With the support of the Austrian Science Fund FWF, an international group of researchers is investigating the extent to which forest soils serve as carbon reservoirs and how bacteria interact with fungi in this process - and is coming across highly diverse life in a dead environment.

"The abundance of microorganisms in the dead wood was surprising," says microbiologist Judith Ascher-Jenull. It is well known that they are highly abundant in the soil. In the case of wood, however, the dead wood that lies in the forests and slowly rots and decays, research to date has primarily assumed that fungi are the drivers of decomposition.

However, the results of the project "Climate-controlled degradation dynamics of deadwood on alpine soils" funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF speak a different language. What emerges is a synergistic interplay between fungi, bacteria and also archaea. "This research result is a cornerstone for future studies on the interactions between fungi and bacteria in deadwood and their effects on the soil carbon balance and thus on forest productivity," explains project leader Heribert Insam from the Institute of Microbiology at the University of Innsbruck.

Study microbial communities

It is common knowledge that forests play an important role in the storage of carbon, i.e. that they occupy an eminently important position in connection with global climate change. It is not only the trees that store carbon, but also the forest soil. Nevertheless, many functions of the carbon cycle are still largely unknown.

"We are interested in understanding the system," explains Insam. This is important, and the reason is obvious: "Forests are among the global pools of carbon, which can either be bound in the soil or in the biomass, or it can be found in the atmosphere. The question that now arises is, how does the changing climate affect degradation?" the microbiologist continues.

In order to get to the bottom of this question, the Innsbruck-based company has been working within the framework of the international DecAlp project worked together with geologists, dendrochronologists (wood age determination) and modelers in Val di Rabbi. There, in Trentino, Italy, on ten research plots between 1200 and 2400 meters above sea level and both north and south facing slopes, the structure and function of microbial communities were studied along selected climatic sequences. Insam and his group, consisting of Judith Ascher-Jenull, María Gómez-Brandón and Tommaso Bardelli, are using the latest techniques and technologies. "Deadwood research has been a topic for decades. What's happening in the wood? What's happening under the wood? But it is only through molecular methods for recording the microbiota that we can now characterize processes of a bacterial nature," Insam says.

Temperature as a driving factor

"The assumption," continues Ascher-Jenull, "was that fungi have an 'a priori' advantage in the degradation of wood. We have now been able to demonstrate that nitrogen-fixing bacteria are active in deadwood and supply nitrogen to the fungi." A compound that directly affects wood degradation and carbon storage. It is the bacteria that drive the fungi to peak performance, as it were.

"We were also able to determine," Insam continues, "that degradation occurs more rapidly on north-exposed slopes than on south-exposed ones." It's a thoroughly surprising result, highlighting the importance of moisture over temperature. And what does this mean in the context of climate change? Do higher temperatures with the associated poorer water availability "per se" lead to slower decomposition, less carbon storage in the soil? "Our study is one piece of the puzzle of many," Insam qualifies. The experimental set-up is now also being applied in the Apennines, with other trees, beech instead of larch, in a different climate.

Conclusions of a more global nature will only be possible with a meta-study that will incorporate the results from the Val di Rabbi, from the Apennines, and from other research projects.

For now, we are left with the realization that deadwood in the forest is not essential for insect welfare alone, but arguably plays a far more incisive role in building forest soils and their function as a storehouse for carbon.

Text: Heribert Insam, Institute of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck

Sales of natural gas and biogas in Switzerland totaled 39,029 GWh in 2016. Compared to the previous year, this is an increase of 5%, which is mainly due to the increase in heating degree days (+6.7%). Biogas injected into the gas network from domestic production amounted to 308 GWh. This is almost 18% more than in the previous year. Due to the increasing demand for biogas, it is also increasingly imported. This is reported by the Association of the Swiss Gas Industry VSG.

With a share of over 13% of final energy consumption, natural gas is the third most important energy source in Switzerland. Three quarters of the Swiss population are connected to the approximately 20,000 kilometers of gas networks. A good third of Switzerland's natural gas consumption is accounted for by industry, which uses the energy carrier primarily to generate process heat.

