Survey of all Basic Award Criteria

Deposit and reuse: the perfect duo for environmental protection
Single-use or returnable – meanwhile deposit has to be paid on both and the difference can hardly be noticed by the consumer. Here, the Blue Angel for reusable packagings is the perfect guide because - considering their overall environmental impact - reusable packagings are advantageous over non-returnable packagings. By indicating the name of the regional producer or the place of filling consumers can additionally select products with short distances of transportation. Thus, returnable packagings contribute to waste reduction and sustainable consumption.

Paper that helps save money and spare the environment
To dry your hands, as a hygiene paper or for body care – there is a great demand for paper in bathroom and toilet. Those who use products made from waste paper instead of virgin fibres act with vision. Such action does not only contribute to a reduction of the volume of waste but also helps to conserve wood resources. In addition, products made from post-consumer papers often do much better than products made from virgin fibres not only from the ecological perspective but often also from the financial point of view – offering comparable properties of use.

Fewer pests combined with better health
Pests – like cockroaches, moths or bugs – in the house need to be removed. A spray will quickly solve the problem. Unfortunately, many customary pest control sprays contain toxic substances and impact the indoor air quality. Traditional pest control textiles or fly strips which work by means of glue or light are a good alternative.

Why should we use wallpapers made from recycled paper?
Wallpapers made from waste paper help to conserve resources and avoid the environmental impacts associated with the production of pulp. Paper production is among the major energy-consuming and water-burdening economic sectors. Wood-chip wallpapers, above all, are additionally breathable und, thus, have a positive impact on the indoor air quality.

Wood for a good indoor climate
Products made of wood or wood-based materials, such as furniture or slated frames, may cause an environmental impact during their production, use and disposal.
The Blue Angel eco-label considers the whole life cycle of a product and promotes, above all, the use of wood from sustainably managed forests and of low-emission wood-based materials.

Construction sites are getting quieter
The noise from construction sites is often found to be very loud and annoying. For protection of workers and residents construction sites should use low-noise construction machinery. Hence, the Blue Angel sets maximum permissible sound power levels for mobile outdoor equipment and machinery to allow a low-noise running of construction-sites.

The environmentally friendly office
In an ecological comparison of systems paper products made from recycled post-consumer paper do much better than paper products made from virgin fibres using wood as a fibre resource with respect to resource consumption, wastewater contamination, water and energy consumption – while still having comparable usage properties.

How to control wood pests in indoor space in an environmentally friendly way?

If the roof truss of a house or the furniture is infested with wood-destroying or ligniperdous insects a specialist company can effectively free the wood from pests by using the hot-air method. This process is based on the awareness that all pest organisms die-off at a certain ambient temperature. The use of hot air and a complete avoiding of biocide-based wood preservatives save the occupants from harmful emissions into the indoor air environment. And later on, the preservative-free scrap wood need not be laboriously disposed of as hazardous waste.

Quiet and clean vehicles
The operating noise of municipal vehicles can be very annoying, especially in residential and rest areas. For resident protection, municipalities should use low-noise vehicles and busses. Hence, the Blue Angel sets maximum permissible sound power levels for street sweepers, garbage trucks and busses. In addition, for environmental and health protection these vehicles must meet stringent exhaust emission and particulate matter standards.

Browsing through environmentally friendly papers, catalogues and brochures
Recycled paper production not only protects resources, it also produces less wastewater and uses less water and energy as compared to the production of virgin-fibre paper. Blue Angel-labelled print products guarantee that - if a proportion of virgin fibres it used - it comes from sustainably managed forests and forest management companies meeting high ecological standards. Use of timber from forests particularly worthy of protection, such as, for example, tropical or boreal primeval forests, shall be unacceptable.

Can wood be injurious to human health?
In chipboards and other materials pollutants may dissolve from the binders and get into the indoor air. This may cause mucosal inflammation of eyes and ears as well as irritation of the throat, sickness, headache and breathing problems. Blue Angel-labelled wood-based materials are low in emissions.

