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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 Cradle to Cradle® principle was devised by Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart and William McDonough and further developed by the EPEA (Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency) in Hamburg. Werner & Mertz has selected products and product groups certified in accordance with this holistic procedure. The Cradle to Cradle® Design encompasses a detailed evaluation key to assess the materials used, their recyclability, use of energy and water and the social impact of product cycles and methods of production. Werner & Mertz has successfully completed this demanding certification procedure. At the end of 2013, Tana Chemie GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Werner & Mertz GmbH, celebrated a world premiere. For the first time since the creation of Cradle to Cradle® certification, an entire professional cleaning and care assortment – the green care PROFESSIONAL series of eight eco-effective cleaners – received the highest award known as “Cradle to Cradle Certified Gold”.

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 Ecolabel

EU Ecolabel

The EU Ecolabel is valid throughout the European Union and is awarded by national certification bodies. It is issued by the EU for products and services. Among other things, the EU Ecolabel aims to limit hazardous ingredients, protect aquatic organisms, encourage use of degradable ingredients and reduce the use of plastic in packaging. Other EU Ecolabel criteria include sustainable procurement of palm and palm kernel oil derivatives, understandable instructions for use and proof of performance.
Nordic Swan

Nordic Swan

The Nordic Swan is the official Ecolabel for Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden). It is the toughest Type 1 Ecolabel in Europe. The Nordic Swan differs from the EU Ecolabel in that it has very strict limits for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), for toxicity to aquatic organisms, and for aerobic and anaerobic degradability. The Nordic Swan also demands sustainable procurement of palm oil, palm kernel oil and their derivatives. In addition, it excludes the use of dyes and skin sensitizing preservatives. Nordic Swan criteria for designing packaging for recycling are stricter too (e.g., labels have to pass a wash-off test). 
Austrian Ecolabel

Austrian Ecolabel

Since 1990 the Österreichisches Umweltzeichen has conducted strict examinations and certified products and services that comply with its demanding standards for quality, environmental and health protection. The ecolabel issued by the federal government guarantees formulas free of hazardous substances and product design that’s long-lasting, usable and compliant with standards. As a quality seal for the ecological economy, it identifies products from manufacturers like Werner & Mertz that have committed to producing environmentally friendly products.
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.

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

In June 2021 Tana-Chemie GmbH received a Platinum medal for sustainable business from the renowned CSR/Sustainability rating agency EcoVadis. That designation places Tana-Chemie among the most sustainable companies in the world because the best score is awarded in only one percent of all cases. Since 2007 EcoVadis has assessed companies’ environmental and social practices. The ratings are made in four assessment classes of Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. More than 75,000 companies in 200 industries around the world engage EcoVadis to assess their value chains objectively. In many industry sectors the rating has become a key prerequisite for receiving approval as a supplier. The demanding audit encompasses 21 indicators in the four major themes of Environment, Labor and Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. The themes of Environment and Sustainable Procurement played an important role in the rating. EcoVadis gave positive assessments for the use of recyclable packaging, the utilization of renewable energy and the reduction in water consumption by means of innovative methods, including re-use of water from operational processes.
EMAS

EMAS

Since 2003 Tana-Chemie GmbH at its Mainz site and since 2005 Werner & Mertz Professional Vertriebs GmbH in Hallein, Austria, have voluntarily had their environmental management system validated against EMAS criteria. The EMAS validation stands as proof of our exemplary ecological orientation and our integrally sustainable corporate philosophy. Every year an independent auditor examines our sites’ fulfillment of requirements from the EMAS regulations. EMAS, the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme of the European Union, is recognized as the world’s most demanding system for sustainable environmental management. Successes are communicated as transparently as areas requiring further action. EMAS-validated companies provide strong impetus toward a sustainable, legally compliant economy.
DIN ISO 14001

DIN ISO 14001

For many years Tana-Chemie in Mainz and Werner & Mertz Professional Vertriebs GmbH in Hallein have been ISO 14001 certified. The ISO 14001 is the globally accepted and applied standard for environmental management systems. By satisfying the requirements of the international norm, our Environmental Management System ensures that we improve our environmental performance, fulfill legal obligations and achieve our environmental goals. Compliance with standard requirements is examined annually by an independent auditor.
ISO 50001 Energy Management System

ISO 50001 Energy Management System

Tana-Chemie GmbH in Mainz and Werner & Mertz Professional Vertriebs GmbH in Hallein have been ISO 50001 certified for several years. The ISO 50001 is the globally accepted and applied standard for energy management systems. The international norm stipulates the requirements for our Energy Management system with which we increase our energy efficiency and continuously improve our energy performance. Every year an independent auditor examines our compliance with the standard requirements.