I am often telling people about the Blue Angel mark as here in the UK, it is hardly known about or recognised, whereas in Germany (where it was established) and in mainland European countries, it is both highly visible on products and very highly regarded.
The Blue Angel (Der Blaue Engel) is a German certification for products and services that have environmentally friendly aspects. The Blue Angel mark is the oldest ecolabel in the world, and it covers some 10,000 products in some 80 product categories - not just paper!It was originally conceived and put in place by the government of the former West Germany and has been awarded since 1978 and I have written about it before, extensively HERE.
In a first, an ink manufacturer has now been awarded the ecolabel: Schuite & Schuite Druckfarben GmbH is an innovative company that specialises in the production of high-quality web offset printing inks for professional printing machines. As the first holder of the ecolabel for printing inks, inkjet inks and toners for paper and cardboard on professional printing machines (DE-UZ 237), the company based in Thuringia is sending a strong signal promoting environmental friendliness in the printing ink industry.
 |
| Anne Worsch (RAL), Bettina Uhlmann (UBA), Thomas Fuß COO Schuite & Schuite Druckfarben GmbH, Bauke-Jan Schuite CEO Schuite & Schuite Druckfarben GmbH, Christian Tebert, Ökopol GmbH |
Dessau. “We decided to demonstrate our commitment to environmental protection by certifying our products with the trusted Blue Angel ecolabel. Our UNI 500 and MG 1500 ink series have thus now been certified in accordance with the strict criteria defined by the Blue Angel. By gaining this certification, we want to demonstrate to our customers and their clients that we are keenly aware of our responsibility to future generations. With the right mindset, commitment and technical expertise, we can make a contribution to building a sustainable future together”, explains Thomas Fuß, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Schuite & Schuite Druckfarben GmbH at the ceremony to present the Blue Angel ecolabel.
The new ecolabel for printing inks, inkjet inks and toners is designed to ensure that the certified products have a significantly lower impact on the environment and health during their production and use. It minimises or completely excludes the use of pollutants such as PFAS, heavy metals, particulate matter and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The ecolabel ensures that the printing products have a high level of recyclability, which must be verified in deinking tests of the inks and recycled paper. It also includes strict criteria that ensure the most important oils and their derivatives are sourced from renewable raw materials, which helps to protect natural forests. As a B2B ecolabel that is closely aligned with the ecolabel for printed matter (DE-UZ 195), it makes applying for the ecolabel for environmentally friendly printed matter easier.
Although it is a shame that this manufacturer does not cover inks for sheetfed offset litho, hopefully it will encouarge other ink manufacturers to look forward...
Posted by Justin Hobson 21.05.2025
Posts
