TUM students test sustainable living in rural Circularity Bootcamp
Students at TUM Campus Straubing are participating in the Circularity Bootcamp, a six-month program exploring how sustainable lifestyles can be implemented in rural areas. Professor Magnus Fröhling states that research on sustainability has focused largely on major cities, yet more than half of Germany's population lives in rural areas. Through themed challenges, participants are experimenting with resource-conscious habits such as proper waste sorting, repairing items at local repair cafés, and sharing meals using rescued food. Research associate Vanessa Heinrich notes that smartphones in Germany are replaced after an average of 2.5 years, and extending their lifespan to 5-7 years could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by roughly half.
