Archive press releases

In many African countries lead acid car batteries are being recycled without any kind of protective measures. As a result, the workers and local residents are often exposed to high lead levels, which can cause serious health problems and in some…

In India and Egypt as well as in the USA waste management can contribute significantly more to climate protection than at present. The climate protection potentials of waste management in these three countries – as well as other OECD und EU member…

Impetus for societal transformations to sustainability such as the energy transition, the development of an alternative transport system and sustainable food often comes from the centre of society. So that these developments enjoy wide success,…

Two days before the European Union closes its consultation on the role that land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) should play in EU climate effort, new research reveals that including this sector in emissions reductions plans would cause…

More washing machines, laundry dryers and refrigerators faulty within 5 years – consumers replace functioning flatscreens sooner Today’s consumers are using new products for shorter timescales than in the past, according to the initial findings of…

To reach the targets for energy savings and climate protection in buildings more ambitious measures are needed in EU member states. In all EU countries improvements are necessary for the modernization of buildings, when using renewable energy…

Together with 17 European project partners Oeko-Institut has developed guidelines for small, medium-sized and large enterprises in the creation and implementation of sustainability strategies. The handbook’s main recommendation is that from the…

Energy transition, rising consumption, new infrastructures: the demand for raw materials such as building and industrial materials as well as ore and metals is not only high in Germany, it is also increasing globally as a result of the growth of…

Feasible recycling concepts must be developed in the years ahead for the recycling of rare earths used in permanent magnets in modern and highly efficient electric motors. The motors used in industry are not being collected and disposed of at the…

Users of free-floating car-sharing see electric vehicles as just as flexible and practical as conventional vehicles. In addition, electric vehicles are regarded as more environmentally-friendly and thus more attractive than conventional passenger…

Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union in Luxembourg has launched a new web page containing statistical data on natural resources in the EU. Environmental Data Centre on Natural Resources  On behalf of the European…

The German government wants electric vehicles to make a substantial contribution to climate protection in future. As a result the recycling industry faces new challenges – for example with regard to power electronics. Under the leadership of…

The first container of used lead-acid batteries from Africa has landed in Germany. The batteries were collected in Ghana through a unique cooperation and recycled in an environmentally-sound manner in Germany. Experts neutralized the battery acid…

In many countries of the European Union, nuclear reactors will be operated for longer in future than originally planned. Furthermore, the nuclear power plants have to generate more electricity. The components of the nuclear reactors are burdened by…

Goods manufactured with 3D printers can save resources in the production process and can reduce warehousing, transport costs and packaging. However, at the same time, the materials used are currently still restricted mainly to plastics and metals,…

In order to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the energy consumption for the heating and cooling of buildings – among other things – must be substantially reduced. The different climatic zones in the European Union make different strategies necessary.…

To make a contribution to the climate protection, the waste management has to place its trust in recycling instead of refuse incineration. It can only contribute to the energy transformation if waste is utilized as comprehensively as possible and…

300 years of sustainability – it’s the birthday of an idea. But despite the Rio Declaration on Sustainable Development, which Germany also signed, and a broad public sustainability discussion, further efforts are needed in Oeko-Institut’s view so…

The voluntary sustainability measures of companies – widely referred to as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – are not sufficient to generate a significantly positive influence on society. To achieve this, political regulation and voluntary…

The Federation of German Industries (BDI) and Oeko-Institut are jointly looking for solutions for how policy and companies in Europe can effectively tackle the problem of the conflict financing of resources such as gold, tantalum, tungsten and tin.…