Environmental protection around airports
In winter, snowfall and icy conditions at airports require the use of movement area de-icers to improve the grip of runways, taxiways etc. The eco-label for movement area de-icers allows the user to select those products which distinguish themselves, among other things, by an easy biodegradability as well as by the lowest possible discharge of pollutants into the sewer system. Thus, they help to reduce the negative impacts on soil, groundwater and sewage treatment plants.

Mobile without a car of your own
The perfect car for every purpose: whether a passenger car for a trip or a van or truck for house moving purposes – this is no problem for participants in a car sharing scheme. Blue Angel-labelled car sharing agents locally provide their users with environmentally more acceptable vehicles close to the place of residence against the payment of a monthly basic fee and a contribution to the costs depending on the period of use and the mileage. The offer is also open to the self-employed and small businesses.

Why should we use „low-emission paints“?
Paints as a source of pollutants between one’s own four walls are under discussion because some products may contain alarming quantities of solvents, plasticizers and formaldehyde. The use of low-emission products carrying the Blue Angel helps to minimize possible health risks.

Environmentally friendly alternative to dry cleaning!
The environmental label is awarded to service providers offering professional cleaning of textile and leather outerwear as well as home textiles. When having a suit or dress cleaned it is recommended to do without dry cleaning. Wet cleaning uses the environmentally friendly solvent water. Another environmentally friendly solvent used in the cleaning process is carbon dioxide (see RAL-UZ 126 with respect to CO₂ cleaning services). Hence, both cleaning processes do not emit any pollutants into the air and into the wastewater - and yet, the textiles get clean.

Mobile Communication with the Blue Angel

Life today cannot be imagined without mobile phones. Using the mobile phone to call, e-mail, surf the Internet or take photos wherever we are has become a way of life for many people.

The Blue Angel criteria are a good guide when buying a new mobile phone if one places high value on health and the preservation of resources. An important criterion is the precautionary limitation of electromagnetic radiation. To promote the longest possible service life of the devices the Blue Angel requires the possibility of updating the operating system software, a subsequent expansion of memory capacity as well as rechargeable battery capacity tests. Also, the rechargeable batteries must be easily replaceable – a feature of great importance for final recycling and proper disposal of the devices.

For a trouble-free use of the mobile phone by a second user the Blue Angel eco-labelled product shall provide the possibility of deleting or removing all personal data on the mobile phone.

What are wood pellets?
Wood pellet fuel is a biomass fuel with a neutral impact on the climate. Wood pellets are made from pressed sawdust and shavings. They do not contain any chemical binders and they have a high energy density. The energy of two kilograms of wood pellets is roughly equal to that of one litre of fuel oil. Wood pellets achieve high combustion efficiency and low emissions. Wood Pellet Stoves (RAL-UZ 111) and Wood Pellet Boilers (RAL-UZ 112) feature much lower carbon-monoxide and dust concentrations than other solid-fuel heating systems. The Survey on Wood Pellet Heating Systems (Source: UBA III 1.3) lists the Blue Angel requirements.

What are wood pellets?
Wood pellet fuel is a biomass fuel with a neutral impact on the climate. Wood pellets are made from pressed sawdust and shavings. They do not contain any chemical binders and they have a high energy density. The energy of two kilograms of wood pellets is roughly equal to that of one litre of fuel oil. Wood pellets achieve high combustion efficiency and low emissions. Wood Pellet Boilers (RAL-UZ 112) and Wood Pellet Stoves (RAL-UZ 111) feature much lower carbon-monoxide and dust concentrations than other solid-fuel heating systems. The Survey on Wood Pellet Heating Systems (Source: UBA III 1.3) lists the Blue Angel requirements.

Do adhesives have an impact on human health?
Fortunately, the days when floor coverings were laid by the use of solvent-containing adhesives are over. Today, we use water-dilutable adhesives which may, however, also cause health problems because solvent-free is not equal to pollutant-free. The adhesive may still contain various non- volatile organic substances. These substances gradually evaporate from the adhesive over a long period of time and make their way through the flooring and, thus, get into the air we breathe or attach themselves to the house dust. This is not the case with Blue Angel-labelled adhesives.

