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Outstanding Work
for the Environment

Certificates:
Proof of our progress

Our Green Care Professional portfolio offers a broad assortment of certified products. For all areas of application we have products that have earned at least one certification. This fact distinguishes us from other manufacturers and makes clear that genuine sustainability has to be practiced in the entire company if it is to be credible. We are a pioneer in the industry with the most Cradle to Cradle® certified products and are proud that we have proof of the recyclability of our formulas and our packaging.

At our production sites in Mainz and Hallein, we implement the highest quality and environmental standards and see them reflected in our certifications.

Holistic sustainability is multidimensional

Numerous aspects must be covered

Formulas
Going even beyond: Green Care Professional
Surfactants produced from European sources
Packaging
Going even beyond: Green Care Professional
Post-Consumer Recyclate from the Yellow Bag in bottles and caps
Production & Supply Chain
Going even beyond: Green Care Professional
In-house water treatment and production of electricity using wind and solar power
Going even beyond: Green Care Professional

Product certifications


Cradle to Cradle

Cradle to Cradle

The certification is based on the principles of eco effectiveness, which were developed by the architect William McDonough and the process engineer and chemist Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart. The goal is to design products in such a way that they can be returned to biological and technical cycles. C2C certification looks at a product holistically, with an evaluation made in five categories:

  1. Material health: All materials in the product should be harmless for humans and the environment.
  2. Product circularity: After use, the materials should be recycled or composted easily.
  3. Clean air and climate protection: The manufacturing process should have positive effects on air quality, the supply of renewable energies and the impact of greenhouse gases on the climate.
  4. Water and soil protection: Responsible handling of water and the soil eco systems is important for certification.
  5. Social responsibility: The manufacturer must comply with human rights laws and apply fair and just business practices.

Besides the formulations, the packaging may be assessed against C2C criteria. The C2C certification is managed by the non-profit organization Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. Compared to conventional Ecolabels, C2C certification is distinguished by its holistic approach and its emphasis on the circular economy. The certification results are divided into different levels of Gold, Silver and Bronze. Green Care Professional offers the broadest Cradle to Cradle portfolio of professional cleaning products.

Typ-I-Ecolabel

The Type-I-Ecolabel is an environmental label certified in accordance with criteria of ISO 14024 «Environmental Labels and Declarations – Type 1 Environmental Labelling – Principles and Procedures». These Ecolabels are distinguished by their transparency and credibility as they are issued by an indepedent body. Type 1 environmental labelling therefore is an important and sufficient factor for many calls for tenders. Every Green Care Professional product receives a Type-1 environmental label (except for Biobact Scent). European Ecolabels concentrate on increasing eco efficiency. Ecolabel products are less environmentally harmful; however, products may still consume materials irreversibly and use fossil-based raw materials and energies.

In addition, the quality level of all awarded products is evened out because – without gradations in certification results – no further differentiation is made beyond the criteria. Some European countries may develop their own country-specific Type 1 environmental labelling based on the EU Ecolabel. Criteria may vary by region and focus, but may not be weaker than the EU Ecolabel requirements. Examples are the Blue Angel (Germany) and the Nordic Swan (northern European countries).

EU miljømerke

EU miljømerke

Det europeiske miljømerket (miljøtusenfryd) er drivkraften for spesielt miljøvennlige oppskrifter for rengjøringsprodukter. EU-tusenfrydlogoen ble opprettet på midten av 1990-tallet for å være det europeiske symbolet for miljø. Den omfatter alle nasjonale miljømerkinger og stiller strenge krav til miljøvennlige produkter. Mange av våre rengjøringsprodukter for Europa har nå Ecolabel-sertifiserte oppskrifter. Siden det ble frivillig vedtatt av produsenter i 1992, har miljømerket blitt en referansemerke for forbrukere, som er interessert i å kjøpe produkter som beskytter miljø.

Svanemerket

Svanemerket

Det nordiske svanemerket er det nordiske miljømerke. Den sertifiserer produkter, bl. a. kjemiske rengjøringsmidler, for deres miljøkompatibilitet. Green Care Professional produkter som bærer Svanemerket overholder de strenge økotoksikologiske kravene. Opprinnelig var Svanemerket beregnet for bruk i Skandinavia. Senere har denne merkingen også blitt påført på produkter, som markedsføres utenfor Norden. Svanemerket tildeles i enkelte kategorier hvor EU-miljømerket ikke blir tildelt, til kjemiske rengjøringsmidler, for eksempel oppvaskmidler.

