In the run-up to Christmas, many people find it difficult to identify high-quality, long-lasting and truly sustainable products amidst the mass of offers. This is precisely where the Blue Angel, the German federal government’s ecolabel, comes in: it indicates products that impress in terms of their durability, repairability, low pollutant content or high recycled material content, among other things. The BLUE ANGEL ADVENT CALENDAR (only in German) offers inspiring and environmentally friendly gift ideas from 1 December.
“Sustainable consumption does not necessarily mean going without, but rather making an informed choice. Quality instead of quantity is thus the motto for environmentally friendly Christmas shopping. This is precisely where the Blue Angel offers assistance in choosing individual products,” explains Janine Braumann from the Blue Angel office at the German Environment Agency (UBA).
How “quality before quantity” can be achieved during your Christmas shopping:
1. Electronics that can be repaired
New technology is a welcome gift under the Christmas tree – and also one of the biggest contributors towards resource consumption. Products bearing the Blue Angel ecolabel – such as fair smartphones, laptops and computer accessories – must impress in terms of their durability, the ability to replace their components and the availability of spare parts, among other things.
2. Less mass-produced fashion, more emphasis on long-lasting textiles
Instead of reaching for the fast fashion rack without a second thought, it is advisable to look for second-hand alternatives or to gift someone a high-quality garment that is long-lasting, has been manufactured with fewer harmful substances and can be worn more often. During the Blue Angel’s textile certification, strict limits are imposed on chemical substances and high standards are set with regard to washing, rub and light fastness. This ensures not only that the product is safe but also that the garment can be enjoyed for longer.
3. Gift wrapping with substance – recycled paper instead of resource consumption
High-quality, recyclable wrapping paper increases the value of the gift – while also reducing waste. Wrapping paper bearing the Blue Angel is made from 100 per cent recycled paper and reduces water consumption by up to 80 per cent and energy consumption by up to 70 per cent.
Pro tip: cloths, bags and envelopes made from recycled paper or old newspapers make ideal packaging materials and can also be reused multiple times.
What practice shows:
High-quality gifts that meet strict product standards last longer and need to be replaced much less often. This saves resources and reduces waste – especially for electronics, where repairability and durability are crucial in avoiding electronic waste. This reduces the impact on the environment and health. The Blue Angel makes it easy to identify such environmentally friendly quality products – independently tested and clearly labelled.
Looking for inspiration?
Many Blue Angel gift ideas can be found in the ecolabel’s Advent calendar from 1 December: WWW.BLAUER-ENGEL.DE/DE/ADVENTSKALENDER (only in German)
Information about the Blue Angel ecolabel
The Blue Angel has been the ecolabel of the German federal government and the guide for sustainable purchasing for more than 45 years. It is an independent and credible label that sets stringent standards for environmentally friendly products and services. The Blue Angel guarantees that the products or services it certifies meet high standards when it comes to environmental, health and performance characteristics. The whole life cycle of the product or service is always taken into account in the assessment process. Criteria are developed for each product group and must be complied with by those products and services holding the Blue Angel. In order to reflect any technological developments, the German Environment Agency checks the criteria every three to four years. This ensures that companies are required to make their products even more environmentally friendly over time. More information and certified products can be found at: www.blauer-engel.de/en or on our social media accounts on Instagram (@blauerengel_umweltzeichen), Facebook and LinkedIn.
