Umweltbundesamt
What are phthalates and what is their use? Phthalates are primarily used as plasticisers for soft PVC. The chemical industry in Western Europe produces around one million tons of phthalates annually. More than 90% go into the production of soft PVC. read more
Since the publication of the White Paper "Energy for the future" (EC, 1997) and the adoption of the Directive 2001/77/EC (EC, 2001) on renewable energies in the electricity sector (RES-E), the EU renewable energy sector has developed in a dynamic way. All member states have introduced policies to support the market introduction of RES-E and most of them have started to improve the corresponding ad...read more
The aim of the project „Survey of Heavy Metal Content of Batteries – Analysis of Representative Samples of Customary Batteries and Batteries Sold in Appliances – Preparation of a Sampling Plan, Purchase of Samples and Analysis (Hg, Pb, Cd)“ was to describe the situation concerning the compliance of the existing limits for heavy metal content in commercially available batteries in Germany on the ba...read more
In this study commissioned by the German Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA), Öko-Institute - with expert advice by Umicore Precious Metals Refining - analysed the export of used vehicles and electrical and electronic goods from Germany. This latest research project is based on the former study “Materials Flow of Platinum Group Metals” [PGM 2005]. Herein it was stated that an enormou...read more
In the first generation of harmonised standards and approval guidelines in accordance with the framework of the construction products directive, no requirements were included for the fulfilment of Essential requirement no. 3 Hygiene, Health and Environment. These requirements shall be included in the revision of the standards, i.e., in the second generation. For this purpose, the European Commissi...read more
The international “Workshop on the Impacts of Seismic Exploration Activities – particularly on whales and other biota” organised by the German Federal Environment Agency in Dessau, Germany, on 6 and 7 September 2006 brought together a wide expertise. All participants appreciated the intensive exchange of scientific information particularly concentrated on academic seismic surveys and the Antarctic...read more
On behalf of the Federal Office for Environment Protection, the Research Association of the German Glass Industry (HVG) elaborated a German contribution to the revision of the BAT guideline for the glass industry beginning in 2007. The major objective of the project was to investigate and document by means of reference plants the best available techniques of the glass industry in the field of the...read more
This brochure highlights scientific investigations on building products, performed by the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) in co-operation with the Hermann Rietschel Institute of the Technical University of Berlin and commissioned by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). In the “Environmental and Health Provisions for Building Products – Determination and assessment of...read more
The UBA’s motto, For our environment (“Für Mensch und Umwelt”), sums up our mission pretty well, we feel. In this video we give an insight into our work.