Low-solvent roof coatings as well as adhesives for bituminous felts
Solvents have a significant negative impact on our environment as they are readily volatile and mostly environmentally hazardous. Also, the users of solvent-containing bitumen products are exposed to these solvents. In order to reduce these environmental and health impacts research and development have led to the manufacture of new bitumen-emulsion-based products which are safer for both the environment and the user and, at the same time, improve the quality and the serviceability properties of solvents. It is mostly the private final consumer who buys protective bituminous coatings at a do-it-yourself store and processes them as well.

Can silicone sealing material be a clean product?
Silicone and other joint sealing materials are high-performance construction materials protecting, for example, the bathroom from water seepage for many years. This property requires a complex mixture of chemicals, such as plasticizers or anti-mould agents. However, from the perspective of environmental protection and health the pollutant impact of such sealants on indoor areas must be low in order to guarantee the lowest possible emissions from these products.

Best possible care for the very youngest children
Baby monitors are a great aid for parents - above all, in the first months of baby’s life – because they can save lives! However, since these devices are required to operate for extended periods it is important that they use as little energy as possible and, above all, do not affect baby’s health.

How can digital projectors (in German also called beamers) be of benefit to environment and health?
Digital projectors have become a matter of course in schools and universities as well as in professional and private life: More than 250000 digital projectors are sold in Germany every year, with a tendency to rise. Hence, it is all the more important that these devices meet all requirements of modern presentation technology, are environmentally friendly and have no negative effects on the user’s health. Here, the Blue Angel provides orientation and sets stringent standards. Blue Angel-labelled digital projectors are low-noise devices. They feature an optimized energy consumption and, after all, the low energy consumption in standby mode contributes to global climate protection.

Better living with environmentally sound floorings?
Healthy living is a growing trend and the Blue Angel sets a clear focus when assessing the health effects of products for indoor use. Because of their large surface floor coverings have a particularly high potential for affecting the indoor air quality. By awarding the eco-label to textile floor coverings – in addition to resilient floor coverings - the Blue Angel draws the consumer’s attention to a health-compliant alternative in this product sector. The label is awarded to textile floor coverings that outgas particularly small amounts of organic compounds and formaldehyde into the indoor air.

Cordless phones are gaining in popularity with today’s consumers – they can be found in many homes and offices. It is so convenient to make a „cordless call“ but still use the landline. However, with these phones another source of electromagnetic radiation enters your home or office. One major objective of the Blue Angel eco-label is a preventive limitation of this radiation. And, of course, we also want the Blue Angel to contribute to climate protection. Even though the saving in electrical power consumption is only a few watts for a single device the number of devices is what makes the difference – resulting in a significant economic impact.

Blue Angel-labelled low-emission thermal insulation material and suspended ceilings.

Thermal insulation material and suspended ceilings are an effective way to save energy and reduce noise in buildings. However, if the products are manufactured from pollutant-containing materials these measures may, in fact, harm the environment. That is why the Blue Angel eco-label may be awarded to those thermal insulation materials and suspended ceilings which beyond the legal provisions have been produced in a low-pollutant manufacturing process and pose no health hazard in the living environment. The Basic Award Criteria include requirements for thermal and sound insulation and define limits for emissions from the products.

External thermal insulation composite systems help to protect the climate – but are they environmentally friendly in other respects as well and should they be recommended?

Exterior wall fires, environmentally hazardous flame retardants, rainwater contamination due to biocides leaching from plasters for external thermal insulation composite systems as well as Styrofoam insulation as future hazardous waste – there are numerous press reports that put these topics in contrast to the climate protection benefits of thermal insulation. However, exterior wall insulation is often the most effective way for the consumer to contribute effectively to climate protection. In the long run, this even saves money. The use of Blue Angel eco-labelled external thermal insulation composite systems helps to minimize possible environmental impacts so that the benefits for climate protection strongly outweigh the negative impacts.

