Environmental consulting by area of expertise

The Swiss Federal Council adopted the goal of net zero greenhouse gases by 2050 in January 2021. As the building sector is currently responsible for almost 25% of greenhouse gas emissions and a good 45% of primary energy consumption, it is of elementary importance in achieving the Swiss climate strategy.
This connection illustrates the great importance of concepts such as the 2000-watt society or the SIA efficiency path for achieving the “net zero” target and thus combating climate change.
The question is thus: How can the ambitious efficiency targets for construction and housing be achieved?
Due to the long lifespan of buildings, the potential for ecological optimisation in the area of “construction and housing” is high. And positive effects can be realised over a long period of time. Therefore, it is important to set the right course right at the beginning of the project planning.
We can help you identify the most sustainable concept as early as the competition phase. With the help of a transparent decision model, which takes into account typical conflicting goals in the building sector (e.g. grey energy vs. operating energy), we can develop reliable recommendations. In doing so, we are guided by the criteria of the Swiss Sustainable Building Standard (SNBS), among others.
With the help of life cycle assessments, we can also support you in individual decisions by holistically assessing the environmental impact of different building materials, heating variants, building variants or construction elements. Optimisations in the area of operation and energy consumption can also be revealed through this type of consideration. The development of missing bases in life cycle assessment for an entry in the KBOB database or even a simple development of environmental product declarations (EPD) can be a starting point here.
For our analyses, we rely on proven methods such as life cycle analyses, EPDs or life cycle cost analyses. For the use and classification of information that is primarily qualitative, we work with stakeholder analyses and/or innovative tools such as the fuzzy set theory. In consulting, we also use the synergies with our internal pollutant experts who contribute valuable expertise. This can be a decisive advantage in practical implementation, e.g. through building checks, indoor air measurements or in construction monitoring.
Due to the relevance for the climate strategy, it is a particular concern of ours to provide our clients with expert support in “climate-positive building”.

Contact persons

Philipp Bolt

+41 44 552 43 20
E-Mail

Cornelia Stettler

+41 61 206 95 33
E-Mail

Gerrit Hinkel

+41 61 206 95 55
E-Mail

Digitization

Recent years have witnessed radical changes in the digital world in almost all areas of life. Our communication, from VoIP to social media, media consumption with numerous streaming offerings, to industrial production and automation, as well as the financial sector with cryptocurrencies to various private sectors with IoT and smart devices (TV, car, home, grid) the digitalization revolutionises. The use of information technology itself is also changing at a rapid pace thanks to cloud services and virtualization of all technologies used. Our experience in the ecological evaluation of these products is based on self-conducted studies and on the daily use of the corresponding products and services. Electronic products often have optimisation potential in the area of ​​energy consumption or resource use. With our extensive background knowledge, we can purposefully address the relevant problems and work on your questions efficiently. Our knowledge of information technologies paired with our experience in system modeling allows us to competently cover a wide variety of digitalization topics.

ICT services

Our many years of experience in the field of dedicated software enables us to pass on our own expertise as an IT service to third parties. Not only do we offer support for LCA software, we also make it possible to use our existing IT infrastructure in the form of software services. Here, the license and thus the right of use remain with the customer, while Carbotech provides the technical infrastructure to use the LCA software. This service is offered to both private and public institutions.
More about our offer regarding LCA software here.

Contact persons

Gavin Roberts

+41 61 206 95 34
E-Mail

Mischa Zschokke

+41 44 444 20 15
E-Mail

Visits to museums, theatre performances and sporting events are popular leisure activities and contribute to environmental and climate pollution. In particular, mobility (public traffic, travelling by artists and transport), catering and material consumption are relevant topics with leverage effects. Waste is also a frequently discussed issue due to its visibility.

The cultural and event industry is not only a contributor to environmental problems, but also part of the solution on the way to a more environmentally friendly society. It reaches a large audience and has an influence on public perception. It can play a decisive role by setting an example of sustainable behaviour and communicating new narratives.

We will work with you to promote a future-proof and sustainable cultural and event industry. We identify your ecological hotspots, develop and evaluate measures with you, support you in developing a sustainability strategy and communicating your sustainability commitment to your target group. We utilise our network and work regularly with partners such as Tiefgrün and reflector.

Contact persons

Tanja Laube

+41 44 552 43 21
E-Mail

Philipp Bolt

+41 44 552 43 20
E-Mail

Gerrit Hinkel

+41 61 206 95 55
E-Mail

The current state of technology makes it possible to develop ever more complex products. As a result, appliances can no longer be categorised solely as mechanical or electronic, but an interdisciplinary interaction of these disciplines is emerging. Mechanical-electrical products cover a wide range of small to large, everyday or specific products such as washing machines, lift systems, robot hoovers or e-scooters. They often require a lot of electrical energy to operate during the utilisation phase. However, thanks to the decarbonisation of the electricity supply, the use phase will become increasingly less relevant from a life cycle assessment perspective, while the materialisation of the products will become more relevant. The focus should therefore not only be on energy consumption. The environmental impact of mechanical-electronic products must be considered holistically.

We have many years of experience in assessing the environmental aspects of mechanical-electronic products. We present the results of our analyses in a comprehensible manner, discuss possible improvement measures and ensure the development of internal know-how in your company. We are convinced that ecological assessments must be part of the development process in order to be able to produce more environmentally friendly products in the future.

