More household waste in Germany is meant to be recycled in future. To achieve this the Federal Government will step up separation of waste materials and upgrade the yellow bin (“Gelbe Tonne”) to a “recycling bin“. A higher rate of metals and plastics recovery can then be realised. ”Recovery will amount to some 7 kilos of high-grade materials per capita and year, which is currently still disposed o... read more
New television, anyone? But only with the Blue Angel!
At the International Consumer Electronics Fair (IFA) in Berlin, the Blue Angel eco-label initiative and the Philips company introduced the first television sets that meet the criteria of the eco-label. The Blue Angel-labelled Philips 55PFL6606 and 46PFL6606 consume surprisingly little electricity, are free of mercury, are made of low-emissions materials and are built to be recyclable. It is the fi... read more
Technology to marvel at - and it’s easy on the climate and resources, too!
The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) is calling upon producers of electrical and electronic equipment to further boost the energy efficiency of televisions, washing machines and computers. “Consumers must be able to really trust that products have as high a degree of energy efficiency as possible, which is precisely why rigorous standards applicable to all equipment for sale is so important”, said... read more
REACH: Federal Environment Agency urges regulation of octylphenol
Germany has become the first EU Member State to identify the endocrine disrupting octylphenol as a Substance of Very High Concern and has proposed it be included in the dossiers of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Scientific research has shown that octylphenol affects the endocrine system in fish and thereby impairs their development and reproduction. Minimal levels of concentration of a few... read more
Energy saving lamps: Airing out upon breakage is be-all and end-all
New research by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has shown that airing a room immediately and thoroughly when an energy saving lamp breaks can avert any health risks posed by mercury. Manufacturers should include this safety advice on all packaging, says UBA, whose President Jochen Flasbarth also sees a need for improving the break resistance of energy saving lamps. Flasbarth comments, “Splint... read more
EU agrarian reform: Agriculture experts demand integration of ecological aspects in agricultural policy
Europe’s agriculture sector is granted 57 billion euros per year in public funding. Do these subsidies make sense, and where might there be room for improvement in EU subsidies policy? Is environmental protection adequately taken into account in EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)? The Agriculture Commission (KLU) at the Federal Environment Agency believes the opportunity to optimise CAP in 2014-... read more
Testing for human pollutant exposure in Europe
A study known as DEMOCOPHES on human exposure levels to pollutants will involve some 4,000 mothers and children from various countries in the European Union (EU). It is scheduled to start in 17 European countries in August. This harmonised approach to testing for exposure to pollutants in humans (biomonitoring) used to be funded by the EU Action Programme Environment and Health. The Federal Enviro... read more
Photo contest theme: Summer, sun - plastic rubbish?
The motto of this summer’s photo contest, Sommer, Sonne - Plastikmüll? [Summer, Sun - Plastic rubbish?], is a campaign by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) to encourage amateur photographers to submit works that depict the holiday natural paradise from a completely different perspective. White sandy beaches and crystal-clear water are far from being the standard everywhere. Plastic bottles bobb... read more
