Publications

Before humankind discovered oil, coal, natural gas and uranium and learnt how to put them to use, biomass covered all of the respective needs. Since time immemorial, it has provided food, feed and fodder, fuel, construction materials, and the raw materials

In 2007 the German supreme federal authorities the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) issued a joint research strategy known as ”Nanotechnology: Health and Environmental Risks of Nanomaterials”, lead-managed by BAuA.

Fire-fighting foams are used in fire-fighting to extinguish flammable liquids (fire category B) and solids which liquefy in case of fire or heat exposure.

The UBA annual publication 2013

The applicability of a number of nanomaterials Groundwater damages can be caused for instance by the inappropriate handling of environmentally hazardous materials, disasters or improper handling and disposal of waste. The so-called pump and treat method was the method of choice for the remediation of groundwater damages in the past.

Nanotechnology can make jackets more water- and tableclothes more dirt-repellent. It can also protect the environment, for example if the textiles can be used longer or if self-cleaning surfaces save cleaning agents. The nanomaterials are to be stably embedded to maintain the product quality and functionality of the textiles.

A strengthening of environmental aspects is indispensable to the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2014-2020. The Agriculture Commission at the German Federal Environment Agency (KLU) is of the view that, in future, EU agricultural budget funding can only be justified if it is based on the principle of “public funds for public goods”.

The EU Commission proposals for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2014-2020 aim at contributing to improved integration of agriculture, environmental protection and climate mitigation (integration scenario).

The checklist presented here has the objective to support the identification of improvement potential regarding the environmental impact in the textiles industry. It is based on a comprehensive technical analysis of the European textile industry and refers to currently available technologies.

By 2020, Germany aims to reduce its primary energy consumption by 20 per cent on 2008, and by 50 per cent by 2050. It won’t be possible to achieve this goal without a significant increase in energy efficiency. The ISO 50001 standard, which was published in June 2011 and replaces the European EN 16001 standard, defines the first international standards for an energy management system.

Today it is well known how to produce textiles and shoes in a manner that is as environmentally friendly as possible. This is also clear to consumers. They are becoming less and less willing to bear environmental risks – much in the way that they have already demonstrated with regard to inadequate social standards.

The European Regulation 1907/2006 on the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) The REACH regulation interfaces with waste legislation at various points, but forms a freestanding, demarcated legislative domain: came into effect on 1 June 2007.