The food retailing sector is taking action to promote environmental protection. Examples include store organic brands, a larger selection of vegan products or energy efficiency increases in their food outlets and business offices. On the whole, the companies studied could make much greater use of their influence and scope for action, says a recent study by the German Environment Agency (UBA). read more
Sustainability at the supermarket: retailers not tapping their full potential
Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainability (CODES)
UBA together with UNDP, UNEP, Future Earth, ISC, and Kenya is championing the Coalition for Digital Environment Sustainability – CODES, which brings together science community, governmental institutions, UN Bodies, tech companies, and civil society. read more
International TES Academy kicks off at UBA
The new International Academy Transformation for Environment and Sustainability (TES Academy) has been launched in a pilot phase at UBA. The kick-off to the project is a virtual discussion series about the implications of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine on the sustainability transformation and how to respond to the situation. read more
OECD-Guideline: Determination of particle size of nanomaterials
On 30th June 2022, the OECD published the Test Guideline No. 125, which harmonises the determination of particle size distribution specifically for nanomaterials. It is an important building block for the implementation of nano-specific requirements within the framework of legislation on chemical safety, for example for the REACH Regulation. read more
Parts of the European population have alarmingly high levels of pollutant exposure
Some of Europe’s population have alarmingly high levels of exposure to pollutants. This is the conclusion of the European human biomonitoring initiative HBM4EU, coordinated by UBA. Plasticisers were detected in all children and adolescents examined, and per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are also present in human blood in quantities that are in some cases too high. read more
Corporate Sustainability Reporting faces major changes
About 500 German undertakings are obliged to include sustainability-related information in their annual reports. According to the plans of the EU Commission more undertakings shall report in the future and apply uniform reporting standards. A study on behalf of UBA recommends precise requirements for reporting on targets, actions and performance indicators and corporate greenhouse gas neutrality. read more
Guide for greenhouse gas-neutral administrations published
“Public administrations must pioneer and be a role model in climate protection”, said Dirk Messner, President of the German Environment Agency (UBA) at an online meeting of the Network of Heads of European Environmental Administrations (EPA Network) on November 25th. He presented UBA’s guide on greenhouse gas neutral administrations, now also available in English. read more
Aviation and maritime transport – Roadmaps to accelerate e-fuels
In this online workshop on 16 November 2021 policy roadmaps for accelerating the uptake of e-fuels in air and maritime transport developed by Öko-Institut, CE Delft and DLR on behalf of the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) will be presented and discussed. read more