30% renewable gas in the heat market by 2030.

More and more renewably produced gas is being sold in the Swiss heating market. In 2016, the trend to add a fixed proportion of biogas to the natural gas standard product (usually 5 or 10%) accelerated in particular. More and more gas utilities are now supplying their customers with these new standard products. Various gas suppliers offer their customers higher biogas percentages as an option.

With its biogas fund, the association promotes new plants that feed biogas into the gas grid. In 2016, subsidies of around CHF 2.8 million were paid out. Thanks to this consistent promotion, biogas feed-in in Switzerland is increasing from year to year: in 2016, it was 308 GWh, an increase of almost 18% compared to the previous year (262 GWh). Biogas feed-in does not benefit from the cost-covering feed-in tariff (KEV).

These figures demonstrate the industry's objective to blend more renewable gas with natural gas and to make an even greater contribution to reducing climate-relevant CO2 emissions with the steadily declining fossil carbon content of the distributed gas. The Swiss gas industry wants to increase the share of renewable gases in the heating market to 30 percent by 2030. To achieve this, policymakers must play their part and create suitable framework conditions such as the comprehensive recognition of biogas as a renewable energy in the heating sector and a partial earmarking of CO2 taxes in favor of biogas.

Environmentally friendly natural gas/biogas vehicles

In Switzerland, a total of 12,912 (+4% compared to the previous year) vehicles powered by bio/natural gas in an environmentally friendly manner were in operation in 2016. The number of new registrations was 1111 vehicles (-8%). The average biogas content in fuel in 2016 was 22.4%. Vehicles powered by bio/natural gas not only emit significantly less CO2, but generally emit fewer pollutants harmful to the environment and health than vehicles with gasoline or diesel engines. The latest Auto Environmental List of the Swiss Transport Club (VCS) once again confirms the environmental friendliness of bio/natural gas vehicles: in 2017, eight gas-powered cars are among the top ten.

The world's first energy self-sufficient apartment building in Brütten (Canton of Zurich), which manages completely without external energy connections, passed its first endurance test in the form of the coldest winter with the least sunshine in several decades without a hitch. The simulations correspond to reality. The results achieved met the predicted values for both energy production and consumption. For example, the residents of the nine-family house, who were selected in a casting, required only half as much energy (2,200 kWh) instead of the 4,400 kWh per apartment/year that is usual in Switzerland, without having to accept any loss of comfort. And this despite the fact that more energy was initially consumed due to the usual house humidity in new buildings.

Problems with fuel cell solved

Only the reliability of the fuel cell, which produces electricity and heat again from the hydrogen generated with solar energy in summer, proved to be insufficient at the beginning of the cold season. With appropriate adjustments and new software programming, the problem was solved. The balance sheet after the first winter shows that - as calculated - there is only a power shortfall of 10 percent, which can be covered in the energy-autonomous multi-family house with the self-produced hydrogen.

The experts also see additional potential in the thermal water tank (long-term storage), which - in order to reduce cooling by passing groundwater - is to be insulated even more.

With the Lighthouse project "Energy self-sufficient apartment building", Umwelt Arena and its participating partners are demonstrating what is possible with the technology already available today. The project serves as a role model and attracts considerable interest from the media and the general public. The special tours of the world's first energy-autonomous apartment building organized by the Umwelt Arena are correspondingly well attended. The exhibition shows the technical structure of the building, current energy data and presents the technical solutions used in the project.

Text: Environment arena

Swiss private banking is on the move. In addition to rising regulatory costs, fintech innovations and increased competition from other financial centers, changing client needs are also contributing to this, as Sabine Döbeli, Managing Director of Swiss Sustainable Finance, explains: "More and more customers want their investments to make a concrete contribution to a sustainable world. If banks do not respond enough to this need, they miss the opportunity to rely on a natural competitive advantage."

