What can we do for a more sustainable world? This question plays an essential role at hubergroup every day because it is our aim to drive sustainability forward within all our products and processes. Most recently, the Bavarian Chemical Associations acknowledged hubergroup Germany for this holistic approach to sustainability within the Responsible-Care competition – but what does this approach involve?
An important aspect for us is recycling. For this reason, we are constantly working on improving the recyclability of our products through a careful selection of raw materials. Currently, all of our conventional offset products for commercial printings as well as one especially developed UV offset ink are deinkable and approved by INGEDE, the international research association for deinking techniques. Moreover, a wide range of our gravure products for packaging printing is certified for Cradle to Cradle silver and, thereby, approved biocompatible on a high level.
Bernd Groh, Global Product and Portfolio Manager Sheetfed/UV at hubergroup, explains, “Recyclability is a key factor for a circular economy. Of course, the selection of raw materials plays an essential role thereby. We have been working on substituting fossil resources through renewable raw materials for a while and have set ecological benchmarks in the whole industry with our cobalt-free and mineral oil free inks. But we do not stop here. We set ourselves ambitious goals for the future: For instance, we aim to have 60% of our sales of sheetfed offset inks and varnishes certified Cradle to Cradle in 2019.”
“Additionally, we closely cooperate with institutions such as EPEA and Cradle to Cradle as well as with printers and brand owners to further enhance our products and processes,” adds Lutz Frischmann, Global Product Director Flexible Packaging. “Sustainability is a really important topic for us, and the certificate by the Bavarian Chemical Associations is another evidence that we are on the right track with our efforts.”