Newsletter "UBA aktuell" - No.: 1/2020 | Umweltbundesamt

Bisphenol A-free products are not necessarily good for man and the environment

Bisphenol A used in sales receipts was recently substituted with substances such as bisphenol S. Source: pure-life-pictures / Fotolia

The industrial chemical bisphenol A is rightly being banned from use in ever more consumer products, including in the thermal paper used for sales receipts in early 2020. This is because it acts like a hormone and can impair fertility in humans and wildlife. It may even promote the growth of certain tumours. The problem is that its substitutes are not necessarily better for man and the environment. A current research project from the German Environment Agency shows that 43 of 44 tested substances are not viable as a safer substitute, either because they also have hormone-mimicking activity or there is no conclusive data available yet. Only one substance, Pergafast 201, showed no hormone-like activity during screening tests conducted for the project. Other properties of concern for the environment, such as persistence in the environment or bioaccumulation, were not included in the scope of the project. 

The EU Chemicals Directive REACH is the background against which a discussion with the other EU Member States and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is taking place to decide on further data requirements for certain substances in the group of bisphenols. These data are then requested from the producers and are used to clarify the initial concern of the endocrine disrupting potential of the substances. If it can be concluded that the chemicals are endocrine disruptors for man and/or the environment, suitable measures, e.g. a restriction for certain uses, will be introduced throughout the EU to minimise exposure and to promote substitution by less hazardous substances.

For now, sales receipts should be disposed of with residual waste for incineration. If disposed with waste paper, the recycling process could reintroduce these chemicals into the product cycle, for example in toilet paper. Bisphenol-free paper for sales receipts is already available. However, the absence of any clear labelling prevents consumers from distinguishing the paper from papers which contain bisphenol.

Scan4Chem: app provides information on hazardous substances in products

If so requested, manufacturers and distributors are required to inform consumers about "substances of very high concern" that are contained in products. As part of the EU-LIFE project AskREACH, the smartphone app from the German Environment Agency, Scan4Chem, was updated and is now available to download in Germany. From January 2020 onwards, it will be available in 14 European countries. read more (in German)

The Hazardous Substances Rapid Information System (GSA) provides information on Vitamin E acetate

For many people, the new year is the time to give up on old vices, and to finally stop smoking, for instance. Increasing numbers of people are now swapping conventional cigarettes for e-cigarettes/vaporisers, as these are considered to be less harmful. Recently, however, reports about critical lung diseases and several deaths among users of e-cigarettes in the USA have resulted in a considerable degree of uncertainty. read more (in German)

ECT should measure nitrogen oxide (NOx) in diesel passenger cars in the future

The UBA is recommending the extension of regular emissions control tests (ECT) on diesel passenger cars to include measurements of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. This could ensure that components and systems for reducing emissions, such as SCR catalytic converters, will continue to operate on a long-term basis. A new study shows which measurement methods are suitable and how, exactly, they could be incorporated in the ECT. read more (in German)

2020 Departmental Research Plan published

What priorities is the German Federal Ministry of the Environment setting this year in the field of environmental research? And which specific research projects are due to start? It's all in the 2020 Departmental Research Plan. read more (in German)

2018 emissions fall by more than 31 percent compared with 1990

In the year 2018, a total of 858.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents were emitted in Germany. This is 35.9 million tonnes, or 4 percent less than in 2017, and 31.4 percent lower compared with 1990. This is what the results of the calculations that the German Environment Agency (UBA) submitted to the European Commission show. The most significant fall in emissions occurred in the energy industry. read more (in German)

New edition of “Energy efficiency in figures" published

How far has Germany progressed towards its goal of halving its energy consumption by 2050? How do things stand in the individual sectors, such as transport or private households? And what are the economic and employment benefits of investing in greater energy efficiency? Read about this and more in the current edition of the brochure "Energy efficiency in figures". read more (in German)

Fibre composites: material of the future with open disposal

They are lightweight and stable at the same time: synthetic materials reinforced with glass, carbon or other fibres. This makes them ideal for wind turbines or lightweight electric cars. The mix of materials leads to problems with the recycling, however. The UBA has been working on suitable concepts for nearly two years – Petra Weißhaupt, a Biotechnologist in the Product Responsibility Division, reports. read more (in German)

Soil and biodiversity – everything is interrelated

Everything is interrelated – one of the key findings of Alexander von Humboldt, whose 250th birthday in the year 2019 was honoured at numerous events. Drawing on the concept of networking referred to by this universal scholar, natural scientist and pioneer of science, on World Soil Day on 5th December 2019, the Soil Protection Commission of the UBA (KBU) invited guests to attend a conference at the Federal Press Office in Berlin. read more (in German)

Biodegradable urns are mostly harmless

At present, people are laid to rest in around 200 funeral forests in Germany, often being buried in biodegradable urns. What happens, however, after the urns disintegrate and the ashes enter the soil? Can the heavy metals that the ashes contain present a threat to the groundwater and soils in forest ecosystems? A new study by the UBA provides recommendations for action. read more (in German)

