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SUSTAINABILITY IN LABELS — A SHARED APPROACH

At Vollherbst, sustainability is not a project, not a trend and not a short-term promise. It is part of our identity. As a family-run company we understand responsibility not as an obligation, but as an attitude – towards our customers, our employees, our partners and the environment in which we do business.

We are convinced: sustainable action is only credible when it is deeply rooted – in decisions, in processes and in everyday collaboration. A label is therefore never merely a functional product for us. It is an expression of origin, quality and stance. It is a visible part of our customers’ brand message – and therefore also a bearer of responsibility.

As a FAIR’N GREEN Certified Partner, we take a holistic approach to sustainability.

Environmental responsibility, social fairness and economic viability are interconnected in everything we do. As part of the certification process, defined ecological, social and economic criteria are independently assessed.

With our sustainLABEL approach, we translate this philosophy into a clear framework for consulting, decision-making and implementation – transparent, traceable and tailored to individual needs.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY AT VOLLHERBST STARTS WITH CONSULTATION

Sustainability in labels does not happen automatically. It is the result of many conscious decisions.

Every choice – from the face material and its components, such as adhesive and liner, to printing inks, finishing techniques, production and logistics – influences the environmental footprint, recyclability, production reliability and, last but not least, the credibility of the brand.

That is why sustainability at Vollherbst always begins with listening and understanding. We take time to ask the right questions together with our customers:

  • What role does the label play in the overall product concept?
  • Where is targeted attention required – and where is reduction the better path?
  • Which materials support brand values and sustainability goals equally?
  • Which regulatory, market and communications requirements are relevant?

Sustainability for us does not mean reinventing everything. It means Making better decisions, step by step – transparently, with clear reasoning and an eye on the whole.

SUSTAINLABEL – A FRAMEWORK FOR CONSCIOUS DECISIONS

With sustainLABEL, we have created a framework for structuring and advising on sustainability that takes relevant environmental and material aspects into account without oversimplifying them.

sustainLABEL is not a rigid set of rules, but a flexible approach tailored to the product, brand and market.

Think holistically, not in isolated measures

A label is always a system. That is why, together with our customers, we consider:

  • the substrate as the foundation,
  • Printing inks and varnishes,
  • Finishes and their actual function,
  • Production and converting processes,
  • Logistics, packaging and handling.

Only this overall view makes it possible to assess ecological impacts realistically and improve them meaningfully.

The sustainLABEL Check

With the sustainLABEL Check, we analyse existing or planned labels in detail. The aim is to provide a sound basis for informed decision-making. We identify:

  • where material can be reduced,
  • where simplification makes sense,
  • which alternatives may offer advantages based on the environmental and material criteria under consideration,
  • and how recyclability and recovery can be improved, taking into account the materials and components used as well as regional recycling conditions.

We never assess in isolation, but always in the context of your brand. Sustainability without brand logic convinces neither in the market nor in the long term.

DESIGN AND FINISHING – IMPACT WITH RESTRAINT

Finishes are an essential design tool for high-quality labels. They create attention, haptics and differentiation. At the same time they have a major influence on material use, complexity and converting.

That is why Vollherbst follows a clear principle:
Finishing has to make sense – not just an impression.

In consultation we clarify together,

  • which effects truly support your brand message,
  • which design will last,
  • and where reduction creates greater clarity and perceived value.

The most compelling labels often come not from extra technology, but from precisely placed accents. Sustainability here means a conscious choice – not a retreat from design.

RESPONSIBILITY IN PRODUCTION

For us, sustainability does not end with the concept. It is consistently carried through into production.

The production-related greenhouse gas emissions recorded are calculated annually based on a documented methodology. This creates transparency and provides a sound basis for identifying potential reduction measures.

In addition, we rely on:

  • Electricity from renewable sources,
  • supplementary on-site power generation,
  • efficient, digitally supported processes,
  • and the continuous reduction of unnecessary material movements.

For us, responsible production is not about perfection, but about conscious action and continuous improvement.

LOGISTICS AND PACKAGING – PART OF THE COMPLETE SOLUTION

For us, responsibility for a label does not end at the machine. Packaging and logistics are also part of the overall environmental footprint. That is why we consistently consider these areas as an integral part of our consulting approach.

Together we review:

  • Packaging concepts and material use,
  • Options for reducing plastics,
  • Product protection versus overpackaging,
  • practical, economically viable alternatives.

The aim is always a solution that combines environmental responsibility, quality and security of supply.

RAW MATERIALS – THE FOUNDATION OF QUALITY

Substrates are the starting point for every label. Their origin, composition and processing have a significant impact on the label’s environmental footprint.

Where suitable for the specific application, we use certified materials, such as FSC®-certified face materials, as well as materials with verified recycled content or proven recyclability.

In consultation we show,

  • how different substrates look and feel,
  • which materials fit the brand positioning,
  • and how sustainability and a premium standard can be combined.

Even with complex designs featuring blind embossing or tactile effects, materials and finishing can be carefully coordinated from the outset.

SUSTAINABILITY AS PART OF THE CORPORATE CULTURE

At Vollherbst, sustainability is not a set of rules from outside, but a value lived from within. It shows in daily action, in the way decisions are made, and in the claim not to pass on responsibility, but to take it on ourselves.

Our corporate culture is shaped by experience, continuity and a sense of responsibility. Many of our employees have been with Vollherbst for many years. This knowledge and this attitude flow directly into consulting, planning and production. Ideas for improvement – including in sustainability – are expressly welcome and are actively integrated into processes.

Our commitment to sustainability has also been recognised with the Carlo Business Award in the category “Most Sustainable Value Chain Partner.”

As a family business we think long term. We rely on stable relationships, transparent communication and measured decisions – towards customers, suppliers and regional partners. We understand sustainability not as a finished state, but as a shared path that we continue to develop.

Information and Criteria for the Carlo Business Award at FAIR’N GREEN:
https://www.fairandgreen.com/carlo-awards/ 

OUR VIEW: SUSTAINABILITY IS A SHARED JOURNEY

We do not believe in simple answers. We believe in honest conversations, informed advice and continuous development. For us, sustainability is not an endpoint, but a path we walk together with our customers.

Let’s work together to come up with sustainable labels.

We would be pleased to advise you in person – as partners, responsibly and with an eye for the whole.