The protection of trade secrets in environmental law has so far been subject to rather specialized legislation and not been looked at in its entirety (I.). The following article seeks to counteract this and to demonstrate the reasons for and the consequences of an integral legal perspective (II.). This change of perspective on trade secret protection in environmental law offers various advantages. Firstly, it allows a uniform definition of the term “trade secrets” in environmental law (II.1.). Apart from that the change of perspective enables better recognition of and solutions to collisions with the law of the European Union (II.2.). Last but not least it reveals existing legislative gaps (II.3.).