The European Commission has adopted a Decision establishing the new criteria for the EU Ecolabel for printed paper, stationery paper and paper carrier bag products (link). The new EU Ecolabel has an extended scope. It covers stationery, paper carrier bags, paper wrapping and gift paper. Packaging, labels and food contact materials are excluded from the scope.

The EU Ecolabel is awarded to sustainably designed products meeting 10 strict environmental criteria which are both product-specific (substrate, recyclability) and plant-specific (emissions, waste, energy).

Intergraf contributed to the review process and was instrumental in securing that applicants can license a product line. Generally, the EU Ecolabel is granted to a product for which the specifications will not change over time. Printed products are designed by customers. One production will be different from the next. The new EU Ecolabel recognises this singularity and allows companies to make an application for a product line.

“The new EU Ecolabel for printed products allows European printers to demonstrate the environmental performance of their products and processes. It recognises the specificity of printed products and enables printers to apply for a product line and not only for a single product.”  —Beatrice Klose, Secretary General of Intergraf

Intergraf has published a guide to help printing companies who wish to apply for the EU Ecolabel. Printing companies can request the Intergraf Guide to the EU Ecolabel for Printed Paper via their national trade association (Intergraf’s members).