Sustainable Products & Material Flows

Our Sustainable Products & Material Flows Division concentrates on sustainable consumption and production, chemicals management and technology assessment. Our projects are geared to practical implementation, seeking to make the vision of sustainable development operational for specific sectors and companies, “areas of need” and policy instruments and strategies.

Our staff scientists take part in the development and deployment of new technologies, help companies develop innovative products, assess products and services, and provide practical decision-support tools for both consumers and procurers.

In the various policy arenas, we work together with a broad array of stakeholders to shape the practical implementation of European framework directives (such as REACH, RoHS, WEEE and EuP) and to refine and align the many (sustainability) labels.

We deploy a broad set of methodologies for our studies. These include life-cycle assessment (LCA) and greenhouse gas inventories (Product Carbon Footprinting, PCF) for products and companies, eco-efficiency and material-flow analysis, hazardous substance inventory analysis and exposure scenarios. Product Sustainability Assessment (PROSA) – a methodology developed by the Institute – provides strategic guidance for numerous projects.

Our team consists of some twenty, highly committed researchers representing a broad range of disciplines. Our clients include the European Commission, national ministries, the German Federal Environment Agency, private-sector companies and industry federations, environmental and consumer NGOs and foundations.

Further information on key activities is available at the following project-specific websites:

• PCF Project
• Preparatory Studies for Eco-design Requirements of Energy Using Products, Lot C: Stakeholder representation: Consumers
• EcoTopTen – Innovations for sustainable consumption
• PROSA – Product Sustainability Assessment

We thank you for your interest and look forward to cooperating with you!