VOC emission

Economy | Consumption

Odours from building products

a young woman takes a smell at one of different glass plungers which are set out in a row

Refurbishing is fun and it beautifies the home. However, hazardous substances frequently lurk in building products - joint sealants, paints and varnishes. Building products which outgas volatile organic compounds (VOC) and odours can be harmful to the health and well-being of the people who reside inside. Healthy indoor air is therefore a very important issue. read more

Economy | Consumption

Emissions behaviour of wood and wood-based materials

hand holding a flake board

Wood and wood-based materials are environmentally friendly and sustainable, provided the wood is sourced and processed appropriately. Some of their emissions can be problematic. The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) researched the emissions behaviour of pine wood and derived particle board products. read more

The Umweltbundesamt

For our environment