Information about the project 

In my role in the ReValue project at NIDISI gGmbH, I took on several tasks and was particularly involved in research and process analysis for the project. NIDISI is an international non-profit organization focused on social enterprise development in countries of the Global South, especially Nepal. The ReValue project converts non-recyclable plastic waste into road construction material using financial plastic compensation mechanisms.  

My work and results 

My areas of work were varied and included amongst others: 

In Germany:  

  • Research on the Nepalese waste and recycling market as well as mechanisms, programs and organizations in the field of “Plastic Accounting & Crediting”  
  • Writing and proofreading NIDISI research documents and reports, mainly related to plastic collection and recycling activities and the “Plastic Credits” of the ReValue project  
  • Support in the application for the “Plastic Waste Reduction Standard” of the certification organization “Verra”  

In Nepal: 

  • Carrying out process analyzes at various recycling transfer stations in Nepal and documenting them in form of photos, visualizations and process flow diagrams  
  • Creation of a standardized procedure for conducting site visits and further process analyses 
  • Carrying out a comprehensive FMEA risk analysis for the recycling transfer stations of NIDISI, involving several employees and stakeholders, as well as developing measures to improve occupational safety and the collection and recycling process. 
What this work meant to me and which key learnings I took from it
  • During my previous consulting work, I had already gained extensive insights into how waste disposal and the circular economy work in Germany and Europe. This project allowed me to see beyond that and opened my eyes to how disposal can be regulated in a very “low-tech” but still efficient manner and what expertise lies in these processes. An example: when sorting plastics by hand in Nepal, the specialists determine what type of plastic it is by seeing, hearing and feeling. NIR scanners are not necessary at all. 
  • “Plastic Credits” and plastic compensation work in a similar way to “Carbon Credits”, although the argument of “indulgence trading” can be put forward less. For example, companies in Germany who invest in plastic credits to compensate for the plastic packaging they put into circulation, must already license this packaging as part of their product responsibility. Plastic Credits (at least when it comes to plastic packaging) are an additional voluntary fee that explicitly combats the effects of environmental pollution in those countries where the negative effects are particularly serious.
  • For me, this work was very meaningful as it gave me an opportunity to actively participate in addressing the challenges of the global waste problem in a country that is particularly affected by it.
Relevance for Circular Economy

Work like that in the ReValue project is relevant to the Circular Economy: By reusing non-recyclable plastic waste in road construction, this project helps reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills or the environment while providing a valuable raw material for infrastructure development. In addition, plastic accounting and crediting mechanisms enable sustainable financing of these projects and encourage the stepwise realization of a circular economy, in this case through the recycling of plastics, which does not only reduce local environmental pollution, but also generates jobs with fair working conditions for the employed waste pickers in this project. 

“I had the pleasure of working with Laura on the ReValue project and it was impressive to see how quickly and purposefully she grasped what was happening in the project and on site. The results of her analyzes and the associated recommendations helped us to further to better structure the course of the project and to better understand the perspectives of the stakeholders involved. Her positive charisma, quick integration into the team and ability to effortlessly bridge cultural differences and build productive relationships with local stakeholders was remarkable. She was a great asset for our team and their dedication has really made a difference.”  

– Piet Greim, Project Manager of NIDISI gGmbH