Susanne Langsdorf

MA (International Relations)

BA (Political Science, Public Law)

Coordinator Resource Conservation & Circular Economy

Senior Fellow

Team: Research & Policy Analysis
Topics: Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Cities

Education

Plastics

Susanne Langsdorf coordinates the field of resource conservation and circular economy at Ecologic Institute. Her work focuses on the analysis of instruments, measures and strategies of German, European and international resource efficiency and circular economy policy. In addition, she has extensive experience engaging stakeholders in research processes, interviewing, moderation, project management and leadership. Susanne Langsdorf works in German, English and Spanish and has a good basic knowledge of Chinese.

At Ecologic Institute, Susanne Langsdorf is currently leading the projects Scientific Support of the Development of a Strategy for a Circular Economy in Germany (NKWS) and Scientific Accompanying Research on Current Discourses on Resource Conservation – National, European and International Level. In addition, as part of the project Resource Efficiency and Natural Resources in an International Context, she supports the work of the International Resource Panel and evaluates the latest research reports for the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection.

In various projects, Susanne Langsdorf also worked in cooperation with modelers of different multi-regional input-output models in the field of forecasting resource use in different scenarios and on the effects of resource policy instruments. In SimRess – Models, Potentials and Long-Term Scenarios for Resource Efficiency, political packages of measures to increase resource efficiency were simulated and their effectiveness was examined. In the European research project DYNAMIX, policy approaches for decoupling resource consumption and economic growth in the EU were developed.

Susanne Langsdorf's research also focuses on urbanization and transition processes. Within Ecologic Institute, she led the project Transformation Towards Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructures (TRAFIS) and the European research project Post-Carbon Cities of Tomorrow (POCACITO).

Before joining Ecologic Institute, Susanne Langsdorf worked as a project manager for the Friedrich Ebert Foundation's Shanghai office and was responsible for the office's environmental and energy work.

For her Master's degree in International Relations, Susanne Langsdorf studied at Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and the University of Potsdam (Germany), concentrating on energy and security policy with a regional focus on China. Her Bachelor’s degree in political science and public law was obtained at the University of Rostock and the Universidad de Granada (Spain).

Contact Susanne Langsdorf by Email

Projects Publications

Selected projects by Susanne Langsdorf

ProjectScientific Support of the Development of a Strategy for a Circular Economy in Germany

The substantial negative environmental repercussions stemming from the current extent of natural resource consumption are readily apparent. Efforts to decouple global economic growth from resource consumption and the resulting environmental impacts have so far been... Read more

Scientific Support of the Development of a Strategy for a Circular Economy in Germany

Duration: Feb 2023 - Jul 2025
Funding: German Environment Agency (UBA), Germany

ProjectScientific Accompanying Research on Current Discourses on Resource Conservation

On the one hand, the project investigates the potential for greenhouse gas savings through resource efficiency and circular economy measures. On the other hand, it provides scientific support for the organization of the European Resource Forum (ERF) 2022 and 2024 and... Read more

Scientific Accompanying Research on Current Discourses on Resource Conservation

Duration: Jun 2022 - Oct 2025
Funding: German Environment Agency (UBA), Germany

ProjectResource Efficiency and Natural Resources in an International Context

Green Earth around which a green arrow leads. Several plants / leaves sprout from the top of the arrow.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Global extraction of primary raw materials has been growing continuously for decades, and absolute decoupling between economic growth and resource consumption, let alone environmental impacts associated with the use of natural resources, has not yet been achieved.... Read more

Resource Efficiency and Natural Resources in an International Context

Duration: Aug 2020 - Aug 2026
Funding: German Environment Agency (UBA), Germany

ProjectSustainable Development of Infrastructures in Regions of Structural Change (TransIS)

Bild von Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke auf Pixabay

To strengthen climate protection in Germany, the amendment of the Climate Protection Act in 2021 further tightened the greenhouse gas emission targets for 2030 and set the goal of climate neutrality for the year 2045. An important step in the energy sector is the phase... Read more

Sustainable Development of Infrastructures in Regions of Structural Change (TransIS)

