Sustainability

——Horst Draudt, passionate about mobility since childhood, focuses professionally on bicycles. He enjoys riding in Bavaria and Munich, and is now building TÜV SÜD’s bicycle business unit, including digital services for cycling enthusiasts.

——The used-car market for electric vehicles is growing, but depreciation is still higher than for combustion-cars. One reason: many potential buyers are uncertain about the condition of a second-hand EV. New testing methods could help boost confidence in pre-owned models—especially in the performance of their batteries.

——Driving climate-neutral with a combustion engine? E-fuels could make it possible. Here is a look at the opportunities and challenges of synthetic fuels.

——The world’s largest wind turbine is currently under construction in Brandenburg. The new dimensions and the demand for greater sustainability pose challenges for manufacturers and inspection authorities alike, but they also have great potential.

——Chemicals known as PFAS can be found in almost all household items and everyday goods. They appear to be indispensable for many industries but are harmful to both humans and the environment. Are there sustainable alternatives?

——A product’s carbon footprint is becoming increasingly important for companies and the market. TÜV SÜD offers to verify this—and supports companies in gaining the trust of clients and consumers.

——So-called graywater can be a building block for a more sustainable use of natural resources. The secondary use of such water can start paying off right now. In the foreseeable future, the relevance of water recycling will continue to increase.

——An American start-up has developed an efficient way to process and recycle solar cells. Will this provide another boost to the energy system transformation?

——Plastics can also be made of renewable raw materials. But that means that the plastics industry is now competing with the food industry for valuable farmland. Can bioplastics help make an entire industry more sustainable?

——To establish a working circular economy, we need to toss out the term “trash” instead of tossing out valuable raw materials. The path leads from EU-wide regulations to clear labeling and even to a promising discovery in a cemetery in Leipzig.

——A lot of work is still needed to make a circular economy sustainable. The aim is to ensure that ecology and economy go hand in hand. TÜV SÜD CEO Dr. Johannes Bussmann on daily challenges and the value of small steps.

——It isn’t every day that an entire industry practically reinvents itself. Yet for the steel industry, this transformation process is urgently needed. After all, the iron and steel industry is responsible for more than 7 percent of annual carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. In Germany, one of the major steel producing countries, it accounts for as much as 30 percent of industrial emissions and 6 percent of overall emissions.

——Are we utilizing energy in the most efficient way? Especially in the case of photovoltaic energy, much is lost if it isn't used immediately or stored. After more than a decade, a possible solution for energy storage could establish itself.

——The circular economy is considered the visionary idea to make our way of life more sustainable.

——In our laboratory, near Munich, we’re testing whether materials and components are suitable for use with hydrogen—chemically speaking, H2.

——Ms. Verbeek, what do you think about…restoration?

——TÜV SÜD is leading by example and has set its own ambitious goals.

——Business Unit Manager Green Energy Sustainability Thore Lapp explains the role of green hydrogen in the European Green Deal.

——Deserts such as the Sahara are continually expanding, and humankind is responsible for some of this desertification. Now there are large projects to help halt this expansion, but it isn’t easy to reclaim land from the desert.

——Brigitte Zypries was active in national politics in Germany for more than fifteen years. She knows what it means to bear responsibility. A conversation about the challenges and dangers of acting responsibly.

——Mr. Fischer, what do you think about ...GUILT?

——Calculations and forecasts

——The future belongs to renewable energy. But wind turbines and solar panels alone won’t be able to meet global energy demands. An overview of alternatives with potential.

——Due to a warming climate, the bark beetle has become one of the greatest threats to German forests. Can satellite imagery help stop the plague and protect the trees?

——Humor plays an important role in communication particularly in times of crisis. In this interview, journalist and speech writer Vazrik Bazil explains why jokes liberate us from within – and describes situations in which it is best to refrain from them.

——Over-fished oceans, clear-cut forests, over-grazed pastures: humans mercilessly use and over-use resources. What’s behind this irresponsible behavior—and how it can be contained.

——You can only control the consequences of your actions if you know what they will be. We’ve taken a closer look at four important trends—and played out some possible scenarios.