Blue Angel for print products

The "Blue Angel" ecolabel identifies products and services that are particularly environmentally friendly. In 2015, the Federal Environment Agency developed a special catalog of criteria that enables print companies to label an entire print product with the Blue Angel. The strict catalog includes the use of Blue Angel-certified recycled paper, low-emission adhesives, the avoidance of genetically modified renewable raw materials (such as in inks) and the health and ecological safety of adhesives, inks, etc. In order for print companies to be allowed to label their products with the Blue Angel for print products, they must also follow strict internal measures and provide proof of a certified environmental protection management system, for example.

Detailed information: blue-angel.com

FSC^®

FSC^® (Forest Stewardship Council^®) is a globally recognized organization for ecological forest management. Products from FSC^®-certified forests bear the FSC^®-logo. There are three FSC^®-labels for printed products: The FSC 100 % label identifies products made entirely from FSC^®-certified forests, the FSC Mix label combines material from FSC^®FSC-certified forests with recycled material or controlled sources, and the FSC Recycled label stands for products made purely from recycled material. To use the FSC^®-logos and indicate the certification number on the products.

Detailed information: fsc-germany.com

PEFC^® 

PEFC^® (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes) is a certification system of the European timber industry that documents the ecological forest management of forestry operations. The PEFC^®-seal also ensures a controlled processing chain. Print shops that are certified in this Chain of Custody may use paper from PEFC^®-certified wood and bear the seal. The certification includes checking the quantities purchased and sold and guarantees the traceability of the material. The label on the printed products must include the company's certification number. However, it only serves to identify the origin of the paper and does not provide any information about additional sustainable measures taken by the print shop. Non-certified printing companies may use PEFC^®-certified paper, but are allowed to use the PEFC^®-seal.

Detailed information: pefc.de

EMAS 

EMAS is considered the most demanding system for sustainable environmental management worldwide. It automatically integrates the requirements of DIN EN ISO 14001:2015 (see below) and goes even further. Organizations can be awarded the EU label if they meet the strict criteria of the EMAS regulation. EMAS-certified companies continuously improve their environmental performance through a standardized management system. Every year, they disclose their environmental targets and relevant environmental performance indicators in the EMAS environmental statement. This declaration is publicly accessible and is subject to legal monitoring, which ensures a high level of transparency. A key component is compliance with all environmental regulations, verified by external experts. Print shops receive a certificate with an identification number. It confirms the sustainable nature of the production processes, not individual products.

Detailed information: Guide-EMAS-entry.pdf

EU Ecolabel 

The EU Ecolabel is a recognized environmental label in all EU member states as well as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Turkey. The European Commission awards the label to printed products, stationery made of paper and paper carrier bags in accordance with the strict environmental standards of Decision (EU) 2020/1803. This includes materials such as paper, inks and printing auxiliaries as well as operational aspects such as waste management, energy efficiency and training. Required evidence such as the VOC balance and waste management concept are audited annually by independent experts. If a print shop meets all the criteria and receives confirmation from the German Institute for Quality Assurance and Certification (RAL), it may use the certificate in its corporate communications and on its products.

Detailed information: EU-2020-1803-EN.pdf

Cradle to Cradle

Cradle to Cradle (C2C) promotes a closed-loop economy in which all materials can either be recycled at the end of a product's life cycle or have no negative environmental impact. The concept was developed at the end of the 1990s and focuses on biodegradable or technically reusable products. A "C2C certification" has been awarded by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute in San Francisco since 2010 and evaluates products according to material health, recyclability, renewable energy, water resources and social justice. There are five certification levels from Basic to Platinum, which must be renewed every two years.

Detailed information: cradle-to-cradle

Calculating the Carbon Footprint

In the production of printed materials, both product-related emissions (Product Carbon Footprint(t) as well as company-specific emissions (Corporate Carbon Footprint) are determined. Emissions are tracked in three areas: direct emissions from the company’s own sources, emissions from energy generation, and other indirect emissions along the value chain. The relevant standards for this include DIN/ISO 14040, 14044, 14067, and ISO 16759.

The Printing and Media Associations For about 20 years, companies have been using their Climate Initiative An established and standardized procedure is available for determining and documenting product- and company-related emissions. This procedure is also certified by TÜV Austria. In addition, numerous service providers—such as ClimatePartner, natureOffice, and myclimate—offer services for preparing emissions inventories and investing in climate protection projects.

Responsible production practices are guided by the principle “Avoid, Reduce, Offset”. It focuses on process optimization and the use of renewable energy to reduce emissions at the source. Many companies go a step further and gradually reduce their emissions through additional measures. As a guiding principle, some companies invest in certified climate protection projects to contribute to global emissions reduction.

Detailed information: klima-druck.de