Climate Friendly Steam Release
Today, cooker hoods can be found in nearly 70 percent of all German households. Particularly eco-friendly cooker hoods distinguish themselves by a very good efficiency of the fan as well as by an energy-efficient lighting. In addition, they feature a high grease and odour elimination efficiency and keep noise emissions within acceptable limits. Moreover, an automatic switchoff allows the most efficient appliances to reduce their air delivery volume, as needed.

Convenient and energy-efficient telephone conversations over the Internet

There is a growing trend for companies to replace their analog or ISDN phone systems with voice over IP phones. They provide a greater variety of functions and save costs using existing data networks. To make sure that this plus for convenience is not accompanied by an increase in energy and material consumption the Blue Angel sets strict requirements. Blue Angel eco-labelled VoIP phones feature low electric power consumption, high compatibility with data networks, updatability and high voice quality. Spare parts supply must be guaranteed for at least 5 years, used devices can be returned to the manufacturer and the materials used are subject to strict requirements as to pollutant contents.

Keep your eyes open when buying lamps: High-quality energy-saving household lamps

Compact fluorescent lamps - colloquially also called "energy-saving bulbs" - and LED lamps use far less electricity than incandescent lamps to produce the same light output. Thus, they help reduce the household lighting bill: at best by up to 80 percent. However, not all energy-saving lamps are equally good. Blue Angel eco-labelled lamps are high-quality products offering so many benefits (see above). Hence: Be smart about lighting.

Blue Angel Eco-Label for Technically Dried Wood Chips and Wood Pellets
Technical drying greatly improves the calorific value of the fuels and reduces the dust loads during combustion. The heat required for drying must be supplied either from renewable energy sources or from industrial waste heat and efficiently used. The particulate matter emissions occurring during manufacture must comply with strict limits. Only wood from sustainably managed forests and chemically untreated wood residues may be used for the production of wood chips and wood pellets. In order to compare origins of wood involving long-distance transportation and their impact on the environment with regional origins of wood the transportation expenses for the supply of wood raw materials need to be recorded. Moreover, the strict product quality standards offer the user an efficient and low-emission combustion of the wood fuels.

The Blue Angel has always made it a primary objective to ensure the health and safety of our youngest ones.

To this aim new criteria have been developed for textile toys as, for example, rag dolls and teddies. They include essential requirements for an ecological production of natural raw materials and the avoidance of health-damaging chemicals in the product. The criteria have been developed by the German Umweltbundesamt (Federal Environmental Agency) with the involvement of the Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR) (Federal Institute for Risk Assessment).

Protecting the climate while surfing the Web or talking on the phone
Today, it is hard to imagine private households without access to the Internet. 72 percent of all Germans use the Internet most of whom use broadband access. To gain access to the Internet the user needs networking equipment that is connected around the clock to the telephone and data networks. The Blue Angel eco-label may be awarded to routers that, offering the same capacity, operate highly energy-efficient and, where appropriate, provide additional functions, as, for example, Wireless LAN (WLAN routers) for wireless access to the Internet as well as so-called broadband routers. In addition, the routers are technically adaptable so that even if the Internet service provider changes the user will be able to continue to use the equipment.

Resource-conscious service companies help protect our climate

Servers and data centres consume more than 9.1 TWh annually, with a tendency to rise. Also contributing to this consumption is the increased use of central IT resources, cloud computing and social networks. The Blue Angel eco-label may be awarded to resource-conscious companies committed to the implementation of a long-term strategy aiming at improving the energy and resource efficiency of their data center with respect to the IT services to be delivered and conducting regular monitoring to optimize the data center operations. The Blue Angel eco-label provides the demand side (public sector or industry) with a reliable means of selecting ecological criteria when calling for bids for external data center services.

Notice for Application: To get a clear picture of the current state of the data center operations the applicant may choose either to complete Annex 2 or to use the online platform of Technische Universität Berlin, Department of Information and Communication Management (as is recommended). To register for the online platform please go to: http://blauerengel.ikm.tu-berlin.de.