Study explains advantages of sustainable investments for client advisors

In its most recent study SSF therefore demonstrates with ten compelling arguments that sustainable investments represent a hitherto untapped opportunity for Swiss private banking. "For client advisors, such investments offer the opportunity to talk about interesting topics and personal concerns and thus deepen the relationship with clients," explains Dr. Falko Paetzold, Managing Director of the "Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth (CSP)" at the University of Zurich and lead author of the study, which was designed by an SSF working group. In addition, integrating sustainability into the investment process has a positive impact on financial performance. For example, portfolio diversification can be increased, improving the risk/return profile of portfolios.

Swiss banking representatives see untapped potential

At the launch event for the publication, which will take place on March 22 in Zurich, Herbert J. Scheidt, Chairman of the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA), will explain the role sustainable investments can play in strengthening Swiss private banking. "Sustainable investments are a natural core competence for the Swiss financial center, as Swiss attributes such as high quality, great innovative strength and stability also form the basis for sustainable investments," he explains ahead of the event. Finally, in a panel discussion, the current offering of banks will be subjected to a practical test: a representative of the so-called next generation of high net worth individuals will debate with client advisors and product managers whether the current offering of banks can keep pace with changing client needs.

Ten good arguments

The ten arguments, which are supported in the SSF publication with numerous studies and quotes from customers and consultants, can be grouped into three categories:

• improved interaction with customers thanks to interesting and personally relevant topics of conversation - especially with regard to the younger generation of customers
• The positive effects of sustainability on the financial result
• Consistency with Swiss strengths

A short film, aimed in particular at client advisors from banks and asset managers, summarizes the argumentation. The study also contains concrete tools to help advisors efficiently prepare their client meetings on sustainable investments.

Text: SSF

The Federal Council wants the cantonal enforcement authorities to have more leeway when it comes to defining watercourse areas. To this end, the Water Protection Ordinance (GSchV) has been amended to include five new destination included. In this way, the specific local conditions can be better taken into account, according to the Federal Council.

The obligation to compensate for crop rotation areas was also specified and placed in a direct relationship with the corresponding sectoral plan. These provisions were drawn up under the direction of the Conference of Building, Planning and Environment Directors (BPUK). They supplement the regulations that came into force on January 1, 2016. This also completes the implementation of motion 15.3001 of the UREK-S, which called for more room for maneuver for the cantons in the implementation of water protection regulations.

The designation of the watercourse area is indispensable so that rivers and streams can fulfill their ecological functions and flood protection is guaranteed. This obligation was enshrined in the Water Protection Act, which was passed by parliament and came into force in 2011, together with other provisions on the renaturation of water bodies.

At the same time, the federal government has adopted amendments in the subject areas of fisheries, chemicals and polluted sites.

Fisheries: new invasive alien species and electrofishing.

With the amendment of the Ordinance on the Federal law on fishing (VBGF), five species of black sea gobies are added to the list of invasive alien species. In addition, the keeping of these gobies in ponds or aquariums will require a permit and their active spread will be legally prohibited. These fish have been spreading in the Rhine near Basel for several years and represent serious competition for native fish and crayfish. Furthermore, the amendment to the ordinance regulates the use of electric fishing gear more strictly, and the Danube trout is added to the list of native species. This trout species occurs in the Inn River basin.

Chemicals: Adaptation of the list of banned or severely restricted chemicals

According to the Rotterdam Convention (PIC Convention).exports of chemicals that are banned or severely restricted because of their effects on human health or the environment must be reported to the importing country. The changes in the Regulation to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Chemicals in International Trade (ChemPICV) concern in particular the list of substances in Annex 1, which has been adapted to the latest decisions of the Federal Council on substances banned or subject to severe restrictions in Switzerland. In addition, this list has been brought into line with the decisions of the federal authorities, according to which certain active substances are no longer permitted in plant protection products and biocides.

