The REACH Candidate List now has 144 Substances of Very High Concern. Acting on an initiative by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) Germany proposed the inclusion of seven chemicals as Substances of Very High Concern. One of them is perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is often found in all-weather clothing and has long been considered harmful to the environment. Says Jochen Flasbarth, President... read more
Onshore wind energy: Potential outstrips need
There are more possibilities for onshore wind energy in Germany than has been previously assumed. According to assumptions made in a new study by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and using state-of-the-art turbines, up to 13.8 per cent of the land surface in Germany could be used for wind energy generation - without causing significant harm to sensitive protected areas or compromising noise pr... read more
Blue Angel ecolabel turns 35
The Blue Angel ecolabel has guided consumers in choosing environmentally friendly products for 35 years. The Federal Ministry for the Environment, the Federal Environment Agency and the Environmental Label Jury are using the occasion of the anniversary to launch a campaign supported by the music producer Annette Humpe, radio host Jacqueline Roussety and actor Thomas Arnold. All three have been fea... read more
The end is nigh for flame retardant HBCD
A worldwide ban on the production and use of the flame retardant HBCD will be introduced soon. The resolution was adopted at a UN chemicals conference in Geneva. The chemical is to be added to the list of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention. HBCD stands for Hexabromocyclododecane. Up to now it has been used mainly in insulating wall panels and in future certain uses... read more
Plasticiser DEHP is ingested mainly through food
Food constitutes an important exposure path of the plasticiser DEHP. The substance, which makes plastics flexible, has been found in the environment and in human urine. This is undesirable as the substance has a damaging effect on the reproductive organs which can impair the fertility and development of unborn children. DEHP may not be used in toys or cosmetics for this reason. Overall, the quanti... read more
Batteries put to the test: too many heavy metals, faulty labelling
A whole range of batteries have excessively high heavy metal content. In addition, the presence of these heavy metals is often not labelled. These are the conclusions of a new study done on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). UBA President Jochen Flasbarth says: "The contamination in many of the tested zinc-coal batteries is exceedingly high: nearly half of them exceed the limit for ca... read more
Libraries now help to save electricity
The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has now supplied 500 energy-saving packs to libraries. The sets can be borrowed free of charge and used to detect and minimise stand-by losses. The campaign was launched in cooperation with the foundation No-Energy-Stiftung für Klimaschutz und Ressourceneffizienz. "The most effective brake on the electricity bill is to save! Many households could take simple me... read more
What is new mobility like?
The greening of our mobility and transport systems will benefit both the individual and the economy. Some new studies by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) call for more interlinking of the car, bus, train and bicycle as transport choices, for more control of traffic flows and for expanding the cycling networks. The studies also show that sustainable mobility not only benefits the environment an... read more
