Newsletter "UBA aktuell" - No.: 1/2021 | Umweltbundesamt

Buying from shops or online: what’s better for the climate?

Online shopping can be more climate friendly compared to driving to the shop. Source: Stanisic Vladimir / Fotolia.com

The online shopping trend continues – a problem for climate protection? A UBA study shows: not necessarily. What’s more important than whether we buy online or at shops is what we buy and how much. After all, up to three-quarter of greenhouse gas emission in a product’s life cycle are already generated during production. Trade and transport, on the other hand, only make up one to ten percent of the overall emissions. Another interesting result: having a product purchased online delivered to your home is better for the climate than driving several kilometres to a shop by car. The reason being that delivery vehicles are better utilised, routes planned efficiently and more and more electric vehicles are being used. German Environment Agency President Dirk Messner: "Whether we shop online or in actual shops is not that decisive for our climate footprint. The biggest levers for green shopping are long-lasting products that are manufactured in an environmentally friendly way. Ideally, these are available in the shop around the corner which I can easily reach by bike or on foot." 

Nonetheless, much still needs to be done to make online buying more environmentally friendly. Shipping packages should be reduced as much as possible or reusable packaging used instead. Electric vehicles or cargo bikes could be used and more packstations could combine deliveries. As another UBA study shows, there’s still "room for improvement" with respect to product information: ecolabels such as the "Blue Angel" should be displayed in the product description and be included as an option in search and comparison functions. Information about the product’s life expectancy or whether it can be repaired would also be desirable. What consumers can do: avoid frequent returns when shopping online and if possible buy environmentally friendly and durable products. Buying used products or borrowing rarely used items and having defective items repaired is even better for the environment. 

UBA will have two expert talks on logistics and shipping packages in the first half of 2021 to discuss solutions with the practicians. 

Heating with wood

Burning wood can produce substances which are harmful to both the climate and health. How to heat with as few emissions as possible. read more (in German)

Coronavirus: the significance of air pollution

Scientists do not believe transport through particulates to be relevant in the infectiousness of novel Coronavirus (SARS CoV-2). However, air quality is also a factor in the context of contracting COVID-19, as air pollutants make lung cells more susceptible to infectious particles such as bacteria and viruses. read more (in German) 

CO2 footprints in daily traffic

People in major cities often produces less CO2 emissions during daily travel than people in the country. Almost exclusively using the car on a daily basis produces about five times more CO2 emissions than people using public transportation who have no driving license. Income is also a factor according to a UBA study which examined the CO2 footprint of mobility in the daily life of various groups in the population. read more (in German) 

How environmentally friendly are cars, trains, ships, etc. in comparison to one another?

Road, rail, water and air traffic have different environmental impacts depending on the type of transport. But exactly how serious are they and how are they spread along the entire life of a vehicle, including providing the infrastructure and fuel? The UBA brochure “Umweltfreundlich mobil” ("Eco-friendly mobility!"), the result of a research project, investigates. read more (in German) 

Fuel consumption: actual CO2 emissions are only decreasing slowly

The CO2 emissions of new cars on the road have only decreased slightly despite statutory provisions. For example, the actual CO2 emissions of new Euro 6 cars on average were only 8 percent lower than Euro 3 cars. These new study results are now taken into account in the German greenhouse gas inventory to reflect the share of cars in emissions more realistically. read more (in German) 

The invisible costs of consumption

Manufacturing products has environmental impacts, such as producing air pollutants. The resulting costs, such as treating medical conditions, are not reflected in product prices. A "second price tag" could point out these invisible costs. A state-organised implementation, however, would mean more cost than benefit, as a UBA study shows. read more (in German)

German food consumption impacts the environment and climate abroad

Whether it’s coffee, chocolate, cheese or meat – producing our food requires resources, emits greenhouse gases and has a negative impact on the environment. A considerable part of the environmental damage of German food consumption takes place abroad. This is shown in the recent UBA study "Von der Welt auf den Teller" (From the world to the plate). read more (in German)

No critical environmental impacts from fuel dumping

Planes sometimes need to dump fuel for safety reasons when making emergency landings shortly after take-off. The results of a research project on this are now being published. The impacts fuel dumping has on humans and the environment are considered non-critical. However, there are recommendations how to further reduce possible impacts. read more (in German)

PBT concept requires adaptations

The concept for assessing persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic substances (PBT) needs to be revised: substances that are poorly soluble in water and substances which biodegrade extremely slowly, for example, are not adequately addressed. Furthermore, the identification of critical substances needs to be improved according to a research project for the UBA. read more (in German) 

Attitude towards mobility determines the type of movement

A positive attitude, being within walking distance, urban density, environmental awareness and internet access in public spaces motivate people most to walk or bike. Poor safety and high availability of cars are the greatest obstacles. This is shown in a representative study in twelve German cities for the German Environment Agency. read more (in German) 

Increasing recycling of building products

Half the raw material extraction and over 35 percent of all waste in the EU can be attributed to the building sector. In Germany alone, about 200 million tons of mineral construction waste is produced annually when constructing, remodelling, renovating or demolishing buildings. A UBA research report shows how to better utilise the recycling potential. read more (in German) 