Polluted sites: renewed update

After 18 years of enforcement experience and several revisions, the Ordinance on the Remediation of Polluted Sites (Contaminated Sites Ordinance, AltlV) updated to include certain clarifications and technical additions. In the future, the concentrations of ammonium and nitrite will no longer be taken into account when assessing the need for remediation of a contaminated site with regard to groundwater. This change was decided in agreement with the cantons and experts. The two pollutants ammonium and nitrite are only relevant for the quality of surface waters. This change is expected to result in savings of several tens of millions of Swiss francs in remediation costs.

The four amended regulations will enter into force on May 1, 2017. An exception is the provisions on electrofishing, which will not enter into force until May 1, 2018.

Just a few months after the initial talks, the companies announced Helvetia Environnement and SRS announced the agreement of their merger on February 22, 2017. The alliance now makes the two largest players in French-speaking Switzerland the nationwide industry leader in waste management. In the future, SRS will be one of the subsidiaries of the Helvetia Environnement Group, along with Transvoirie, Sogetri and Leman Bio Energie.

The management of SRS will be integrated into the management of Helvetia Environnement. In the medium term, this cooperation will allow synergies between the four subsidiaries in terms of geographical presence, optimization of waste sorting facilities and reduction of Co2 emissions thanks to the use of biofuels made from waste.

Already well established in French-speaking Switzerland, Helvetia Environnement Group will now operate nationwide with agencies in Basel and Solothurn and, thanks to a network of partners, in the cantons of Berne, Zurich and Ticino. The Group and its subsidiaries currently employ 500 people who serve 17,000 customers on a daily basis, including major industrial companies and 490 public entities. In 2017, sales are expected to exceed CHF 120 million.

Helvetia Environnement has carried out a significant capital increase in which the founding shareholders and two other shareholders have participated. These are on the one hand UBS Clean Energy Infrastructure Switzerland KGK as an existing shareholder, advised by Fontavis AG in Baar, and on the other hand a new Swiss partner, the fund Reichmuth Infrastruktur Schweiz KGK. This fund is managed by Reichmuth & Co Investment Management AG, which is based in Lucerne.

Changed market environment

Both companies decided on this merger in order to be prepared for the increasing concentration of waste management in Switzerland. Since their foundation, both Helvetia Environnement and SRS have developed further partly thanks to external growth, i.e. by incorporating local companies.

The scarcity of natural resources and increasingly stringent regulations are making the collection, separation and recycling of waste ever more complex. As a result, major investments for qualified personnel and specialized teams are increasingly essential. This sector requires wide-ranging expertise and considerable financial capacity to meet the expectations of municipalities, industrial companies and SMEs in Switzerland. Whether industrial waste such as construction waste, scrap iron, wood and cardboard, or biowaste, each subsidiary requires specific logistics and special expertise to sort and transport the material to the appropriate recycling centers.

Thus, the complementarity of the two companies in terms of fields of activity and geographical presence will allow the development of an even more comprehensive range of services. In addition, the new size of the Group will stimulate innovation and strengthen relations with public authorities and local communities.

Common values

This merger also focuses on the human aspect, as the employees of Helvetia Environnement and SRS share strong common values. These are expressed in their work through three components of sustainable development:

• Environmental Component: Promoting responsible segregation, recycling and transformation of waste into new recyclables or energy, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.
• Economic component: conservation of natural resources through increased use of waste resources and production of alternative energy (biofuel)
• Social component: improvement of training, working conditions and safety of employees, contribution to professional reintegration.

In their day-to-day work, both companies have actively contributed to building a circular economy model that they now intend to apply nationwide.

Vincent Chapel, CEO of Helvetia Environnement, said: "This merger strengthens the competitiveness of the Helvetia Environnement Group. The company demonstrates its ability to think ahead and strengthens its capacity to meet the future challenges of waste management. Setting up automated sorting plants, optimizing existing recycling capabilities and increasing the separation rate for each material. Thanks to our new strength, we want to make a significant contribution to responsible economic activity".

Frank Blanpain, Director of SRS, affirmed, "The creation of a nationwide company will allow us to share our investments and improve the services offered to our customers. In addition, the merger will stimulate the innovation capacity of our teams responding to tenders from municipalities and companies. We will offer efficient waste management strategies while strictly complying with all environmental standards."

