And the nominees are ..
03.12.2020 - From over 300 participants, 31 products and concepts ultimately convinced the expert jury of the Federal Ecodesign Award - including Steinbeis Papier with its submission "Office paper from the cycle for the cycle". The coveted prize awarded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment and the Federal Environment Agency has been honouring outstanding achievements in ecological design since 2012.
Steinbeis Papier is one of the 31 nominees for the prestigious Federal Ecodesign Award in the product category, which honours pioneers in the field of ecological design. The winners show that environmental compatibility and good design are not contradictory. In this way, innovations are promoted and the market launch of ecological products is supported with a high public profile. "The key to sustainable consumption is the products themselves. Up to 80 per cent of a product's environmental impact depends on its design. However, consumers will only opt for the ecological alternative if it is more durable, better and more attractive than conventional products. This requires designers with a wealth of ideas and entrepreneurial courage, people like the applicants in this competition," says Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU) and jury member.
Innovative eco-paper
With its office papers, Steinbeis is consistently implementing the political requirements of the German government's resource efficiency programme. An LCA study by the ifeu Institute found that Steinbeis requires 72% less energy and 83% less water and emits 53% lessCO2 in the production of its graphic office papers compared to conventional paper production. By using 100% recycled paper, the use of wood for fibre production can also be completely avoided. Steinbeis papers thus make an important contribution to the preservation of ecological diversity and take pressure off the world's forests, which are so important for the climate. Thanks to optimisation measures in the office paper manufacturing process, the company has been able to reduce specific energy consumption by 24% since 2000 and specificCO2 emissions by 68% since 1990. In the production and optimisation of its processes, Steinbeis clearly undercuts the BAT guidelines and is guided by forward-looking developments such as the cradle-to-cradle principle, which prioritises the recyclability of the materials used, biodegradability and waste avoidance.
Driving a forward-looking industry
With these raw material and procurement concepts, new production standards and technologies, Steinbeis has created office papers that are contributing to a rethink in the industry and in consumer markets and are significantly shaping the development of the recycled paper market. "In the economic environment of the billion-dollar corporations that dominate the paper market worldwide, the medium-sized company Steinbeis Papier occupies the position of the ecological and economical alternative to conventional virgin fibre papers. We benefit from the fact that reducing the carbon footprint is important to more and more buyers and consumers. Blue Angel copy papers, such as those produced by Steinbeis, meet this consumer demand," says Ulrich Feuersinger, Managing Director of Steinbeis Papier GmbH.
Cover picture: Steinbeis Papier
Responsible for marketing, social media and e-business at Steinbeis Papier. Circular economy, recycling and biodiversity are the topics close to the heart of the graduate business economist. Enthusiastic blogger for the Steinbeis editorial team.