Household biowaste: composting and fermentation are best

Biowaste from private households is typically composted or fermented before being used as fertiliser or soil conditioner. The ecobalance analysis of various alternatives for biowaste treatment commissioned by UBA shows there is currently no method better than composting and fermentation to utilise waste placed in the biowaste container. read more (in German) 

Ecolabel "Blue Angel" for four new product groups

The Blue Angel label can now also be found on outdoor flooring made from recycled concrete and for interior door mounts (sashes) without expanding foam, for example. The criteria were updated for many existing product groups. Printing equipment, for example, now also needs to meet certain social criteria during production. And now criteria are to be established for three new product groups. read more (in German) 

Revised cooling/air conditioning directive in force

The amended cooling/air conditioning directive of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment came into force on 1st December 2020. It promotes new stationary cooling and air conditioning equipment as well as automotive air conditioners in buses and rail cars which are very energy-efficient and exclusively use natural refrigerants, making them particularly climate-friendly. read more (in German) 

Online CO2 calculator for events

Holding a climate-neutral event requires calculating or estimating CO2 emissions to then be able to compensate these. The German Environment Agency now offers a special CO2 calculator to determine the emissions of events free of charge online in just a few steps. read more (in German) 

Communities discussing pest control and preservation of structures

Oak processionary moths in the park, rats in the sewer, algae on façades: in municipal practice, handling pests is always a matter which can put human health or materials at risk. On 18.11.2020, community representatives discussed how to handle these, potentially entirely without biocides. read more (in German) 

Communities can improve heavy rain safety measures through communication

Safety measures taken for heavy rain are the responsibility of communities and citizens. Communities can use targeted communication tools such as neighbourhood guidance or district workshops to motivate citizens to take safety measures for heavy rain (for example installing backflow traps, establishing aquifer inlet areas). This is shown by a study for the German Environment Agency. read more (in German)

Urban logistics: poll shows various challenges

Parcel services and deliveries to shopping centres and manufacturing present communities with many challenges related to noise control, air pollution control and climate protection. The German Environment Agency examined what these challenges are, which concepts cover them and which resources are needed. One problem, for example, is a lack of staff to access grants. read more (in German) 

Mining retention basins in Danube catchment area becoming safer

The Danube river catchment experienced two major catastrophes in the last 20 years due to dams failing at retention basis, which caused great ecological damage. As part of the advisory assistance program, UBA therefore supported the Danube border countries of Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Ukraine and Hungary in improving the safety of mining and industrial waste sedimentation basins. read more 

Harmful substances found in sporting goods

The EU-LIFE project AskREACH, which the UBA is involved in, tested sporting goods for harmful substances. Eleven percent of products investigated contained concentrations of over 0.1 percent of so-called "substances of very high concern" (SVHC). SVHCs can for example be carcinogenic, toxic to reproduction or have serious effects to the environment. read more (in German) 

Federal government environmental information accessible

The Federal Environmental Information Act (UIG) governs access to environmental information and active dissemination of environmental information. A study shows: it has essentially proved to be successful. However, the law could be improved and particularly better implemented in a few areas. The study therefore focuses on federal agencies and private entities obligated to provide information. read more (in German) 

What does the Battery Law amendment change?

The amended Battery Law (BattG) came into force 1st January 2021. The changes particularly affect battery manufacturers and the take-back system for used equipment batteries. This is also when the BattG-Melderegister will be transferred from the German Environment Agency (UBA) to the stiftung elektro-altgeräte register (stiftung ear). Battery manufacturers have one year to re-register. read more (in German) 

Dr. Wolfgang Scheremet the new head of the Central Office Division Z

Dr. Wolfgang Scheremet became head of the central office "Administrative Control, Service and Digitalisation" in January 2021. The central office handles service tasks at UBA related to human resources, finances or managing the office buildings. But it also houses the Environmental Library and citizens’ services, the first stop for enquiries to the UBA. read more (in German)  

Dr. Harry Lehmann retired

The energy and resources expert and long-standing head of the division "Environmental Planning and Sustainability Strategies" at UBA retired on 1st January 2021. read more (in German) 

Zeilengrün writing contest: winners selected!

Under the heading Zeilengrün (Green Line), the German Environment Agency in cooperation with the online magazine www.LizzyNet.de again launched a nationwide writing contest for adolescents and young adults in 2020. The search was for short stories or essays from budding authors between the ages of 12 and 26. The winners have now been selected. read more (in German) 

The share of renewable energies in gross electricity consumption in Germany will be around 46 percent for the full year 2020 – a good four percentage points higher than the figure for the full year 2019 (42%). This is the result of a preliminary evaluation by the working group on renewable energy statistics (AGEE-Stat) at the German Environment Agency (UBA). The increase was due to an increase in electricity generation from renewable sources of about five per cent, but also in particular to a decrease in electricity consumption in the course of the coronavirus pandemic.