A toaster is one of the basic items that belong to a German household. Even though it is used for only a few minutes each day, the high power consumption of a regularly and intensively used appliance adds up to an annual power consumption of almost 50kWh (8 slices per day). In addition to power consumption, other key issues of consumer health protection are pollutant emissions, as, for example, the emission of formaldehyde. And there are safety aspects that play an important role during the useful life of a toaster: the exterior surfaces of some models can become extremely hot, thus posing a burn hazard to users. Moreover, there are safety risks when slices of bread get stuck in the appliance.

The Basic Criteria for award of the eco-label make sure that Blue Angel-labelled products are low in power consumption. Also, the Blue Angel toasters feature low pollutant and emission levels, meet stringent safety requirements and have a great ease of use.

Many features, more transparency


Blue Angel eco-labelled printers, copiers or multifunction devices all have one common advantage: their contribution to indoor air pollution at the workplace or in private households is particularly low. In order to being awarded the Blue Angel eco-label devices must meet strict requirements for material selection and recyclable design. Last but not least, low-pollutant materials are used in the plastic parts, thus, reducing possible harm to the environment and health risks. In addition, low energy consumption also helps to protect the climate.

The Blue Angel eco-label may be awarded to launderettes featuring low energy and low water consumption. The Blue Angel sets requirements for both the appliances and the laundry detergents used at a launderette. Moreover, consumers are to be provided with information on environmentally friendly washing and drying.

The Blue Angel eco-label for data shredders may be awarded to appliances featuring low power consumption, long-lived design and avoidance of environmentally harmful materials.

Hair care appliances are basic items that can be found in most German households. The power consumption of a hair dryer is between 960 and 2300 watts. The annual power consumption of an average hair dryer is 65 kWh if used every day. This is about as much as the consumption of, for example, an iron or an efficient cooling device. Blue Angel eco-labelled hair care appliances achieve power savings of at least 30 percent compared to standard appliances. In addition, Blue Angel eco-labelled hair care appliances meet requirements for noise emission, the plastics and materials used as well as for product safety and durability. Moreover, the Operating Instructions include information on environmentally conscious user behaviour and product safety.

Wood for a good indoor climate

Products made of wood or wood-based materials, such as interior floor coverings, panels and doors, may cause an environmental impact during their production, use and disposal.
The Blue Angel eco-label considers the whole life cycle of a product and promotes, above all, the use of wood from sustainably managed forests and of low-emission wood-based materials.

Great benefit, less waste 

Blue Angel eco-labelled toner modules help to reduce the amount of waste and, thus, to conserve resources. These toner modules must also meet stringent requirements for the materials used, the monochrome or colour toners as well as for serviceability properties. Last but not least, the Blue Angel eco-labelled remanufactured toner modules made available to interested suppliers and users must - in combination with low-emission office equipment according to RAL-UZ 171 or RAL-UZ 205 - meet the stringent requirements for the release of fine and ultrafine particles during printing.

With regard to the RAL-UZ 178 Basic Criteria for "Biodegradable Lubricants and Hydraulic Fluids" it was decided to set up, in Appendix 1, a publicly accessible "Lubricant Component Classification List" based on the LuSC List of the EU Ecolabel for Lubricants. This list is meant to make application filing easier for manufacturers of lubricants since the products which will be listed in said Appendix 1 will not require the submission of further data. The manufacturers of lubricant components shall be able, from now on, to have their products evaluated with costs in accordance with RAL-UZ 178 and to apply for inclusion in Appendix 1 to RAL-UZ 178.

Lubricants are used in various applications where an entry of substances into the environment cannot be completely avoided, especially when used for loss lubrication of rails, points, block trains or for sealing purposes and similar fields of application where high lubricant losses occur during the intended use. Also, loss lubrication during wood cutting causes the release of approximately 10,000 tons of chain lubricants into the environment per year. Even during the intended use of hydraulic fluids in agriculture and forestry as well as in the building industry significant quantities may escape in an uncontrolled way into the environment due to leakages and other defects. If the lubricants include components that are toxic to humans or the environment or have insufficient biodegradability, these releases into the environment can have an adverse effect on soil and water. This negative effect should be minimized in order to preserve intact ecosystems and avoid indirect impact on human health.