Duration: Oct 2021 - Aug 2024
Funding: German Environment Agency (UBA), Germany

ProjectTransformation Towards Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructures (TRAFIS II)

| © Ecologic Institut

Infrastructure systems are undergoing a process of profound transformation. They are under great pressure to change in order to contribute to changing social objectives. Expectations and challenges with regard to climate adaptation and climate protection, the circular... Read more

Transformation Towards Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructures (TRAFIS II)

Duration: Oct 2019 - Nov 2022
Funding: German Environment Agency (UBA), Germany

ProjectTransformation to Climate Resilient and Resource-conserving Infrastructure (TRAFIS)

| Fotolia © thomas haltinner

The TRAFIS project investigates the development of climate resilient and resource-conserving infrastructures through the lens of transition and action research. The project focuses primarily on interlinked infrastructures. Infrastructure and infrastructure systems... Read more

Transformation to Climate Resilient and Resource-conserving Infrastructure (TRAFIS)

Duration: Jan 2016 - Nov 2019
Funding: German Environment Agency (UBA), Germany

ProjectResource Flows in Thuringia, Germany (ThueRess)

Photo by La Miko on Pexels

Thuringia is one of the first German states to draft its own resource conservation strategy. This requires a solid data basis on the resource flows of the state. In the ThüRess project, Ecologic Institute and the Institute of Economic Structures Research (GWS) are... Read more

Resource Flows in Thuringia, Germany (ThueRess)

Duration: Dec 2020 - Dec 2021
Funding: Thüringer Energie- und GreenTech-Agentur (ThEGA), Germany

ProjectMaterial Cycles in Hesse

David Liuzzo, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons

The circular economy improves raw material security and reduces the environmental impact of our production and consumption. In this project, Ecologic Institute reviewed and analyzed 17 inspiring examples of how companies and researchers put the circular economy into... Read more

Material Cycles in Hesse

Duration: Oct 2021 - May 2022
Funding: Hessen Trade & Invest (HTAI), Germany

Selected publications by Susanne Langsdorf

PublicationReportHintergrundpapier: Plastikpolitik in Deutschland und der EU

Plastic pollution – especially the dramatic littering of the oceans – and the public concerns about it have powerfully brought the issue on the European and German political agenda. Since then, there have been a whole series of new initiatives to regulate plastics -... Read more

Mederake, Linda; Hinzmann, Mandy; Langsdorf, Susanne (2020): Hintergrundpapier: Plastikpolitik in Deutschland und der EU. Ecologic Institut: Berlin.

PublicationBrochureKreislaufführung und Sekundärrohstoffe

Adobe Stock

This study presents innovative processes and technologies of the circular economy. The case studies come from a range of industries that are of particular importance to the federal state of Hesse and demonstrate the broad applicability of the methods presented. The... Read more

Hessen Trade & Invest GmbH (ed.) 2022: Kreislaufführung und Sekundärrohstoffe. Praxisbeispiele und Potenziale. 2. updated edition. Taunusstein / Neuhof: Print Pool GmbH.

PublicationCase StudyEuropäische Ressourcensouveränität

Cover of the publication "Europäische Ressourcensouveränität. Seltene Erden und das Potenzial der Kreislaufwirtschaft: Eine Fallstudie"

Global demand for raw materials is rising continuously. Increases in overall consumption levels, as well as technological advances in specific areas such as IT, green technologies and power generation, continue to fuel international competition for rare commodities.... Read more

Langsdorf, Susanne et al. 2022: Europäische Ressourcensouveränität. Seltene Erden und das Potenzial der Kreislaufwirtschaft: Eine Fallstudie. Potsdam: Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.

PublicationReportAssessment of Resource Nexus-related Challenges and Opportunities in the Context of the European Green Deal

Cover of the publication "Assessment of resource nexus-related challenges and opportunities in the context of the European Green Deal"

This background report examines European Green Deal policies from a resource nexus perspective, identifying relevant challenges and opportunities associated with particular transition pathways foreseen in the European Green Deal. The background report functions as a... Read more

Best, Aaron, Susanne Langsdorf, Laurens Duin, Ariel Araujo (2021). Assessment of resource nexus-related challenges and opportunities in the context of the European Green Deal. Background report for the EEA Briefing "Applying a 'resource nexus' lens to policy: opportunities for increasing coherence".

