The betubed Environmental Label ABC

Paper is an important part of our lives that we come into contact with every day. But how sustainable is paper actually and what should we pay attention to? Our betubed-environmental label ABC gives you the answers and helps you keep track of eco-labels and environmental certifications.

Blue Angel: The "Blue Angel" label has been one of the best-known environmental labels in Germany for over 40 years and is awarded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment. The label certifies papers that are produced according to ecological criteria and are particularly environmentally friendly. Products must therefore be made from 100% recycled paper without additional chemicals or optical brighteners. The requirements for the Blue Angel environmental label include:

• low water consumption
• low energy consumption
• avoidance of pollutants and emissions

Source: www.blauer-engel.de

More than 20,000 products and services awarded with the "Blue Angel"

If companies adhere to the relevant guidelines, they not only contribute to improving the environmental footprint of their products. The development of ecological product innovation is also an essential component.

When you discover the "Blue Angel" on a product, it is recycled merchandise. You can find these products in various areas such as household, textiles, electrical appliances, building products, energy, stationery, in commerce, and vehicles.

FSC®: The Forest Stewardship Council® is an international NGO. Under the motto "Forests Forever For All," the NGO has been committed to transparent and sustainable forest management for more than 25 years. The FSC® seal is awarded to products that are produced according to the guidelines, principles, and indicators of the FSC®. These include:

• preserving natural diversity
• protecting habitats
• using renewable resources
• fair compensation
• citizen participation in forest management

FSC®-certified papers are also free from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and therefore remain recyclable. The awarding of the FSC® seal is bound to strict criteria and is regularly checked. Only products that meet the criteria may bear the seal. Thus, the FSC® seal is a guarantee for sustainably produced paper.

Globally recognized FSC® seal already in many organizations and companies

Already 89 countries worldwide count among FSC® members. Paper-based products come from more than 200 million hectares of FSC®-certified forests - about 19 percent of which are in the tropics. The seal is also very popular in Germany and is used by organizations and many well-known companies. These include the printing and paper sector.

Want to know exactly which companies these are? Pay attention to the FSC® label during your next conscious purchase. There are also differences between:

• FSC Recycled: Products consist of 100% recycled material.
• FSC MIX: The product material comes from a mix of FSC®-certified forests (with a minimum share of 70%) and/or recycling material; material from controlled sources is used for production.
• FSC 100%: Product material comes 100% from FSC-certified forests.

If you want to delve deeper into the subject, the FSC Public Certificate Database provides insight into which company is behind the FSC® label. Have fun! betubed has been FSC®- C168359 certified since 2021.

EU-Ecolabel: The "Euro flower" is the official environmental label of the European Union - including Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The EU-Ecolabel was established by the European Commission in 1992. Since then, numerous products and services have been equipped with this environmental label every year.

A campaign motif for the 30th anniversary of EU-Ecolabel | Source: eu-ecolabel.de

Around 89,000 products from 24 product groups already bear the EU-Ecolabel

Whether from the areas of cleaning, electrical appliances, textiles, lubricants, paints and varnishes, or campsites - the labeling of environmentally friendly products and services simplifies the choice in environmentally conscious purchasing decisions among consumers.

This label is an award for particularly environmentally friendly products and services – paper products can also be awarded with it.

PEFC Seal: (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes). The NGO was founded in 1999 and awards forestry operations with the PEFC seal that meet strict criteria regarding forest protection. Worldwide, around 300 million hectares are PEFC-certified forests. Processing chains of various forest products are monitored.

The "Forest TÜV": Annual random samples are carried out to ensure that the products meet the high standards of the program. The basis for PEFC is an international certification system of the forest industry and forest owner organizations.

ÖKOPAplus: The seal for environmentally friendly paper products. To obtain the seal, the paper must consist of 100% recycled paper and bear the "Blue Angel" environmental label. The ÖKOPAplus seal is awarded by Venceremos GmbH and is intended to promote the reduction of CO2, water, and energy consumption as well as the reduction of water and air pollution. The ÖKOPAplus label is predominantly found in the school and office sector in products such as school notebooks, college pads, drawing and painting pads.

Environmental labels on products are important, but not all of them state the same thing. Have you remembered the most important eco-labels? When shopping next time, you can now select products accordingly. With your purchasing decision, contribute to companies producing more environmentally friendly. At the same time, you're also doing something for the environment. Win-win!

Source:

• Blauer Engel
• FSC Deutschland
• EU Ecolabel
• PEFC Deutschland
• ÖKOPAplus
• NABU Umwelt & Ressourcen
• NABU Lebensraum Wald