Archive press releases

In view of global climate change and air pollution problems in cities, there is growing pressure for action to be taken to reduce transport emissions and end this sector’s dependency on fossil fuels. Electric vehicles are a much-discussed option in…

Since the major accident at the Rana Plaza textile factory in Bangladesh in 2013 in which more than 1,100 people died, steps have been taken to improve the safety of workers in the country’s textile industry. For example, European manufacturers,…

At this very moment, somewhere in Latin America mercury is being used to mine gold – with severe impacts on human health and environmental quality. Somewhere in Africa, warlords are using child soldiers to fight for coltan, a mineral contained in…

From research rebel to scientific advisor to government, business and society – the past four decades have been quite a journey. To mark its 40th anniversary, the Oeko-Institut is launching a multimedia weblog – themed “Let’s make a wish!” – which…

To what extent are nuclear facilities at risk in crisis areas? Which factors are of relevance in this context? Are policy-makers, the media and society around the world aware of the threat – and do they dismiss it too easily? These are just some of…

The winners were awarded on March 7th at the international EuroShop fair in Düsseldorf. An appliance in each of five categories was awarded “ProCold winner 2017”: Vertical chilled storage cabinetsBeverage coolersIce-cream freezersVertical…

By adopting the Paris Agreement, the international community pledged to limit global warming to well below two degrees Celsius. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has calculated that global carbon dioxide emissions must be limited…

Designing the route today to tomorrow’s sustainable raw material management – this is the Oeko-Institut’s ambition in presenting its raw material transition (Rohstoffwende) strategy in Berlin on 1 December. The key message: the broad spectrum of…

Getting more electric vehicles on the roads in Europe can significantly reduce CO2 emissions and air pollutants within the European Union. If the share of electric mobility in passenger road transport increases to 80 percent by 2050, the CO2…

75 raw materials, 11 sustainability criteria, 4 areas of need and 2 scenarios – the transition to a sustainable use of raw materials makes a detailed analysis necessary. For a future raw materials policy that is sustainable, Oeko-Institut has…

A new study shows that increased demand for biomass for energy in Europe, through intensified use of existing forests, could lead to loss of biodiversity and high competition for wood between sectors, and proposes policies to help preserve…

When the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) meets in Nairobi on Monday, its agenda will include one of the new and major health and environmental hazards facing many African countries today: the recovery of lead from waste batteries. When…

NGOs, consumer groups and research organisations have expressed disappointment with the European Commission's continuing failure to propose adequate measures for the collection and publication of information about nanomaterials on the EU market…

As the ratification process for the Paris Agreement begins, a new study shows how the EU’s new policy on land and forests is essential to curb climate change given the Commission’s reluctance to increase climate targets. As the ratification process…

In today’s Declaration on Waste Containing Nanomaterials, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), ECOS, and the Oeko-Institut emphasize the importance of adopting and implementing preventive measures to protect people and the…

The use of renewable energies in Europe is continuing to expand: in 2015 EU member states were able to fulfil approx. a third of their electricity consumption using renewable energies such as wind, hydro and solar power. The use of renewable…

When end-of-life refrigeration appliances are treated, some of the waste appliances being sent for recycling contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), while others are CFC-free. When end-of-life refrigeration appliances are treated, some of the waste…

The “Strategic Dialogue on Sustainable Raw Materials for Europe” (STRADE), a 3-year research project (through 2018) to develop scientifically validated recommendations for a long-term European strategy on raw materials, successfully held its project…

Today, the Hamburg 2024 Bid Company and the city of Hamburg introduce you to the sustainability concept for the application to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in the Hanseatic City of Hamburg. Today, the Hamburg 2024 Bid Company and the…

In order to produce, further process and use raw materials responsibly in the future, comprehensive and material-specific sustainability targets are needed. These targets must take into account environmental and social challenges in equal…