Archive press releases

The problems associated with the recycling of e-waste in Africa, for both people and the environment, are well-known. Less well known, though, are the benefits that sustainable recycling can bring. Oeko-Institut’s new project aims to investigate…

European legislation such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the Renewable Energy Directive requires member states to develop ambitious policies in the building sector. The design of effective policy supporting nearly Zero-Energy…

Cooled rooms on hot summer days are a luxury that many no longer want to do without. But where does the energy needed for space cooling come from? All too rarely it comes from renewable sources since the necessary political framework for renewable…

As the share of electricity production from renewable energies increases, the pressure is rising to integrate these energies in the market rather than conduct their production outside the competitive electricity market. The new German Renewable…

West Africa faces a rising tide of e-waste generated by domestic consumption of new and used electrical and electronic equipment, according to a new United Nations report. Domestic consumption makes up the majority (up to 85 per cent) of waste…

A study conducted within the scope of the Future Fleet project has found that battery electric vehicles could make up a fifth of SAP Germany’s company cars by 2030. If plug-In hybrid vehicles, which are powered by both an electric and a…

The environmental performance of vehicles is becoming increasingly significant in the commercial procurement of service or fleet vehicles. This is one finding of Oeko-Institut’s survey of more than 30 fleet operators, which focused on the…

Up to six million electric vehicles could be on Germany’s roads in 2030. If these vehicles use additional electricity produced from renewable sources, they are emission-free and can make a contribution to climate protection. Oeko-Institut came to…

The rapid growth of new technologies in the energy and transport sectors will drive up demand for special resources. The need for rare earths, in particular, is likely to rise disproportionately by 2030. It is therefore vital to develop alternative…

Between 67,000 and 108,000 workers are involved in the extraction of cobalt in mostly unregistered mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They frequently work under dangerous conditions; fatal accidents are the order of the day. Each year…

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 publishes environmental audit The English edition of the environmental audit of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 (published in German in November 2011) is available for download from today. The Legacy Report documents the…

The weekly magazine VerkehrsRundschau and the Oeko-Institut (Institute for Applied Ecology) today published a comprehensive methodology for calculating carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for logistics purposes. This methodology,…

<p>Bioenergy and water are inextricably linked. For the first time, a report of UNEP, IEA Bioenergy Task 43 and Oeko-Institut examines in depth these interlinkages, highlights the risks and opportunities, and offers an outlook on ways to…

From 1 September 2011 it will no longer be possible for 60 watt light bulbs to be put on the market. From a climate protection perspective Oeko-Institut welcomes systematic implementation in Germany of the EU Ecodesign Regulation for lamps. “Now,…

The residential sector is a large emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the EU: It is responsible for 40 percent of energy consumption and 36 percent of GHG emissions. Not only poorly insulated houses and outdated heating systems are to blame;…

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions deriving from food represent approx. one fifth of the total EU GHG emission balance when all upstream emissions from fertilizers and imports etc. are taken into account. Avoiding unnecessary food wastage, eating less…

After three years of intense international negotiations comprehensive sustainability indicators for bioenergy are now available for the first time on a global level. Oeko-Institut (Institute for Applied Ecology) and the Institute for Energy and…

The recycling of rare earths is a strategy geared to the sustainable use of valuable raw materials in times of rising prices and the scarcity of such resources. In a study commissioned by the Greens/European Free Alliance in the European Parliament…

EcoTransIT World – Calculating emissions for freight transport by air and sea worldwide Pressemeldung

Oeko-Institut report shows possibilities for sustainable e-waste recycling in Ghana E-waste contains many valuable metals such as gold, silver, palladium, aluminium, steel and cooper. Recovery of aluminium, steel and copper from e-waste is an…