Publications

The project "KartAL III - Mapping of the Anthropogenic Stock III", commissioned by the Federal Environment Agency, focuses on the recovery options and expected material flows of seven metals and its alloys.

The project "KartAL III - Mapping of the Anthropogenic Stock III", commissioned by the Federal Environment Agency, focuses on the recovery options and expected material flows of nine mineral building materials.

The report summarises and evaluates the current state of knowledge on organic contaminants in polar regions that have become significant concerns because of their persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity potential. Climate change can also alter the biogeochemical cycling of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and emerging organic contaminants (EOCs).

Im November 2018 veröffentlichte die Europäische Kommission ihre Strategische Langzeit-Vision „Ein sauberer Planet für alle“ mit dem Vorschlag spätestens in 2050 EU-weit Netto-Null-Treibhausgasemissionen zu erreichen. Durch das EU-Klimaschutzgesetz wurde das Klima-Neutralitätsziel rechtlich verbindlich.

The European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) constitutes a central European climate policy instrument. Since its start of operation in 2005, the carbon market has grown considerably in terms of trading volume and also with regard to the various players being active.

The study was to undertake a legal analysis of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) provisions of the EU Directive 2019/904 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (Single-Use Plastics Directive, SUPD) with a view to its implementation in Germany.

Biocides that are released into the environment can have unintended negative environmental effects. The aim of this project was to analyse the current agricultural practice related to the use of disinfectants (PT 03) and insecticides (PT 18) in animal husbandry.

Seals and whales are at the end of the food chain and are thus exposed to a high bioaccumulation of pollutants. The aim of the project under the German HELCOM Chairmanship 2020 - 2022 was to screen for potentially hazardous novel contaminants in marine mammals from the Baltic Sea using state-of-the-art analytical methods for wide-scope target and suspect screening.

Life cycle assessments (LCA) are an essential tool to explore the environmental impacts associated with a product or service over the course of the entire life cycle. For accurate modelling, data on all relevant potential environmental impacts should be included in an LCA. To consider land in the context of an LCA, the quality of the land used to supply a product or service is a key factor.

This policy paper commissioned by the German Federal Environment Agency examines the greenhouse gas reduction potential from the measures of the first pillar (GAEC standards and eco-schemes) of the Common European Agricultural Policy 2023-2027. The results are based on a study that will be published in the first half of 2022.

It was checked whether and how with selected waste streams - especially old tires and old textiles - resource conservation and environmental relief potentials can be realized through improved collection and recycling. Bulky waste, mattresses, furniture, carpets, artificial turf and diapers were also considered.

Hydrolysis is an abiotic degradation process that influences the fate of many water-soluble substances in the environment. The ability of chemicals to undergo hydrolysis is currently tested in purified lab water in accordance with OECD guideline 111. It has been suggested that the addition of particles such as sediment or microplastic fibers i.e.