PublicationReportAbsolute Reduktion der Ressourcennutzung

Front cover of the publication "Absolute Reduktion der Ressourcennutzung" with the key elements listed and an image collage

In 2016, the Dutch government set the goal of establishing a circular economy in 2050. An important milestone is 2030: by then the use of abiotic primary raw materials – minerals, fossil raw materials and metals – is to be reduced by 50 %. In current... Read more

Langsdorf, Susanne; Duin, Laurens (2021). Absolute Reduktion der Ressourcennutzung. Vorreiter Niederlande - Ein Vorbild für Deutschland? Ecologic Institut, Berlin.

PublicationReportThe Circular Economy and its Impact on Developing and Emerging Countries

Cover of the study "The circular economy and its impact on developing and emerging countries"

The circular economy is a key solution to reduce resource use and tackle a range of environmental impacts that arise from resource use. In recent years, many strong economies have developed strategies to foster the circular economy. But what do we know about how these... Read more

Langsdorf, Susanne; Duin, Laurens (2022). The circular economy and its impact on developing and emerging countries. An explorative study. Ecologic Institute, Berlin.

PublicationReportRessourcenschonungspolitik in der EU

Decoupling economic growth and resource use is a core objective of the "European Green Deal". How this is to be achieved is formulated in the new "Action Plan for the Circular Economy" and the "Industrial Strategy" of 2020. Reason enough to take a closer look at the... Read more

Langsdorf, Susanne (2021): Ressourcenschonungspolitik in der EU. Eine Zusammenschau politischer Strategiepapiere von den Anfängen bis heute. Ecologic Institut, Berlin.

PublicationReportInfrastrukturkopplungen als Beiträge zur Nachhaltigkeitstransformation: Einflussfaktoren und Handlungsmöglichkeiten

Coupled infrastructure innovations can support transformations towards sustainable and climate-resilient societies. Coupled infrastructures unlock opportunities for providing new services and improving the efficiency in service provisions. The coupling of heat grids... Read more

Hölscher, K., J.M. Wittmayer, A. Olfert, M. Hirschnitz-Garbers, J. Walther, B. Brunnow, G. Schiller, M. Hinzmann, S. Langsdorf, S. Albrecht, S. Maschmeyer, M. Müller, M. Hasenheit (2020). Infrastrukturkopplungen als Beiträge zur Nachhaltigkeitstransformation: Einflussfaktoren und Handlungsmöglichkeiten. Teilbericht des Vorhabens: "Transformation hin zu nachhaltigen, gekoppelten Infrastrukturen". UBA-Texte 100/2020, Umweltbundesamt, Dessau-Roßlau.

PublicationReportNachhaltigkeitspotenziale von innovativen, gekoppelten Infrastrukturen

In the scope of the UBA project Transformation towards Sustainable, Coupled Infrastructures (TRAFIS), effects, processes and support options for the implementation of innovative infrastructure couplings were examined. The focus is on the water, wastewater, energy,... Read more

Olfert, A., B. Brunnow, G. Schiller, J. Walther, M. Hirschnitz-Garbers, S. Langsdorf, K. Hölscher, J. M. Wittmayer (2020). Nachhaltigkeitspotenziale von innovativen, gekoppelten Infrastrukturen. Teilbericht des Vorhabens: "Transformation hin zu nachhaltigen, gekoppelten Infrastrukturen". UBA-Texte 99/2020, Umweltbundesamt, Dessau-Roßlau.

PublicationReportErfolgsbedingungen und Prozessbegleitung für eine nachhaltige Umgestaltung von Infrastrukturkopplungen

Infrastructure coupling offers the potential to make public services more sustainable in the long term and to contribute to climate and resource protection. As complex socio-technical systems, infrastructure systems are subject to a multitude of influences which can... Read more

Hirschnitz-Garbers, M., M. Hinzmann, S. Langsdorf, J. Walther, A. Olfert, G. Schiller, B. Brunnow, K. Hölscher, J.M. Wittmayer (2020). Erfolgsbedingungen und Prozessbegleitung für eine nachhaltige Umgestaltung von Infrastrukturkopplungen. Teilbericht des Vorhabens: "Transformation hin zu nachhaltigen, gekoppelten Infrastrukturen". UBA-Texte 101/2020, Umweltbundesamt, Dessau-Roßlau.

