration. It is the idea to create a green cluster centred around a sustainable development and the recycling businesses. The green cluster will strengthen the companies of Næstved and create new jobs and growth.

Concept

Ressource City exists at three different scales. Therefore the overall vision consists of three projects with the same sustainable goal. The thee scales are: Resource City Strategy, Resource City Masterplan and Resource Centre. The descriptions for Resource City Masterplan and Resource Center can be found under the ‘Architecture’ tab.

The strategy unfolds itself a series of analyses. The final product is a concrete handbook for the new Secretariate and the organisation behind it. These are the two agencies that will make Ressource City happen. The handbook describes a series of concrete goals for the development of Ressource City. Below is an overview of the goals and the positive effects for Næstved Municipality.

Goal: CREATE UPCYCLE PRODUCTS. Ressource City creates the basis development, production and dissemination of upcycle products. Today, upcycle products are not widely available, even through it has a great potential to handle waste and create new products.

Goal: CREATE NEW JOBS. Ressource City has a goal of creating 100 new jobs within 2 years, and to attract 5 new businesses that work within the recycling industry.

Goal: UPCYCLE EXISTING INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS. By focusing on a functional upcycle strategy for existing buildings in Maglemølle, new places for businesses can be created for a lower cost than building new factory- and storage buildings. In the vision a rational approach has been taken to the use of existing resources on site. The plan is to bring in new prefabricated elements to the existing climate screen of the old factory- and storage buildings. Through this strategy it is possible to lower the demands for insulation and heated spaces.

Goal: BI-PRODUCT-DATABASE. Ressource City will create a new database, where the different bi-products of various actors in Ressource City is mapped. The bi-products are then made available for the Ressource City network. The different actors can then use the bi-products form other companies in their production. The bi-product-database will be a tool to increased innovation. The potential actors will be able to find each other.

Goal: BUILDING-TRADE-MARKET: Ressource City will facilitate recycling of building waste through a building-trade-market. Here the visitors can trade building components. The building-trade-market will be a part of the recycle square in Ressource City, that addresses the citizens of Næstved.

Goal: CHILDREN’S LAB. Ressource City has a unique opportunity to create a strong framework for learning about recycling of materials. The learning will be based on an “on-site” approach, where visitors can get close to the processes for repairing, renovation, recycling and upcycling. Ressource City has the opportunity to create the framework for a magical and eventful knowledge centre, where children and youngsters can achieve an understanding of the cycles waste is a part of.

Goal: CHILDRENS LAB. Ressource City has a unique opportunity to create a strong framework for learning about recycling of materials. The learning will be based on an “on-site” approach, where you as a visitor, can get close to the processes for repairing, renovation, recycling and upcycling. Ressource City has the opportunity to create the framework for a magical and eventful knowledge center, where children and youngsters can achieve an understanding of the circuits waste is a part of.

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ENVIRONMENT

A driver behind the vision for Ressource City is the idea to create a unique cluster with a focus on sustainability and the use of waste as a resource. The cluster will work to undo the human-made climate change by lowering the emissions of CO2 at a local, national and international scale.

Resources that are normally characterised as waste will be thought into a circuit, where products are developed as a way to secure the value of resources – and make sure that materials are not lost and instead improve their value as new products. By approaching design and innovation of new products is this manner it is possible to develop new sustainable products. These products will be able to lower use of resources that are already available and also lower the demand on virgin resources in the ground.

SOCIAL

Through its focus on using waste as a resource, Ressource City has the potential to create a range of new jobs in Næstved. The jobs will be aimed at both academics and unskilled workers. The development will affect the demographic of the city in a positive manner by lowering movement out of the city, reinforcing the younger generations and increasing the amount of people moving to the city.

Ressource City has the potential to be a place of pride and identity for Næstved. A pride and identity that is based on work that improves the environment. Through this identity the citizens, companies and municipality with gather and strengthen the city and each other.

ECONOMY

The circular resource flows Ressource City will develop create a foundation for a blooming of new and innovative industries. These industries will work within resource collection, resource sorting and development of new technologies and products. New sustainable business models will be put to use. These models are profitable due to their potential to reduce energy demands, raw material consumption etc. This creates jobs for academics as well as unskilled workers. At the same time, new jobs will be created in existing companies, that will work with creating new upcycle products.

By introducing concepts of resource optimisation and circular economy the town will not have to prepare for brain drain with unemployment and negative growth as a result. Instead the availability of new resources can create new jobs, companies, education, collaboration and technologies for the area. The new resources will be a driver for export in Næstved and increase the awareness of Næstved at a regional, national and international level.