Bisphenol A in plastics: is it making us sick?

The new publication - 'Bisphenol A in plastics: is it making us sick?' - is a consumer guide to Bisphenol A (also known as BPA) in plastics. The use of plastics has become one of the defining characteristics of modern life. An increasing number of scientific studies have made a direct link between Bisphenol A and infertility, obesity, breast and prostate cancer, diabetes, thyroid malfunction and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Most baby bottles, food storage containers, small kitchen appliances and hard plastic water bottles are made with plastic containing Bisphenol A. Bisphenol A is also used in the lining of food, beer and soft drink cans. Read more

Fuelling destruction in Latin America: The real price of the drive for agrofuels

The new report - 'Fuelling Destruction in Latin America' - looks at current and proposed developments in a number of Southern and Central American countries, all of which are scaling up agrofuel production at alarming rates to meet domestic and, increasingly, export demand to supply diesel and gasoline to Europe and the US.

The report states that increasing the amount of land destined to grow crops for agrofuels means increasing deforestation and wildlife destruction, increased land conflicts, eviction of rural people, poor working conditions and environmental pollution. Read more

Blissfully unaware of Bisphenol A: Reasons why regulators should live up to their responsibilities

A comprehensive review of the scientific knowledge available regarding controversial Bisphenol A. 'Blissfully unaware of Bisphenol A: Reasons why regulators should live up to their responsibilities' reveals that despite firm scientific consensus about the health hazards of the chemical, European authorities are shirking their responsibilities and attempting to postpone any decision on whether this substance should require authorisation until 2013.

The report shows that BPA, which is found in consumer goods such as baby bottles, plastic microwave food containers and canned food linings, has proven links with a wide range of health disorders from infertility and breast and prostate cancer, to thyroid malfunction, attention deficit syndrome and recurrent miscarriage. Read more

Friends of the Earth Europe Annual Review 2007

A review of Friends of the Earth Europe's activities in 2007 including campaign highlights from Brussels and around Europe; publications; financial information, and a look ahead to 2008. Read more

Extracting the truth: Oil industry efforts to undermine the Fuel Quality Directive

Released on the day Shell and BP announced combined quarterly profits of 14.4billion US dollars, 'Extracting the truth: Oil industry efforts to undermine the Fuel Quality Directive' uses industry's own data to show how oil companies are falsely claiming that the target proposed by the European Commission in revisions to the Fuel Quality Directive is unachievable.

It shows that at least 10 per cent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions could be realised through reduced gas flaring, improved energy efficiency and fuel switching at refineries, and without the need for agrofuels which can have negative environmental and socials impacts and have not been proven to reduce emissions overall. Read more

Sustainability as a smokescreen: The inadequacy of certifying fuels and feeds

Attempts to use certification schemes to reduce the widespread environmental and social problems caused by growing crops for fuels and animal feeds are bound to fail.

The report from Friends of the Earth groups comes amid global worries about the increasingly tragic impacts of rising food prices. Biofuels - plants grown to make fuel not food - have been blamed as one factor driving this trend. Read in English and Spanish

How recycling can fight climate change

'How recycling can fight climate change' is part of a study commissioned by Friends of the Earth Europe and the European Environmental Bureau, which looks at how recycling and waste prevention play a key role in the sustainable management of resources and the fight against climate change.

Energy is needed to mine, extract and produce primary materials, and to transport them to production facilities, resulting in greater energy use for virgin materials than recycled materials. Creating a materials loop with recycling is therefore more beneficial for the climate than simply burning waste or putting it in landfill. Read more

Out of the laboratory and on to our plates: Nanotechnology in food and agriculture

Untested and potentially hazardous manufactured nanomaterials can be found in food, food packaging and other products on supermarket shelves across the European Union, according to a new report released by Friends of the Earth Europe.

'Out of the laboratory and on to our plates: Nanotechnology in food and agriculture' reveals that despite concerns about the toxicity risks of nanomaterials, consumers are unknowingly ingesting them because regulators are struggling to keep pace with their rapidly expanding use. Read more

Cohesion or Collision? - EU and EIB  funding for controversial projects in Central and Eastern Europe

A map detailing 50 environmentally damaging and economically dubious infrastructure projects in Central and Eastern Europe.

Based on the most extensive investigation to date, the map shows controversial projects with a total cost of EUR 22 billion. The projects are either already financed, or planned to be financed, by EU structural and cohesion funds and/or the European Investment Bank. View the map

Completing the Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant in Slovakia - Reactors from the 70's for the 21st Century

The Italian-Slovak utility Enel/SE and the Slovak government are speeding up the completion of Mochovce Units 3 and 4. When it comes to nuclear safety of these VVER 440/V213 units, there is conflicting information as to which standard is to be applied.
Read more in English, German and Dutch.