Resources fever – A cool head for hot resource debates

Öko-Institut presents recent studies and reports on the sustainable use of resources on its website www.resourcefever.org. We discuss, for example, how resources can be used more efficiently within the EU as well as issues related to the recycling of electronic waste in newly industrialising and developing countries. A new report by Öko-Institut and Eurometaux (the EU Association of Non-Ferrous Metals Industry) addresses the standards and guidelines which the European Union and its member states have to develop further for sustainable resource management worldwide.

27.07.2010

Nanotechnology in the Food Sector – Study now available in English

The study “Nanotechnology in the Food Sector”, commissioned by the Swiss Centre for Technology Assessment TA-SWISS, is now available in English.

The study provides an overview of nanomaterials already used in the food sector with a focus on the Swiss market and an analysis of the existing legal framework. Today, nanotechnology is virtually insignificant in terms of environmentally sound and health-promoting nutrition, and even in the future it is likely to play a relatively subordinate role in making nutrition more sustainable. But nanotechnology is already used in food packaging, an area that is regarded as having considerable potential for innovation. The study assesses these products in respect of environmental issues and sustainability and where there is a need for caution and for adaption of regulations with regard to labelling and traceability.

Link to the English TA-Swiss site >>

Download link >>

28.06.2010

Climate assessors under scrutiny

An Öko-Institut study hot off the press reveals that the United Nations continues to be dissatisfied with the performance of the companies validating climate change mitigation projects in the developing world. Such projects can be initiated under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in order to deliver emissions reductions wherever such reductions are most cost-efficient. It is already the second evaluation by the Öko-Institut of the work of the companies (termed Designed Operational Entities, DOEs). The verdict is that they have failed to clean up their act since the first in 2009.

09.02.2010

Getting moving on climate protection – sustainable transport strategies

The new eco@work is online

How can we make transport more climate-friendly in the face of increasing mobility? This is the question tackled in the current issue of eco@work, which is published today. We present the findings of the Renewbility study, which show how Germany could reduce its transport-related greenhouse gas emissions by a quarter by 2030. Another article quantifies the climate benefits of public transport: each passenger who uses bus or rail instead of the car for local journeys saves on average 2.5 kilograms CO2 per trip. And in the interview we introduce Michael Sailer, the institute's new CEO.

The current issue "Getting moving on climate protection" is available here >>

26.01.2010

How useful are climate labels?

Öko-Institut makes recommendations on the use of product carbon footprints

What greenhouse gas emissions are associated with a beef steak or a pack of frozen vegetables? What carbon emissions arise during the manufacture, use and disposal of a TV or a freezer? In recent years a number of new schemes for analysing product carbon footprints (PCFs) have emerged all over the world, accompanied by private or state-run product labelling schemes. A new international standard (ISO 14067) for the calculation of carbon footprints is due to be developed by 2010.

12.01.2010

"Responsibility for climate protection doesn't stop at the factory gates"

Interview on BOSCH company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) web site: Christian Hochfeld, Member of the Executive Board of the Öko-Institut, reports on a pilot project to calculate the CO2 footprints of various products – their 'product carbon footprint' (PCF).

Climate protection has become a key issue in product development and marketing – and not only in the automotive industry. What is the significance of the 'CO2 footprints' of various other products? The Öko-Institut has completed a PCF pilot project on the subject involving a number of firms. Christian Hochfeld gives a report on the project and its results in an interview on the CSR web site of Bosch company.