The aim of the Blue Angel eco-label for biodegradable lubricants and hydraulic fluids is to enable the user to choose products that, for example, consist primarily of renewable raw materials (vegetable or animal oils) and, first and foremost, stand out due to their good biodegradability.

Shopping in climate-friendly food retail stores
The food retail sector is responsible for approx. 1% of the greenhouse gas emissions in Germany and for around 3% of the total energy consumption in Germany. The refrigeration systems for cooling food account for the largest proportion of the total energy consumption at almost 40 %, as well as for the largest share of the indirect greenhouse gas emissions from grocery stores in the food retail sector. Around 30 % of the total energy consumption is used for heating, around 20 % for lighting and 8 % for air conditioning. In all of these areas, there is significant potential for making savings in terms of energy consumption and thus reducing the green house emissions.
In addition, refrigeration systems can contain halogenated organic compounds as refrigerants and in their insulation materials. As a result of the use of natural refrigerants that have no ozone depletion potential and no or little global-warming potential in combination with the energy-efficient operation of the refrigeration systems, a significant proportion of the greenhouse gas emissions caused by refrigeration systems in the food retail sector can be saved. Other emissions savings are possible through good thermal insulation in the building, energy-efficient lighting, ventilation and the use of more energy-efficient electrical equipment.
Those grocery stores in the food retail sector issued with the Blue Angel ecolabel will be operated in a particularly energy-efficient way and use climate-friendly natural refrigerants.
Die mit dem Blauen Engel ausgezeichneten Verkaufsmärkte des Lebensmitteleinzelhandels werden besonders energieeffizient betrieben und verwenden klimafreundliche natürliche Kältemittel.

Printed matter such as newspapers, magazines, books, catalogues, prospectuses, advertising inserts, brochures, flyers, calendars, operating instructions, posters and billboards are widely disseminated. Energy and resources such as paper and ink are required for their production. The printing process and the cleaning of the machines can lead to the emission of volatile organic solvents that contribute to the production of ozone and "summer smog".  In a comparison of their impact on ecological systems, those paper products made out of recovered paper perform significantly better in terms of their use of resources, wastewater load and water and energy consumption than paper products made predominantly from virgin fibres. Therefore, the use of paper with a high proportion of recovered paper contributes to the preservation of resources, especially ecosystems such as forests, and to a reduction in waste during the manufacture of printed matter. In addition, the printed matter should allow for the recycling of its paper fibres through the use of suitable inks, varnishes and adhesives. Optimising procedures during the printing process can also reduce energy usage, waste paper and air and water emissions. Printed matter that has been awarded the Blue Angel ecolabel thus represents an environmentally-friendly alternative to standard printed matter available on the market.

Blue Angel for Set-Top Boxes
Set-top boxes are devices designed for receiving digital, encoded and/or encrypted television signals. They are also often commonly known as "receivers". Set-top boxes expand the functionality of televisions by making additional multimedia content available. For example, a set-top box can enable users to access online and offline video libraries, receive television programmes via video streaming or surf the Internet. The premature replacement of a television set that does not possess these additional functionalities can thus be prevented through the additional use of a set-top box.
Set-top boxes awarded with the environmental label consume significantly less energy in comparison to other standard devices available on the market. Plastic parts in those devices awarded with the environmental label use materials low in pollutants.
In addition, those set-top boxes awarded with the environmental label fulfil strict requirements when it comes to their selection of materials, their adaptability to technological changes, the applicant's provision of appropriate infrastructure for taking back used equipment and their recycling-friendly design. These requirements create a sound basis for the longer use of the devices and the efficient recycling of the materials used.

Low-Emission Internal Plasters
Due to the large surface areas they cover internal plasters have a very high potential for negative impact on the indoor air quality.
The Blue Angel for low-emission internal plasters is a perfect tool to help the consumer discover an alternative that poses no health risk. The Blue Angel eco-label may be awarded to mineral and resin-bonded internal plasters that outgas only very small amounts of organic compounds into the indoor air.
Possible health hazards can be minimized by the use of low-emission Blue Angel eco-labelled products.

