The aims of the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) are "to protect the environment and health" and "to conserve natural resources". The basic prerequisites for achieving these aims are to prevent waste and to make the most efficient use of resources possible. The ElektroG also requires producers to assume responsibility for the entire life cycle of their products. read more
waste
Waste | Resources
Resource conservation in the manufacturing and consumption domain
Raw materials and energy are key resources when it comes to product manufacturing as well as product use – which, however is inextricably bound up with other resources as well. For product use can have an environmental impact on air, water and soil resources, and can even be harmful to ecosystems and biodiversity. read more
Sustainability | Strategies | International matters
Human presence in the Antarctic
Antarctica was only first discovered in the early 19th century – no human had ever set foot on the southernmost continent before that. Even today, there are no permanent settlements aside from scientific stations. The people who travel to the Antarctic today are researchers, tourists or journalists. read more
Umwelt-Indikator
Indicator: Amount of waste – municipal waste
The volume of municipal waste fluctuates only slightly over time. In 2021 it stood at 51.8 million tonnes.The target of environmental policy is the avoidance of waste generation.This target has not been achieved for the municipal waste. To reduce resource consumption, municipal waste has to decline. read more
Indicator: Recycling municipal waste
The recycling rate for municipal waste rose from 56 % in 2002 to 67.8 % in 2021.The target set by the Federal Government of increasing the recycling percentage for municipal waste to 65 % by 2020 has therefore been achieved.However, there is still a need for action for individual subgroups of municipal waste. read more