Certification covers the following five areas:

• Materials
• Material Reutilization
• Energy
• Water
• Social Responsibility

Materials:

All constituent parts of a product have to be known, All chemicals contained in the product are identified by their CAS number (Chemical Abstracts Service number).  These are then evaluated by the EPEA using the chemical evaluation regarding their toxicological and eco-toxicological properties.

Material Reutilization:

The product is either already part of a technological or biological cycle or a plan is drawn up accordingly (depending on the grade of certification). The recyclability of the product, or rather the nutrients that are to be gained from it, is illustrated using the recyclability index. Values lie within the range of 0 to 100.

Energy:

Collation of information concerning the total amount of energy used in production and the proportion of this energy supplied by renewable energy sources. Naturally, the aim is for 100% renewable energy.

Water:

The company is question commits itself to principles that seek a responsible usage of and attitude to water. The aim is to establish a water management system together with measures aiming to improve the water quality to an extent where it is greater post usage than prior.

Social responsibility:

The company in question commits itself to social principles and has its adherence to these checked by a third party (depending on the grade of certification)