EU ETS: increase in the cap reduction factor necessary by 2030

To reduce the risk of global warming by more than 1.5 degrees, cumulative emissions must be minimised. The study, which was commissioned by the UBA, analyses various scenarios in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) on this basis. The authors concluded that the cap reduction factor should be increased to at least 4 percent from 2021, or 5.8 percent from 2026. read more (in German)

Questions and answers on the compulsory retail sales receipt

Since 1st January 2020, retailers have been legally obliged to issue retail sales receipts: all customers must be given a receipt each time they make a purchase. The objective: to prevent tax fraud. How is the compulsory retail sales receipt to be assessed from the perspective of the environment? What kind of hazardous substances do sales receipts contain? Where should they be disposed of? What is an environmentally friendly alternative? Here are our answers to frequently asked questions. read more (in German)

“Blue Angel” eco-label for four new product groups

The "Blue Angel" is now also available for wood-burning stoves, resource- and energy-efficient software products, servers and data storage products, as well as climate-friendly co-location data processing centres. Such was the decision of the Environmental Label Jury at its meeting in December 2019. The criteria for seven further product groups were also revised. read more (in German)

Promoting green goods and services: how it works

Increasing numbers of customers are paying attention to products’ environmental compatibility. How can and should businesses draw attention to the environmental benefits of their offerings? When can a product be described as "water-saving” or “recyclable”, for instance? read more (in German)

Sustainability in the food retail market

The food retail trade is protecting the environment and the climate with a variety of activities. A holistic strategy is lacking, however, and several areas, such as eutrophication and the environmental impact of plant protection products or animal husbandry, are yet to have been sufficiently taken into account. This is shown in a recent report by the German Environment Agency (UBA). read more (in German)

UBA conference on the targeted design of new materials

Innovative materials, such as advanced composites, polymers or even nanoscale materials, can contribute to the more effective protection of the environment, resources and the climate, and can be used in many areas – from energy, to mobility, through to health. Possible characteristics as well as current and future applications were discussed by approximately 60 participants at the UBA. read more (in German)

Environment and agriculture in dialogue at the 2020 Conference on Agriculture

“Environment and agriculture in dialogue: for a Green Deal in agricultural policy" is the motto of the 2020 Conference on Agriculture. The conference which was hosted by the German Federal Ministry of the Environment, the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and the German Environment Agency on 14th January 2020 addressed the future of agriculture and an environment which is worth living in for the future generations. read more (in German)

Energy management in businesses saves money and greenhouse gases

Climate neutrality and a 50% reduction in primary energy consumption by 2050: without a significant increase in energy efficiency, this will be impossible for Germany to achieve. With an energy management system, organisations can reduce their energy consumption, prevent greenhouse gas emissions and make cost savings. A recently published guide provides practical recommendations on how to turn the introduction into a success. read more (in German)

Digitalisation can help with environmental management in businesses

Whether it is blockchain, artificial intelligence, big data or the internet of things: digital technologies can harm the environment due to their consumption of energy and resources – but they can also protect it. A new UBA brochure helps businesses to take advantage of the opportunities offered by digitalisation for their environmental and climate protection management and to therefore operate on a more sustainable basis. read more (in German)

Diesel from biogenic residual waste and waste materials: questions and answers

Climate-friendly diesel from "old frying fat"? Paraffinic diesel fuels hold the promise of climate-friendly mobility and clean air. What are paraffinic diesel fuels? How environmentally friendly are they? Where can they be put to appropriate use? Why aren’t they authorised as fuels in pure form in Germany (blending only)? And who is responsible for the authorisation? Our questions and answers on this topic. read more (in German)

Advancing the nutritional turnaround: guide for nutrition councils

Regional, ecologically and socially sustainable, varied – that’s what the food supply of the future looks like. All over the world, increasing numbers of initiatives are being founded in civil society which want to take the nutritional turnaround into their own hands. A new guide illustrates how this can be approached on a targeted basis. It was compiled with funding from the UBA as part of the Associations Support Programme. read more (in German)

Climate-neutral regions: a big opportunity for sustainable consumption

Political decisions that have the goal of achieving climate neutrality also at the regional level don't just help the climate, but also promote sustainable consumption. This was the result of a new study completed by the Institute for Ecological Economic Research for the UBA. In this respect, municipal climate protection concepts were analysed and climate protection managers were interviewed. read more (in German)

New sulphur limit for marine fuels

Political decisions that have the goal of achieving climate neutrality also at the regional level don't just help the climate, but also promote sustainable consumption. This was the result of a new study completed by the Institute for Ecological Economic Research for the UBA. In this respect, municipal climate protection concepts were analysed and climate protection managers were interviewed. read more (in German)

Every year in Germany, some 4,200 tonnes of particulate matter (PM10) are released through the combustion of fireworks, most of which takes place on New Year's Eve. This amount corresponds to roughly 25 percent of the annual amount of particulate matter released by wood fires and around two percent of the total amount of particulate matter to be released in Germany.