Economy | Consumption | Page 12

Economy | Consumption

The way our economy currently operates is undermining the foundations of our prosperity because it destroys the natural bases of that very economy. Overuse of resources and climate change are prime examples. Green Economy, sustainable production and sustainable consumption are therefore the overriding aims in the area of economy and consumption.

"Good design has nothing to hide"

"Greenwashing" can often disguise the negative impact of products and services on the environment. But the German Federal Ecodesign Award is different. For the seventh year in a row and until 09 April 2018, companies from all industries and of all sizes as well as designers and students can now submit their ecologically designed products and services. read more

Market shares for green products growing – yet CO2 emissions in consumer sector remain unchanged

Environmental labels can provide transparency and orientation read more

Rethinking it: Winners of the 6th German Ecodesign Award

Grafik mit grünem Hintergrund. Darauf ein weißer Papierflieger.

The prizes of the 2017 contest go to repair services, mobile applications to initiatives to fight food waste, energy-saving design products, concepts for resource-efficient and recyclable fashion and a vision for the opportunities which living plant construction provides. read more

Guidance for climate-friendly investment

two engineers (a women and a man) in a windfarm

Capital investments which target the energy, transport and building sectors can help to limit the rise in Earth’s temperatures to less than 2 degrees. A new UBA study proposes the criteria by which public financial institutions like development banks should proceed and identifies which projects should no longer be funded. read more

Who has the best ecodesign in Germany?

Gruppenbild der 10 Jurymitglieder vor dem Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin

On 11 September a panel jury of environmental and design experts made the nominations for this year's Bundespreis Ecodesign (German Ecodesign Award). Twenty submissions in the areas of architecture, energy, nutrition, home living, interior design, mobility and fashion can now hope to receive an award at an awards ceremony to be held 27 November. read more

Sustainable supply chain management, step by step

Menschen stehen an einem Arbeitstisch mit Papieren.

A new guide by the Federal Environment Ministry and the German Environment Agency offers companies advice on how to integrate sustainability into their supply chains. read more

Blue Angel ecolabel now available for toys

Toy manufacturers can now apply for the new Blue Angel ecolabel for toys to be awarded to their cuddly toys, wooden train sets, rubber balls etc. Not only must the products be exemplary in terms of pollutant content but also as concerns the social labour conditions of the extraction of raw materials and at the final assembly sites. read more