Artists’ colours are used not only in school and extracurricular art classes but also for decorative and creative hobby painting. In 2013, some 7000 tons of artists’ colours were sold on the German market.
These colours are complex mixtures of substances. They can contain ingredients with hazardous properties so that colours intended for use by children fall under the protection requirements of the European Toy Safety Directive.
The Blue Angel sets out requirements for the ingredients, quality, packaging and refillability of the colours. The substance requirements for the artists’ colours include - among others - the exclusion of azo dyes, fragrances and flavouring substances, VOC solvents and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Moreover, the relevant requirements will be reviewed every year. From the perspective of environmental protection, artists’ colours should be made available in refillable containers in the most demand-responsive way possible, thus helping to reduce waste.

Dishwasher Detergents / Laundry Detergents

Almost every day, we use the dishwasher to clean the dishes or the washing machine to clean the laundry in our households. Hence, dishwasher detergents or laundry detergents are everyday products today and approximately 100,000 tons of dishwasher detergents and approximately 630,000 tons of laundry detergents are sold every year.
However, the ingredients of these detergents reach the wastewater along with the wash or rinsing water, and thus may have a negative impact on the water bodies if the wastewater treatment plant cannot fully withhold or degrade the ingredients. Moreover, washing agents and detergents can contain health-endangering substances, such as, for example, certain preservatives or allergenic fragrances that may not be used at all or, if indispensable, must be reduced to an absolute minimum in Blue Angel eco-labelled products.  

One of the primary constituents of detergents are tensides. These substances can be produced on the basis of petrochemical and/or renewable raw materials. Here, the use of sustainably produced raw materials efficiently contributes to a sustainable development. Blue Angel eco-labelled detergents shall contribute to sustainable development by preferentially using renewable raw materials in their manufacture which - to the fullest possible extent - are produced under sustainable conditions or promote sustainable production.

Many features, more transparency

Blue Angel eco-labelled printers, copiers or multifunction devices all have one common advantage: their contribution to indoor air pollution at the workplace or in private households is particularly low. In order to being awarded the Blue Angel eco-label devices must meet strict requirements for material selection and recyclable design. Last but not least, low-pollutant materials are used in the plastic parts, thus, reducing possible harm to the environment and health risks. In addition, low energy consumption also helps to protect the climate.

In areas worthy of protection, as well as in private gardens, many people consider noise generated by garden tools to be significant noise pollution. The objective of awarding the environmental label to low-noise and low-pollution garden tools is thus primarily to reduce noise emissions.

The Blue Angel identifies those garden tools with state-of-the-art noise reduction technology. As combustion engine powered tools with the latest technical features do not meet the necessary requirements for the award of the environmental label, these tools are no longer contained within the scope of the latest Basic Award Criteria. The scope of the environmental label covers garden tools with an electric motor (mains or battery powered) such as chain saws, hedge trimmers, lawnmowers, electric scythes and trimmers, scarifiers, shredders and pole pruners.

In addition, the use of substances harmful to the environment and human health is excluded for all tools. Battery-powered tools must use rechargeable batteries that are low in pollutants and have a long service life. The rechargeable batteries must be replaceable.

Consumers place high demands on toys, i.e. they want them to be free from hazardous substances. That is why the criteria place a strong focus on avoidance and minimization of harmful substances as well as on the verification of compliance by periodic tests. The Blue Angel eco-label goes beyond the requirements of the European Directive on the Safety of Toys and bans further substances that pose a risk to the environment. These present Basic Criteria for Award of the Blue Angel require compliance with fundamental social standards in the production of raw materials as well as at the final production sites. Moreover, greater transparency on the part of the toy manufacturers regarding their suppliers shall guarantee, in the future, compliance with key labour standards also at other levels of the value chain.

The Blue Angel eco-label may be awarded to toys made of textiles, wood, plastic, leather, paper, natural rubber and metal.