Text: Voxia Communication/Michael Donath

Water ambassador and expedition swimmer Ernst Bromeis is this year's winner of the Swiss Sustainability Award prix eco.ch in the "Hopefuls" category. eco.ch, the Swiss Forum for Sustainable Development, will present him with the award on March 31 at the Theater Basel. "We are very pleased to be able to honor Ernst Bromeis, such a committed personality who has been passionately working for years for free access to clean water in the world," said a delighted Beat Jans, President of eco.ch, at the eco.ch media conference.

With the prix eco.ch, the association rewards the commitment of individuals and organizations to a livable and sustainable future. Ernst Bromeis explained: "The prix eco.ch is motivation for me to continue on my personal path as a water ambassador. The prize should also give strength to all who doubt to go their own way and stand up for their own convictions."

"We all need water to live".
Davos-based Bromeis has been running the project "The Blue Miracle" since 2007, focusing on water as a human right, a right to life and a general basis for existence. "Nothing connects us humans and all life more than water. We all need water to live. The question is not whether we use it, but how we use water. In this question and its solutions, all of our responsibility, including in Switzerland, is shown, whether we borrow water as a source of life or just consume it," Bromeis said. He regularly draws attention to the human right to water with water expeditions and campaigns. This was also the case today when, in front of an assembled media in Basel, he plunged into the waters of the Rhine at the Klingental ferry and swam there surrounded by kilograms of PET and other plastic waste.

Rhine is polluted with microplastics
This campaign by eco.ch and Ernst Bromeis was intended to illustrate how much microplastic flows through the Rhine in Basel. Although it is not visible to the naked eye, the Rhine is considerably polluted with microplastics, as Patricia Holm, head of the Man Society Environment program at the University of Basel, explained. Of the major watercourses studied along its length, the Rhine is among the most polluted streams in the world. "Around 30 kilograms of microplastics, which includes the smallest pieces of plastic under 5 millimeters, are carried by the Rhine into the North Sea every day," she said. In a year, that adds up to 10 tons. These plastic particles occur as an intermediate product in plastic manufacturing and as granules in cleaning and personal care products, and are produced when larger pieces of plastic decompose in the environment. In the world's oceans, where plastic waste in all shapes and sizes floats as giant islands, these particles are ingested by numerous organisms - from protozoa to baleen whales.

The implementation guide is aimed at both the owners of establishments and the enforcement authorities when clarifying questions relating to the exceeding of quantity thresholds in accordance with the Ordinance on Protection against Major Accidents (StFV). It explains the procedure for determining the maximum operational quantity of a substance, a preparation or a hazardous waste in order to establish whether a quantity threshold has been exceeded. In addition, the criteria for determining substance- and preparation-specific quantity thresholds are discussed.

As a central tool, this publication contains a list which provides an overview of a large number of quantity thresholds for substances and preparations. These were determined by a working group on the basis of the criteria for human and ecotoxicity, physical hazards, reactivity with water and acids, and the criteria for highly active substances according to Annex 1 of the StFV.

Quantity Threshold Calculator

The document is available on the Website of the FOEN is available for download as a PDF. On the same page there is a downloadable Excel quantity threshold calculator. By entering the H codes and the EUH codes of a substance or preparation, the tool calculates the quantity threshold sought.

Incentive taxes to control energy consumption are actually a good thing, as a ETH study recently showed. Nevertheless, as already proposed by the Federal Council, the National Council now rejected the constitutional amendment that would have enabled the climate and energy steering system KELS, as reported by the news agency SDA.

This does not mean, however, that the National Council is fundamentally opposed to a steering system: none of the parties is fundamentally opposed to such a system. But the instruments proposed with KELS are insufficient. This is also said by Energy Researcher: The proposed system promotes electricity imports instead of incentives for the development of renewable energy in the country.

