06/03/2024

ConPolicy organizes immersive event for the PRiME project
Expert workshop in the metaverse

On June 3, 2024, the first expert workshop took place as part of the BMBF-funded project “Privacy in the Metaverse” (PRiME). Experts from various fields, such as authorities, science, civil society and practice, were invited and discussed with the project's consortium partners, ConPolicy, the University of Bonn, the University of Göttingen and the University of Erlangen. The workshop was held in the immersive world of INVRTUAL and thus enabled not only the substantive discussion of privacy issues in the metaverse but also the actual experience of the metaverse in an individually designed, immersive venue.

The overarching goal of the workshop was to discuss the challenges of the metaverse for data protection and the personal rights of users together with the experts and to evaluate solutions presented by the research consortium.

The next step in the project will be empirical research.

You can find out more about the PRiME project here.

06/17/2024

Study published by Ökoinstitut and ConPolicy on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency
Monitoring report on the implementation status of the National Programme for Sustainable Consumption

The National Programme for Sustainable Consumption (NPNK) was further developed by the Federal Government in 2021, combined with a catalogue of over 100 measures. The implementation status of these measures was surveyed for the first time between November 2023 and January 2024. The report presents the results of this survey, which is essentially based on a survey of the responsible departments in the federal government ministries. The report shows how far the implementation of the individual measures has already progressed, which implementation steps have been taken, when implementation took place and by when it is planned. It also shows the differences and similarities between the various areas of need and overarching areas of action.

The monitoring report can be downloaded here.

Further information on the project can be found here.

06/18/2024

ConPolicy contribution in the anthology "Sufficiency in Business"
The paradox of minimalism: How the minimalism business can impede sufficiency

Minimalism is often interpreted as a sign of moving away from overconsumption. However, the numerous commercialized manifestations of minimalism do not necessarily contribute to sufficiency-oriented consumption. What business segments have emerged within minimalism? And what opportunities and risks do these pose for sufficiency-oriented consumption?

These questions were explored by ConPolicy project managers Dr. Viola Muster and Marlene Münsch in a chapter for the anthology "Sufficiency in Business: The Transformative Potential of Business for Sustainability."

The authors' analysis shows that many of the newly emerged business segments of minimalism primarily sell dispensable, aesthetic lifestyle products that promote consumerism rather than actual sustainability. This contrasts with sufficiency-oriented business models that aim for an absolute reduction in resource consumption. It seems necessary, therefore, to critically reflect on minimalist business models and focus on values such as quality, durability of goods, and mindful consumption, which were rooted in the origins of the minimalism movement but were lost on the path to commercialization.

The complete publication can be found here.
Further information on the project “MeinDing!” can be found here.