Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Printed products

Vögeli

Recyclable print products – healthy for people and the environment

Recyclable print products – healthy for people and the environment
Cradle to Cradle Certified™ print products from Vögeli AG have been optimised so that harmful substances are not used in the first place. Thus, these products are 100% recyclable, no toxic printing waste is produced.

Recycling of waste paper

In Switzerland, 1.3 million tonnes of waste paper, i.e. close to 80% of the total volume, could be collected again in 2017 in order to be recycled. This seems like a lot. However, by far not all of the waste paper can be reused. Only the pulp is recycled. The remaining 30 per cent, mainly colours and fillers, cannot be recycled. The result is mostly toxic sewage sludge that has to be disposed of in hazardous waste landfills. Thus, many more resources are lost in the recycling process. In addition, the process is energy-intensive.

The CtC solution approach

With the principle of Cradle to Cradle® (CtC), products are designed from the outset so that they can be completely returned to the biological or technical cycle. To ensure this, all ingredients are examined for health and environmental risks and replaced if necessary. Thus, a holistic recycling of paper, inks and additives is possible. In theory, CtC products could even be thrown on the compost heap. However, so that the materials can be recycled directly, it is still better to put them in the waste paper.

Recycling of waste paper

In Switzerland, 1.3 million tonnes of waste paper, i.e. close to 80% of the total volume, could be collected again in 2017 for reprocessing. This seems like a lot. However, by far not all of the waste paper can be reused. Only the pulp is recycled. The remaining 30 per cent, mainly colours and fillers, cannot be recycled. The result is mostly toxic sewage sludge that has to be disposed of in hazardous waste landfills. Thus, many more resources are lost in the recycling process. In addition, the process is energy-intensive.

The CtC solution approach

With the principle of Cradle to Cradle® (CtC), products are designed from the outset so that they can be completely returned to the biological or technical cycle. To ensure this, all ingredients are examined for health and environmental risks and replaced if necessary. Thus, holistic recycling of paper, inks and additives is possible. In theory, CtC products could even be thrown on the compost heap. However, so that the materials can be recycled directly, it is still better to put them in the waste paper.

Vögeli AG is the first printing company in Switzerland to apply this principle. In order to be able to exchange experiences on the application of CtC, it has joined forces with two printers in Austria and Denmark. Together they form the association “PrintTheChange” and work, among other things, on the new and further development of materials.

What are the effects?

Vögeli AG prints around 1,250 tonnes of paper per year. By designing as much of its production as possible in accordance with CtC, it ensures that at the end of its life cycle a large part of it can flow into the recycling process free of substances of concern.

If all printed products in Switzerland were designed according to CtC, waste paper could also be used to produce food packaging, for example. So far, this is not permitted due to the harmful substances contained in the printed products and thus in the recovered paper. In addition, the sewage sludge produced in the recycling process of CtC products would be biodegradable and would not have to be disposed of in hazardous waste.

Vision of Vögeli AG

As far as intensifying the impact of CtC in the printing industry is concerned, all printed products would have to be manufactured according to CtC so that the entirety of the waste paper could be recycled in the recycling process. At the moment we are still a long way from that. However, the more printers decide to produce according to CtC, the easier it will be to obtain CtC-compatible product components such as inks. According to the principle: demand creates

Who are Cradle to CradleCertified™ printed products for?

Especially in the packaging sector for food, but also for sustainably produced products in the textile sector, it makes sense to use packaging that does not contain any hazardous substances and is recyclable. Actually, all companies should and can have their marketing materials, brochures and books Cradle to Cradle Certified™. Because everyone can benefit and, above all, we are creating a solution for the next generations and not handing them a problem. Cradle to Cradle Certified™ print products are also very suitable for business and sustainability reports.

About the company

Vögeli AG, based in Langnau im Emmental, was founded back in 1911. The company, which today has around 50 employees, is mainly active in commercial and packaging printing.

A sophisticated system for air-conditioning the building with groundwater and using the waste heat from the machines for heating, which was already integrated 15 years ago, is evidence of the company’s sustainable approach. In 2017, the Cradle to Cradle™ certification was achieved.

Nominated Solution: Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Druckprodukte

Company: Vögeli AG

Further information: www.voegeli.ch