Dr. Manfred Klade

My name is Manfred Klade. I hold a PhD in organic chemistry and a diploma in environmental engineering and started my professional career at planning offices. My work there comprised sampling and analyzing as well as examining municipal and company-based sewage treatment plants.

From 2000 to 2012 I was staff member of the Inter-University Research Centre IFZ in Graz (Austria) and temporarily heading the research unit Ecological Product Policy. The working priorities of the unit comprised green procurement as well as sustainable consumption and products. At that period I developed the assessment scheme for the WIDES database. With this – repeatedly revised and improved – assessment tool adverse “side effects” of disinfectants can be captured and contrasted in the WIDES database.

In 2012 I founded the Bureau for Chemical Engineering TB-Klade. I have a widespread interest in ecology and sustainability as confirmed by my attendance in diverse research projects at the IFZ. But foremost I am engaged in assessing ecologically and toxicologically relevant properties of substances and products. This includes a recently developed method to depict the product property origin.

For me it is important that health and environmental protection is scientifically founded. But at the same time assessment tools should be provided integrating this aspect into product choice. I understand such tools as an important contribution to avoid or reduce risks in terms of the precautionary principle.