Publications

The scarcity of many raw materials holds significant conflict potentials as global demand increases rapidly. This does not only apply to fossil resources, focussed in the public debate, but also to many rare mineral resources. An important example is the ore coltan, from which tantalum is separated for the use as material or in the electronics industry.

The building product directive of the European Union defines the term ‘building product’ as “a commercial product that is manufactured with the purpose of remaining in the building over a long period of time”.

This brochure provides figures and facts about the use of natural resources in Germany. Indicators and trends show the areas in which efficiency gains are emerging and those in which resource efficiency still needs to be increased.

'Every individual is entitled to an environment conducive to the highest attainable level of health and well-being'.

The number of countries where RET have seen significant market growth is steadily increasing. However, in most countries of the world, dissemination of new renewable energy technologies is still very limited. A range of barriers – financial, economic, institutional, political and technical – impede implementation. 

What are phthalates and what is their use? Phthalates are primarily used as plasticisers for soft PVC. The chemical industry in Western Europe produces around one million tons of phthalates annually. More than 90% go into the production of soft PVC. 

The aim of the project „Survey of Heavy Metal Content of Batteries – Analysis of Representative Samples of Customary Batteries and Batteries Sold in Appliances – Preparation of a Sampling Plan, Purchase of Samples and Analysis (Hg, Pb, Cd)“ was to describe the situation concerning the compliance of the existing limits for heavy metal content in commercially available batteries in Germany on the

On behalf of the Federal Office for Environment Protection, the Research Association of the German Glass Industry (HVG) elaborated a German contribution to the revision of the BAT guideline for the glass industry beginning in 2007.

This brochure highlights scientific investigations on building products, performed by the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) in co-operation with the Hermann Rietschel Institute of the Technical University of Berlin and commissioned by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA).

In this study commissioned by the German Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA), Öko-Institute - with expert advice by Umicore Precious Metals Refining - analysed the export of used vehicles and electrical and electronic goods from Germany. This latest research project is based on the former study “Materials Flow of Platinum Group Metals” [PGM 2005].

The international “Workshop on the Impacts of Seismic Exploration Activities – particularly on whales and other biota” organised by the German Federal Environment Agency in Dessau, Germany, on 6 and 7 September 2006 brought together a wide expertise.

In the first generation of harmonised standards and approval guidelines in accordance with the framework of the construction products directive, no requirements were included for the fulfilment of Essential requirement no. 3 Hygiene, Health and Environment. These requirements shall be included in the revision of the standards, i.e., in the second generation.