The Blue Angel offers many advantages
The Blue Angel has been the German federal government’s ecolabel for almost 50 years. It is awarded to environmentally friendly products and services. No other label in the non-food sector covers such a wide range of products and services as the Blue Angel. Its product range extends from detergents and cleaning agents, recycled paper and stationery, to low-emission construction products.
The Blue Angel is highlighted by the EU directive ‘Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition’ (Directive (EU) 2024/825, EmpCo for short) as demonstrating ‘recognised excellent environmental performance’ and makes it easier to communicate environmental benefits.
The Blue Angel is promoted and supported by environmental and business associations, consumer advice centres, environmental consultants in local authorities, sustainability portals and many other stakeholders who are committed to the idea of sustainability. Its ambassadors also include over 1,800 companies who use the Blue Angel for more than 70,000 products.
EmpCo-compliant and recognised excellent environmental performance
Stricter regulations against greenwashing will be in place from 27 September 2026 with the EU directive ‘Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition’ (Directive (EU) 2024/825, EmpCo for short). The Blue Angel is highlighted by the legislation as demonstrating ‘recognised excellent environmental performance’ and makes it easier to communicate environmental benefits.
How you benefit as a company:
90% brand awareness
Surveys conducted by the German Environment Agency show that the Blue Angel is a highly recognised brand, with 93 per cent of people aware of it. 43 per cent of consumers state that the ecolabel has an influence on their purchasing decisions (often, very often, always).
(Source: Umweltbewusstseinsstudie (Study on Environmental Awareness))
Transparency and independence
The Blue Angel is a Type I environmental label according to DIN EN ISO 14024. This means that it fulfils the highest standards with respect to the quality and relevance of the criteria, as well as the independence, control and transparency of the processes for developing and awarding the label. The portal “Siegelklarheit” (Label Transparency) operated by the German federal government has also given the Blue Angel a rating of “very good”.
Competitive advantage in procurement and B2B business
The Blue Angel is also an important decision-making criterion in the areas of public procurement, calls for tenders and B2B business (www.beschaffung-info.de).
Internationally recognised standards
The Blue Angel only certifies the best products in a particular product group. The criteria are developed by the German Environment Agency on a scientific basis. The good international reputation of the German government’s environmental policy and the positioning of the Blue Angel as an “Ecolabel made in Germany” also help companies to sell products on foreign markets.
The Blue Angel is underpinned by four institutions.
The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) is the owner of the label. It defines the fundamental guidelines for the awarding of the Blue Angel and appoints the members of the Environmental Label Jury.
The experts at the German Environment Agency (UBA) develop the specialist criteria that a product or service must comply with in order to be certified with the Blue Angel. They also regularly check the criteria to ensure they conform to the latest technological standards.
The Environmental Label Jury is an independent, impartial and voluntary body that ensures the reliability of the Blue Angel. It decides which new product groups are added and discusses and approves the Basic Award Criteria proposed by the UBA.
As an independent organisation, RAL gGmbH also checks compliance with the requirements after the submission of the product-specific application by a company and concludes contracts on the use of the Blue Angel with the companies.
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