PublicationReportTransformation hin zu nachhaltigen, gekoppelten Infrastrukturen – Synthese der Ergebnisse

The project examined the effects, processes and support options for implementing innovative infrastructure coupling. Current developments, the associated transformation processes including supporting and hindering factors as well as potential sustainability effects of... Read more

Hirschnitz-Garbers, M., A. Olfert, G. Schiller, B. Brunnow, K. Hölscher, J.M. Wittmayer, J. Walther, M. Hinzmann, S. Langsdorf (2020). Transformation hin zu nachhaltigen, gekoppelten Infrastrukturen – Synthese der Ergebnisse. Teilbericht des Vorhabens: "Transformation hin zu nachhaltigen, gekoppelten Infrastrukturen". UBA-Texte 102/2020, Umweltbundesamt, Dessau-Roßlau.

PublicationBrochureRessourcenschonung als Zukunftsaufgabe

The national and international political agenda shows that resource conservation is a central task for environmental policy: In Germany, Europe and globally, there are political programmes and strategies aimed at fostering sustainable resource use. In five theses, this... Read more

Hirschnitz-Garbers, Martin, Susanne Langsdorf, Ullrich Lorenz 2018: Ressourcenschonung als Zukunftsaufgabe – Ansatzpunkte für eine systemische Ressourcenpolitik. Umweltbundesamt: Dessau-Roßlau.

PublicationReportPotentiale und Kernergebnisse der Simulationen von Ressourcenschonung(spolitik)

| UBA TEXTE 48/2018

The SimRess project tested the potential effects of future developments and strategies relevant to resource policy on important environmental and economic indicators. The study summarises the main project findings of the project "Models, Potentials and Long-Term... Read more

Martin Hirschnitz-Garbers et. al. 2018: Potentiale und Kernergebnisse der Simulationen von Ressourcenschonung(spolitik). Endbericht des Projekts "Modelle, Potentiale und Langfristszenarien für Ressourceneffizienz" (Sim-Ress). UBA Texte 48/2018. Umweltbundesamt: Dessau-Roßlau.

PublicationBook SectionNachhaltige Kommunen durch Digitalisierung?!

With this contribution Doris Knoblauch and Susanne Langsdorf from Ecologic Institute offer an easy-to-use three-step process that allows for a meaningful assessment of projects' sustainability. The process has already been tested by two digitization projects. The... Read more

Knoblauch, Doris; Langsdorf, Susanne (2017): Nachhaltige Kommunen durch Digitalisierung?! – Ein Verfahren zur Einschätzung der Auswirkungen kommunaler Digitalisierungsprojekte auf eine nachhaltige Entwicklung. In: Bertelsmann Stiftung (Hrsg.) Monitor Nachhaltige Kommune. Bericht 2017. Schwerpunktthema Digitalisierung. Gütersloh.

PublicationCase StudyCase Study Assessment Report – Rostock

This assessment report gives an overview of the key indicators for the POCACITO (Post-Carbon Cities of Tomorrow) case study of Rostock. This mid-sized city is located in Central Europe on the north-east coast of Germany. Rostock is a regional centre and coastal city.... Read more

Albrecht, S., Schock, M. (2015): Individual Case Study Assessment Report – Rostock. European Union FP7: POCACITO - Post-carbon cities in Europe: A long-term outlook under the grant agreement n° 613286. WP3 Deliverable.

PublicationReportInformationskampagnen für Konsumentinnen und Konsumenten – Effekte und Ausrichtungen

Hirschnitz-Garbers, M. und Langsdorf, S. (2015): Informationskampagnen für Konsumentinnen und Konsumenten – Effekte und Ausrichtungen. Vertiefungsanalyse 4 im Projekt Ressourcenpolitik: Analyse der ressourcenpolitischen Debatte und Entwicklung von Politikoptionen ... Read more