Sustainability
Eawag carries out its research activities in accordance with the principle of sustainable development and is committed to the socially, economically and environmentally responsible management of water resources and aquatic ecosystems.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
The Sustainable Development Goals are at the heart of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. 193 countries, including Switzerland, have adopted the 2015 Agenda. The 17 goals aim to advance sustainable development worldwide at the economic, social and environmental levels, put human dignity at the centre, protect the planet and promote peace and prosperity for all. Eawag’s research enables progress towards attaining the 17 goals. First and foremost, our work naturally supports Goal 6: clean drinking water and sanitation. However, many research projects also contribute to the other goals.
Environment and Energy
Eawag attaches great importance to eco-management. The Eco-Team is responsible for sustainable management of energy, consumables and other resources. It provides support and encouragement at all levels to ensure environmentally sound behaviour at Eawag. The Eco-Team supports the implementation of measures to achieve Eawag’s energy goals: all staff travel is to be carbon-neutral, and electricity and heating requirements are to be progressively met by renewable energy (electricity 100% renewable by 2010). Other Eco‑Team initiatives include near-natural landscaping, organic produce at the staff canteen, incentive schemes promoting the use of public transport or cycling and carbon offsetting for unavoidable air travel.
Sustainable campus
The new Eawag headquaters – Forum Chriesbach – has set new standards in sustainable construction in 2006. This was followed in 2014 by the “Aquatikum” building, where projects in the fields of drinking water and aquatic ecology are carried out, and NEST, a modular research and innovation building of Empa and Eawag. In 2019, Eawag opened FLUX, a multifunctional building offering space for teaching, training laboratories and continuing education courses.
Rehabilitation of the Chriesbach
The Chriesbach in Dübendorf, which has been heavily built up over this past century, is now returning to a more natural state in its lowest section, down to the point where it flows into the River Glatt. The rehabilitation will not only benefit animals and plants but also people looking for somewhere to spend relaxing leisure time. Eawag is using the improvement project to integrate its “own stream” more fully with its educational and research activities. The project is being managed by the Canton of Zurich (Department for Waste, Water, Energy and Air – AWEL). Eawag, along with the town of Dübendorf, the Swiss Government and EWZ’s Naturemade Star Fund are supporting the project through substantial contributions. ·