Technology and Society  
Life Cycle Assessment and Modelling
Environmental Risk Assessment and Management
Critical Materials and Resource Efficiency
Informatics and Sustainability Research

Critical Materials and Resource Efficiency (CARE)

The Critical Materials and Resource Efficiency group (CARE) models the distribution, exposure and fate of materials required by technologies and products and investigates on resource efficiency and recovery and reintegration into the product life cycle.

Developing countries are traditionally assuming a major role in the provision of natural resources for the world economy. The increasing globalization is resulting in an accelerated and increased resource demand which favours unsustainable practices and technologies and has particularly negative effects on developing countries. To abate this tendency the development and application of sustainable technologies which ensure increased resource efficiency at low environmental impacts is required.

The sustec group of the Technology and Society Lab analyses and advises on the sustainability of technologies along global supply chains focusing on aspects particularly pertaining to the specific situation of developing countries. 

 

Focus of activities

  • Electrical and Electronic Waste (e-Waste)
  • Energy from Biomass
  • Cleaner Production & Ecoefficiency
  • Climate Change

 

Methods and Services

  • Material & Energy Flow Assessment
  • Land-to-Wheel Studies
  • Environmental Impact Studies
  • Research and Knowledge Partnerships
  • Capacity Building and Policy Advise

    
Projects

Team members

Contact

Heinz W. Böni

Empa
Technology & Society Laboratory
Lerchenfeldstrasse 5
CH-9014 St. Gallen
Tel.:     +41 71 2747 858
Fax:      +41 71 2747 862
www.empa.ch/tsl

 

 


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