Contact person

Mischa Zschokke

+41 44 444 20 15
E-Mail

Transportation and mobility – besides nutrition and living – causes a substantial part of the environmental impact in Switzerland. At the same time, there is great potential for improvements and optimisation in this area. A reduction in the distances travelled – for example by increased use of home office and video conferencing – but also the choice of means of transport can reduce the environmental and CO2 footprint of personal or company mobility by several orders of magnitude.

Carbotech AG has many years of experience in evaluating the environmental impacts of different means of transport, fuels, procurement strategies or even use and maintenance options. Our interdisciplinary team of experts from the fields of environmental sciences, geography, physics and economics examines possible sulotions in all its aspects and thus also takes into account its economic efficiency and the impact on people and communities.

Contact persons

Gavin Roberts

+41 61 206 95 34
E-Mail

Stefanie Conrad

+41 44 444 20 12
E-Mail

Every day, we consume food and use products made from wood and paper. This leaves its mark: our need for arable land, forests and natural meadows (pasture farming) is responsible for almost a third of Switzerland’s ecological footprint. CO2 emissions account for almost two thirds and land-use changes such as deforestation and agriculture, particularly the production of meat and dairy products, contribute significantly to this.

In the area of conflict between land and forest use, production intensity, water consumption and food waste, even small optimisations have a major leverage effect. Targeted measures can reduce sustainability risks and promote long-term stable business activities.

Thanks to numerous environmental studies in the areas of renewable raw materials, food and textiles, we have extensive experience in this field and are familiar with the associated environmental problems. In the food sector, we can draw on our own database with inventories of agricultural production, processing, transport and packaging of around 400 foods. With our expertise, we can help you measure the environmental impact of your company’s activities or products and develop measures to achieve your sustainability goals.

Contact persons

Mareike Weiner

+41 61 206 95 38
E-Mail

Tanja Laube

+41 44 552 43 21
E-Mail

Thomas Kägi

+41 44 444 20 17
E-Mail

Cornelia Stettler

+41 61 206 95 33
E-Mail

Aluminum and tin cans, biomass, scrap metal, batteries, paper and cardboard, textiles, batteries, electrical and electronic devices, PET bottles and plastic bottles: we have already examined all these recycling systems from an ecological (and in some cases from an economic and social point of view). We know the challenges of recycling systems and support you in your questions, whether this is a sustainability strategy, process optimization or environmental management.

Contact persons

Flora Conte

+41 44 444 20 18
E-Mail

Stefanie Conrad

+41 44 444 20 12
E-Mail

Thomas Kägi

+41 44 444 20 17
E-Mail

Packaging is perceived primarily as waste. Accordingly, they are problematically discussed in public. The environmental benefits of packaging are often neglected because they have a protective function and make products transportable and durable at all. In over thirty packaging studies, we have used our experience in this field. A few of our findings on packaging show: There is not THE most ecological packaging.The content is often much more polluting than the packaging.The use of a packaging which protects the content, makes it storable and easy to transport, is higher than the environmental impact of the packaging itself.Therefore, design for recycling is only secondary. While a clever and light compound packaging may not be recyclable, but is still the more sustainable solution as a recyclable mono- pack. Packaging-related transport differences are enormous, but not as relevant overall as seen.The individual shopping transport is much more decisive than the packaging of products.

• there is no single ‘most eco-friendly’ type of packaging.
• The contents are often far more harmful to the environment than the packaging itself.
• The benefits of packaging that protects the contents, makes them storable and easy to transport outweigh the environmental impact of the packaging itself.
• Consequently, ‘design for recycling’ is only of secondary importance. A clever and lightweight composite packaging may not be recyclable, but it is still the more sustainable solution than a recyclable single-material packaging.
• Differences in transport caused by packaging are enormous, but overall not that relevant.
• Individual shopping trips are far more significant than the packaging of products.

Contact persons

Mareike Weiner

+41 61 206 95 38
E-Mail

Thomas Kägi

+41 44 444 20 17
E-Mail

Water is the elixir of life and the cornerstone of our planet. Overuse of this resource is damaging ecosystems and climate change is causing major freshwater reservoirs to melt. Awareness of the importance of water is growing, raising questions such as:

How can we reduce the water footprint of products and businesses?

In doing so, the entire supply chain or the entire life cycle should be considered. Where is there potential for savings? What process optimisations are possible? It is not only crucial how much water is used to, for example, manufacture a product or generate electricity, but also where; in which countries and regions. Is water managed sustainably there, or is it being overused?

What impact does water use have on ecosystems?

Water consumption can lead to far-reaching impacts and changes in aquatic ecology, the water cycle and ambient temperature. How can these be measured, and what are the consequences?

What potential lies in the recovery and treatment of wastewater?

Industrial wastewater should be considered a valuable resource. How can recovery and treatment be optimised and the associated benefits demonstrated?

We would be happy to assist you with:

• calculating key figures for the water footprint of food, textiles and consumer goods, and assessing water consumption using the AWARE indicator,
• relevance analyses, setting targets and key performance indicators for water consumption in operations, production and processing as part of your sustainability strategy,
• evaluating potential for optimisation and measures to save water in production and processing (costs and benefits of measures, life cycle assessment),
• identification of risks in the supply chain (hotspot analysis, water risk assessment of various sites),
• cost-benefit analysis of different wastewater treatment technologies for industrial wastewater,
• development of sustainable solutions.

Contact person

Cornelia Stettler

+41 61 206 95 33
E-Mail