Raphael Schranz

Circular Economy Specialist

Vienna, Austria

English, German

More than €200 / hour

The largest and most sustainable nature-based climate action solution in the world. The AGR Project, led by Raphael as Chief Circular Industrial Economist, is a groundbreaking mega scale project aimed at combating climate change through nature-based solutions. It focuses on mass planting high carbon sequestrating plants to remove gigatons of CO2 while revolutionizing the agricultural sector. Key components include developing sustainable agricultural methodologies, establishing community processing centers, and creating eco-friendly products. The project emphasizes sustainability, with an advanced AI-managed supply chain and eco-friendly product platform. It is expected to generate significant financial returns and create over 25 million jobs, contributing to poverty reduction and environmental improvement. Recognized for its innovation, the project utilizes cutting-edge technologies like satellite monitoring and AI management. Praised by prestigious organizations, it is seen as a leader in sustainable development, particularly in Africa, where it promotes resilience to climate change through clean energy and sustainable practices. By working closely with local stakeholders and empowering communities, the project ensures its solutions are tailored and sustainable in the long run, aiming for a greener future while addressing local needs.

This project focuses on implementing a circular energy system that minimizes waste and energy consumption while harnessing waste as an energy carrier, reducing emissions from fossil fuel-based energy production, and potentially generating surplus energy for an additional income stream. By capturing various forms of waste and utilizing advanced technologies like anaerobic digestion and enzyme pyrolysis, we convert waste into energy sources such as biogas, syngas, biochar, and oil. This approach optimizes waste management, reduces the need for energy-intensive waste treatment, and efficiently utilizes energy resources. The circular energy system significantly contributes to emission reduction, aligning with global sustainability goals. Surplus energy production offers economic opportunities through grid feed-in, sales to communities, or industrial utilization. Our project represents a pioneering effort in sustainable energy solutions, reinforcing the viability of circular economy principles in the energy sector and paving the way towards a cleaner, more efficient, and economically viable future.

Raphael played a pivotal role as a Circular Economy Specialist in the EU Green Deal Complexity Analysis, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at modeling the transition to a fair and sustainable Europe within the framework of the European Green Deal. This initiative was conducted as part of the Shared Green Deal Arena Series, hosted by the esteemed Dutch Research Institute for Transition (DRIFT) and generously funded by the European Union. In collaboration with over 100 distinguished participants, they utilized an X-Curve analysis model to delve into the intricacies of transitioning towards a fair and sustainable Europe. The discussions revolved around six strategic priorities integral to achieving the climate action and zero pollution objectives of the EU Green Deal, encompassing Clean Energy, Circular Economy, Efficient Renovations, Sustainable Mobility, Sustainable Food, Preserving Biodiversity, Climate Action, and Zero Pollution. Raphael's contributions extended beyond discourse, as he actively participated in mapping future scenarios and crafting comprehensive transition pathways specifically tailored to implement a European Circular Industrial Economy. Employing a back-casting approach, he played a crucial role in constructing timelines for implementation strategies while meticulously analyzing potential trade-offs and co-benefits among the various priorities of the EU Green Deal. One of the highlights of Raphael's involvement was the intricate analysis of feedback loops between energy and food production and consumption systems, within the overarching principles of the circular economy and circular value creation. Through his expertise and dedication, Raphael significantly enriched the dialogue surrounding the EU Green Deal, paving the way for informed decision-making and impactful policy interventions towards a more sustainable future. Watch the Summary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=cXUODyvmi_Y https://sharedgreendeal.eu/resources/pathways- more-just-sustainable-europe

Hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the European Network for Community- led initiatives on Climate Change and Sustainability (ECOLISE), Raphael worked on the co-creation of strategic parameters to strengthen the role of local communities in the European Union. He supported the strengthening of the role of permaculture initiatives, transition networks and ecovillages to achieve a bottom-up approach for the sustainable transition through decentralized community-based actions. These grassroots movements are vital to the Green Deal and the fair and just transition the that the global civilization wants to achieve. Raphael has helped to form the holistic and systemic approach that is needed to tackle planetary crisis, caused by our extractive and destructive economic system, such as biodiversity loss and pollution. To recognize that everything is connected and that humans are a part of nature and not separate from it, is essential to enable regeneration in the natural world and in social, economic, and political systems. v Lastly, he also he provided deep insight on other underlying problems such as political apathy or distrust on the side of community-led initiatives which could lead to the creation of major roadblocks in the implementation the European Green Deal. He noted that trust between policy makers and communities in democratic processes needs to be re-established, also with the help of adequate decentralized funding pools.

The collaboration between Återbygget Ekonomisk Förening and Raphael Schranz highlights significant strides in the circular economy, emphasizing its role in fostering sustainability. Återbygget, a Swedish pioneer in circular economy solutions for the construction sector, redefines waste as a resource, aligning with circular principles to minimize waste and maximize economic benefits. Partnering with Schranz, an expert in circular economy practices, they embarked on reshaping the sector's operational landscape. Beginning with a Circular Economy Training, they laid the groundwork for understanding circular operations and explored the strategic use of Industry 4.0 & 5.0 Technologies. They then developed a strategic roadmap focusing on reuse, maintenance, and the introduction of a digital secondary raw material marketplace. This approach not only reduces waste and emissions but also lowers costs and creates employment opportunities. The collaboration yielded quantifiable reductions in emissions, underscoring tangible environmental benefits, and successfully managed the transition to circular operations. Schranz's tailored consulting services further supported Återbygget's mission, emphasizing the transformative potential of circular economy principles in driving both environmental stewardship and economic prosperity. Together, they contribute to a more circular, regenerative, and resilient future.

The partnership between Coffee Resurrect and Raphael Schranz epitomizes the transformative potential of the circular bioeconomy. Coffee Resurrect, a trailblazer in this field, redefines the role of used coffee grounds, viewing them as valuable resources rather than waste. Through industrial symbiosis, they've established a cycle where coffee grounds are upcycled into various products, minimizing waste and maximizing economic opportunities. Schranz, a leading expert in the circular economy, played a pivotal role by providing tailored training and consulting services to empower Coffee Resurrect's mission. This included delving into circularity principles, industrial symbiosis, sustainable sourcing, and innovative design. Together, they've developed a circular business strategy aligned with Coffee Resurrect's goals, measured environmental benefits, identified market opportunities, and ensured regulatory compliance. Their journey showcases how circular economy principles can drive both environmental stewardship and economic growth, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future.

Project V endeavors to establish a novel agricultural operating system by integrating two living biological systems. This innovative approach fosters a closed-loop circular value creation mechanism wherein biological waste streams are repurposed as fertilizers for crop production. Through symbiosis, waste is effectively eliminated, promoting sustainability and resource efficiency in agriculture. By harnessing the natural synergy between these systems, Project V aims to revolutionize agricultural practices, minimizing environmental impact while maximizing productivity. This circular approach not only reduces waste but also enhances soil fertility, resulting in healthier ecosystems and higher yields. By eliminating the need for external fertilizers and reducing dependency on conventional farming methods, Project V represents a significant step towards sustainable agriculture. Through collaboration and innovation, this project seeks to shape a future where agriculture harmonizes with nature, ensuring food security and environmental preservation for generations to come.