Future unclear

It is not yet clear what should now replace the KELS in order to replace the cost-covering feed-in tariff and achieve the goals of the Energy Strategy 2050. The Federal Council still wants a steering system. The SP and the Greens are calling for previous measures such as the CO2 tax to be expanded and also levied on fuels. At the same time, renewable energies should be further promoted. The GLP wants a steering system without constitutional amendment, to be introduced gradually. The CVP, BDP and FDP recognize that measures are necessary. Only the SVP shies away from such measures.

However, Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer wants to continue without idiological blinkers: After the probable end of KELS, pragmatic solutions are needed to approach the sometimes contradictory goals of a secure, cheap and environmentally friendly energy supply.

The Swiss Energy Foundation SES welcomes the decision and calls for an incentive system to expand renewable energies.

Commercial freezers and refrigerators have a significant energy consumption. Such plug-in appliances are used in almost every supermarket, hotels, restaurants, bars or canteens. Even an averagely efficient product has a high power consumption and causes high electricity costs for the operators. The power consumption of inefficient equipment can be reduced by 30 to 50 percent with new equipment. "In some cases, efficient and closed appliances can save several thousand francs, calculated over their lifetime," says Maike Hepp of Topten, the independent platform for electrical appliances based in Zurich.

The commercial refrigeration project ProCold has now awarded the most energy-efficient commercial refrigerators in each of five categories: Storage Refrigerators, Beverage Coolers, Small Glacé Chests, Vending Refrigerators, and Refrigerated Glass-Fronted Vending Machines.

Energy reduced by half

With the ProCold project, the long-standing Topten project is expanding its range to include the categories of commercial refrigeration equipment. It is supported by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and "Horizon 2020" - the EU's largest "Research and Innovation" program.

"The awards for the winning refrigerators clearly show that energy efficiency always pays off and goes hand in hand with product innovation," said Stamatis Sivitos, project officer at the European Commission. Development does not stand still, he said, and advances in technology are constantly being made. This is also one of the goals of the ProCold competition, he said. The products are all recognizable by the EU energy label and eco-design; they correspond to the best standard in terms of energy. In Switzerland, the purchase of plug-in commercial refrigeration equipment is supported by up to 25 percent of the purchase price through the ProKilowatt subsidy program under the direction of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy.

The winning models

- Category storage refrigerators for commercial kitchens: Gram Superior Plus K 72 G.

- Category sales refrigerators for supermarket, canteens or bakeries: Carrier Optimer 0948LG R290.

- Category beverage coolers: Liebherr FKDPv 4503.

- Category glacé chest: Liebherr GTEP 3302.

- Category vending machines with glass front: Sielaff GF Robimat XM.

All products can be found on topten.ch, an independent platform that allows commercial and residential customers to find the best electrical appliances for energy efficiency, low environmental impact and quality.

Text: Topten

The two largest suppliers of bottled water, Danone and Nestlé water want to work together with the Californian startup Origin Materials develop a 100% renewable PET bottle that can be used on a commercial scale. The project uses biomass from waste - such as used cardboard or sawdust. This is to ensure that the production of the bottles does not require additional resources and land and takes away from food and feed production.

Use sustainable resources

The aim is to achieve a circular economy for packaging, according to Danone's head of development Frederic Jouin. On the one hand, this is to be done by using sustainable resources, and on the other hand, by secondary recycling of all plastic materials. "We believe it is possible to replace traditional fossil materials with bio-based packaging materials," Jouin said. The new bottles should be as lightweight, transparent, recyclable and compatible with the contents as today's PET.

Today's technology makes it possible to use around 30% of bio-based PET in bottle production. The new development is expected to increase this to 100%. Origin Materials has so far managed to produce pilot products with up to 80% of biobased material; commercial production of bottles with 60+% of biobased PET is scheduled to start in 2018. Initially, 5000 metric tons of the new material will be launched. The alliance's vision is to commercially produce PET bottles with at least 95% of bio-PET by 2020.

Open technology

It is not only products from Danone and Nestlé that will have more sustainable packaging in the future: The technology will be made available to the entire beverage industry, according to the alliance.