Press | Umweltbundesamt

The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) will once again be an exhibitor at IFA Berlin 2009, the international trade show for consumer electronics, information and communications technology, and home appliances. From 4 - 9 September 2009, consumers can gather information at the UBA booth (Nr. 108 in Hall 2.2.a) about saving energy and achieve two goals at once: using energy efficiently to save money a... read more

The Fahrtziel Natur, or "Destination Nature", Award 2009, was granted in Düsseldorf for the first time today. This prize, with a cash value of 25,000 euros in the form of a communications package, has gone to the Nationalpark- und Naturparkregion Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian Forest) for its Igelbusse/Bayernwald Ticket project. The award-winning project is exemplary in its cross-linkage and optimisat... read more

A new age is dawning at UBA as the certified economist Mr Jochen Flasbarth, 47, assumes the office of President of Germany’s largest national environmental authority on 1 September 2009.  In early August the Federal Cabinet had unanimously appointed him as successor to Dr. Andreas Troge, who had asked to be retired at the end of July 2009 for health reasons. Flasbarth’s last post was as head of th... read more

It is now the public’s turn to comment, as the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has asked for comments on its proposals to declare certain substances as ones of very high concern. Member States have recommended strict regulation of 14 chemicals according to REACH on account of their harmful impact on environment and health. One additional suggestion comes from ECHA itself: environmental and consum... read more

The share of reusable and ecologically advantageous one-way beverage packaging in 2007 continued its decline as compared to the previous year, taking a share of only 54.7%. The 2006 figure stood at 59.8%. The core reason for this decline is that one-way plastic packaging is squeezing reusable bottles and beverage cartons out of the market. The reusable beer bottle has been the only packaging to ho... read more

Although aviation emissions trading has not officially started, preliminary work is at full-speed. Only those air carriers who submit so-called monitoring plans for recording transport data and emissions of their aircraft to the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) at the Federal Environment Agency can expect to receive free allocation of certificates in future. read more

The entry-into-force of the European Chemicals Regulation REACH has brought extensive obligations upon the private sector as concerns the production, import and processing of chemicals. Due to considerable uncertainty about the consequences of REACH on plastics recycling, several plastics industry associations and businesses, along with the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), have come to an agreeme... read more

They elasticise rubber, but they are toxic: anthracene oils extracted from black coal are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. As a rule PAHs persist in the environment, bioaccumulate, and are toxic. However, they continue to be used in products such as flip-flops or rubber handles. The European Union (EU) has already largely banned the use of PAHs in car tyres and foodstuffs. However, the F... read more