The Technology and Society Lab (TSL) is Empa's interdisciplinary research unit which analyzes technologies embedded in social processes, focusing on the interactions among technology, environment and society with an emphasis on material flows connected with emerging technology applications. The Lab creates knowledge that supports industry in developing technologies that are beneficial and acceptable for society. It helps to minimize the risks of new technologies and contributes to sustainability by giving early warnings of critical developments in technology applications. The technological scope of the Lab is on Nano-, Energy-, Mobility- and Information and Communication Technologies. Most of our publications are available via our publications list.

• «Best Paper»-Award - Plastics in electrical waste: disposal or recycling?  March 16, 2012
• Domestic consumption main contributor to Africa’s growing E-waste - UN report finds imports of waste electronics from Europe exacerbate E-waste problem in Africa, February, 10, 2012
• No future without scarce metals, «Technology Briefing» on the scarcity of raw materials, January 31, 2012
• «Vademecum» für Nanotextilien - Vorbildprojekt des Textilverbandes Schweiz TVS und der Empa, German, October 31, 2011
• Calls for immediate action to double global resource efficiency - World Resources Forum in Davos 2011 , 22 September 20
• Focus: How to use  resources efficiently - EmpaNews 34, 22 September 2011
• Elektrisch in die Zukunft? - Wissenschaftsapéro «Die elektromobile Stadt», German, September 5, 2011
• New biofuel sustainability assessment tool and GHG calculator released - How sustainable are "biofuels"? A new web-based tool can tell, June, 14, 2011
• It All Depends on  the Coffee - Taking a close look at the eco-balance of coffee capsules, May 10, 2011
• Nanosilver: a new name – well known effects - At work against microbes for over a century January 27,  2011

Contact
Heinz Böni, Head of Laboratory in charge, Phone: +41 58 765 7858
Therese Meier, Secretary, Phone: +41 58  765 7500, Fax: +41 58 765 7862