Østerriksk miljømerke

Østerriksk miljømerke

Siden 1990 har det østerrikske miljømerket gjennomført strenge undersøkelser, og sertifisert produkter og tjenester, som oppfyller kravene til kvalitet, miljø og helse. Miljømerket utstedt av den føderale regjeringen garanterer oppskrifter, som er frie for farlige stoffer, og produktdesign som er langvarig, brukbar og i samsvar med standarder. Som et kvalitetsstempel for den økologiske økonomien identifiserer den produkter fra produsenter som Werner & Mertz, som har forpliktet seg til å produsere miljøvennlige produkter.

Air Label A+

Air Label A+

Air Label Score is the first international label that distinguishes products which guarantee high indoor air quality. The development is based on ISO 16000-3, ISO 16000-6 and ISO 16000-9, all of which relate to indoor air pollution. Every tested product is given a score of A+ (very low emissions) to C (high emissions) that reflect the toxicity risk from inhaling the detected pollutants. Green Care Professional offers a broad product portfolio with an A+ Air Label Score.

Dermatest

Dermatest

The “DermaTest” label stands for independent dermatological testing of products. Products that come into direct contact with the skin when used as specified (e.g. hand dishwashing detergents) or that have indirect skin contact through the materials to be cleaned (e.g. detergents) must undergo a dermatological test to prove that they are harmless to the skin. The test ensures the skin compatibility of the products and proves a lower risk of allergic reactions or irritations. Green Care Professional offers a product portfolio with a 5-star rating and an excellent rating from DermaTest.

Packaging certifications


RAL Quality Mark Recycled Plastic

RAL Quality Mark Recycled Plastic

The «RAL Quality Mark Recycled Plastic» shows that plastic is obtained from household waste collections like the Yellow Bag. The quality requirements ensure that the origin of the plastic can be traced through every phase of the process. It is possible to see where the plastic comes from, starting with the sorting process in recycling facilities to the use of the recycled material in new products. The RAL Quality Mark indicates how much post-consumer recyclate (in percent) is used in all the primary packaging (e.g., bottle + cap + label). With the RAL Quality Mark, the packaging of the Green Care Professional range can verifiy its high recyclate share in the complete primary packaging.

Building certifications


LEED

LEED

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Environmental & Energy Design, is a classification for high-quality ecological buildings. It is both a guideline and an incentive for the development and realization of sustainable construction projects. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED is considered one of the world’s most widely used certifications for green buildings. In 2012 the headquarters in Mainz was awarded LEED Platinum, the most demanding sustainability certification for buildings. The new construction was then Germany’s first industrial management building in the highest award class. Most impressive is the building’s energy efficiency. With wind power, photovoltaic cells and geothermal groundwater use, the building generates 20 percent more energy than it needs for ongoing operations.

Company certifications


EcoVadis Platinum

EcoVadis Platinum

EcoVadis certification is an assessment system for companies» sustainability practices. A company is assessed in four categories of labor and human rights; ethics; sustainable procurement; and the environment. The overall result is assigned to the Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum level. Companies are told how many points were earned in each of the categories. That information makes the EcoVadis certification an instrument that helps companies improve their sustainability practices and create transparency in reports on their social and ecological impact. In 2022 Tana-Chemie was able to defend its EcoVadis Platinum certification for the second year in a row (2021 and 2022). The rating placed Tana-Chemie among the most sustainable companies in the world as only one percent of all assessed companies achieve the top grade.
EMAS

EMAS

EMAS certification (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) is an award granted by the European Union to companies whose activities and operations are particularly environmentally friendly. EMAS helps businesses to assess and improve their environmental impact by providing a framework that ensures companies continuously measure their environmental performance, improve it and report on progress. Werner & Mertz has voluntarily had its environmental impact validated against EMAS criteria annually since 2003 in Mainz and since 2005 in Hallein (Austria).
DIN ISO 14001

DIN ISO 14001

DIN ISO 14001 is the world’s most widely accepted and applied standard for environmental management systems. By fulfilling the requirements specified by the international norm, companies can improve their environmental performance, meeet their legal obligations, and reach their environmental goals. Compliance with the requirements is checked annually by an independent auditor. Tana-Chemie GmbH in Mainz and Werner & Mertz Professional Vertriebs GmbH in Hallein are ISO 14001-certified.
DIN ISO 50001

DIN ISO 50001

DIN ISO 50001 is the world’s most widely accepted and applied standard for energy management systems. By fulfilling the requirements specified by the international norm, companies can increase their energy efficiency and improve their energy performance. Compliance with the requirements is checked annually by an independent auditor. Tana-Chemie GmbH in Mainz and Werner & Mertz Professional Vertriebs GmbH in Hallein are ISO 50001-certified.