Within the framework of the PROSA ecolabel / top 100 research project, Oeko-Institut first identified the 100 most relevant products under aspects of private energy consumption. These include, inter alia, boilers, solar systems, wood fuels, insulating materials, lamps, TVs, computers, washing machines and dishwashers, cooling and freezing appliances, and espresso machines.

For these product groups, the researchers developed criteria designed to label particularly climate-friendly products. In addition to energy consumption, further important environmental and sustainability aspects are covered, including environmentally compatible production, freedom from hazardous substances, health and occupational safety, ease-of-repair or recyclability. Thus, the requirements of the “Climate Angel” go well beyond labels that solely rate the energy efficiency of products, such as the EU Energy Label and the Energy Star.

The development of criteria is based on a sustainability analysis using the PROSA method. Starting from a market analysis, the relevant PROSA studies include a simplified life cycle assessment of a representative product, a calculation of typical life-cycle costs and a benefit analysis of the relevant product group. Along the life cycle of the product, sustainability aspects are examined and the particular “hot spots” of the product are identified. On the basis of ambitious requirements, for example relating to material composition, energy use or the availability of spare parts, a catalogue of criteria has been developed which can only be met by about 10 to 20 percent of the products available on the market.

In this project, Oeko-Institut closely cooperated with the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and RAL gGmbH which are responsible for the award of eco-labels. Following a transparent stakeholder holder process, the criteria developed by Oeko-Institut – as fundamental principles for the award of the "Blue Angel" eco-label – are finally presented to the independent eco-label jury for approval. Two other institutes, namely ifeu and ökopol, are involved in the preparation of the fundamental award principles.

The final report ist available for download (in German only): final report

Within the scope of this project, a lot of individual reports – which are also available for down-load but in German only (this can take a few minutes in individual cases) – have been published.

The reports are listed in
alphabetical order
or
sorted according to topic