Blue Angel Logo and Service Certification

In 1978, the German Federal Minister of the Interior established the Blue Angel logo program to promote environmentally-friendly products and services. It has become a central tool for carrying out environmental policy in a market-driven fashion. The organization’s position on product wastes and inputs is “as little as possible, and as much as necessary.” This statement captures Blue Angel’s philosophy of sustainability and stewardship.

Why Blue Angel Logo?

The Blue Angel Ecologo (De: Blauer Engel) is a voluntary labeling program for products and services. The label is awarded to products within dozens of categories in the German marketplace and across many unique sectors. The Blue Angel logo demonstrates that a product has assessed all possible impacts over the complete life cycle.

In this way, a product bearing the Blue Angel logo has shown a clear and thorough dedication to health and the environment. Blue Angel does not directly compare products in the same class to determine which is “better”. Instead, each candidate gets assessed according to product-specific regulation criteria. The label is then awarded based on performance and production.

Governing Bodies of the Blue Angel Program

Blue Angel licensure stems from institutions tasked with health and environmental policy. For example, the Environmental Label Jury consists of environmental and consumer representatives. This association determines which products can receive the label and how they must do so.

Correspondingly the federal government lends support to Blue Angel via two distinct ministries. The Federal Environmental Agency (De: UBA) is responsible for pre-screening candidates. Suitable products get presented to the Label Jury. This agency also directs the development of all product-specific regulations derived from the Jury’s Basic Criteria.

Secondly, the Federal Ministry of the Environment (De: BMU) provides public outreach and program promotion to consumers and industry partners. The Ministry also owns the Blue Angel logo and monitors its use at the highest levels.

Blue Angel is a program certified by the ISO 14024 Standard for environmental labels and declarations. Its status as a Type 1 label holds a specific meaning: products bearing the Blue Angel label get manufactured cleanly, efficiently, and responsibly. These metrics represent a complete product life cycle analysis, including end-of-life outlets.

Many Type 1 ecolabels worldwide have formed the Global Ecolabelling Network. This association includes Type 1 ecolabel members alongside a network of affiliate and associate organizations. All members involved, regardless of their function, share the same values of environmental sustainability.

Can my Product Receive the License?

All products awarded the Blue Angel logo belong to a corresponding product category. For a product to qualify, it should meet performance requirements according to that category. Specific requirements differ across the various classes; however, some standard criteria form the basis of most product-specific regulations, including:

Are the production methods used for creating the product sustainable with respect to water, energy, and raw materials?
Do these sustainable production methods observe international standards for occupational safety?
Does the product use water, energy, or other resources efficiently (when compared to other products in the class)?
Does the product operate with reduced noise or electromagnetic radiation (when compared to other products in the class)?
Does the product or its production methods reduce emissions or the release of harmful substances (when compared to other products in the class)?
Does the product contain or generate low levels of pollutants or harmful by-products?
Does the product provide good fitness for its intended use?
Is the product manufactured to be durable, repairable, or recyclable?
Has infrastructure been made available for product takeback schemes, common-use services, or recycling alliances to mitigate impacts associated with, e.g., the end of the product’s life cycle?

Products Eligible for Blue Angel Licensure

With this in mind, dozens of products qualify for Blue Angel certification. These span several product categories and cover many demands across different marketplaces. Targets include many popular products and services sold in the various household, commercial, and industrial sectors.

Sector	Product Categories
Construction	Materials (doors, flooring, panels, mortar) Paints, plasters, glazes, and sealants Insulating materials
School and Office	Printers, inks, and paper products Telephones and calculators Furniture and playground equipment
Consumer Products	Many kitchen and bathroom products Air conditioners Wireless phones, including takeback schemes
Business-to-Business	Server and data storage centers Print advertisements and materials Pest control

The construction sector covers a wide variety of approved building materials. Blue Angel considers several categories of products spanning most phases of a build. Candidates include everything from concrete and wood to primers and paints. Certain finishing materials like sealants, insulation, and underlay have also received consideration.

The school and office sector comprises the stationery, indoor furniture, and machinery associated with clerical work. Office supply regulations (for inks and toners, printers, files folders, sticky notes, etc.) may detail chemical makeup, acceptable substance levels, and ecological impact. There are also categories for furniture, playgrounds, and other installations – especially when made from wood or plastic.

Consumer products represent a full range of everyday household purchases. Kitchen and bathroom supplies dominate these categories with the wide selection of chemical and paper products available at local supermarkets. Larger appliances like stoves and HVAC systems also have sets of regulations, as do media devices like phones and select personal computing equipment.

Interestingly, the business-to-business sector also has strong representation in the Blue Angel product and service list. Several categories deal with sustainable print advertisement, an industry known for heavy resource consumption and chemical use. Many critical computer and server applications also get consideration under select Blue Angel categories. These companies allow other businesses to access “clean” data storage and handling for their needs.

Ecodesign

The Blue Angel logo has gained a strong reputation as a quality standard for environmentally friendly products and services. Goods that bear the label have proven their dedication to sustainability across their entire life cycle. Consumers can trust these products to have a low impact (when compared to typical market products in the same class).

Therefore, intermediate manufacturers concerned about supply chain sustainability can rest assured: products bearing the Blue Angel logo have shown high standards. Likewise, producers that attain Blue Angel licensure can demonstrate a well-recognized authority in ecodesign to their clients.

Do you have a product that is eligible for Blue Angel logo? Contact Enviropass and align yourself with a global network of environmentally friendly design partners.