Glossary

The charitable organization BOS Deutschland e.V. (Borneo Orangutan Survival) has devoted itself to protecting the orangutans and their habitat in the tropical rainforest of Indonesia, which is home to a wide variety of endangered plant and animal species. Orangutans are seriously threatened by forest fires, hunting and the extensive clearing of the rainforest to make room for palm, eucalyptus and soy plantations. BOS defends the reddish brown great apes in cooperation with local partners. The organization also works closely with the Indonesian environmental protection agency to rescue organutans illegally kept as house pets and to free them from palm oil plantations.

BOS manages large rainforests in the peatlands and thus provides long-term protection to a wooded area of almost 800,000 hectares. As rainforests create a balance between warm tropical air and cold polar air, they have a climate-regulating effect which has global significance for CO2 compensation by means of carbon offsets. So the reforestation of the rainforest brings lasting benefits to people, animals and the environment.

Werner & Mertz entered into a long-term cooperation with BOS Deutschland in 2019. During the life of the agreement, Werner & Mertz will support the BOS orangutan rescue centers on Borneo along with the reintroduction of rehabilitated orangutans and monitoring of animals returned to protected rainforests. The objectives of both partners are species protection on Borneo, maintenance and expansion of the orangutans' habitat and a mutally beneficial exchange of information regarding palm oil and surfactants.

In September 2019 Werner & Mertz owner Reinhard Schneider received the German Environmental Award from the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU). He donated his prize money of 250,000 EUR to BOS Deutschland for the reforestation of the Mawas reserve, one of Indonesia's largest peatlands. Mawas is covered with a peat layer up to 15 meters deep where C02 and other greenhouse gases from the past 8000 years are stored. Mawas also is home to 2600 wild orangutans and 48 other critically endangered species (including a recently discovered frog).

Work with NABU on “Frosch protects frogs” Project The project "Frosch protects frogs" was established in 1998. In cooperation with the Nature Conservation Center Rheinauen operated by NABU Rhineland-Palatinate, Werner & Mertz works to improve living conditions for the tree frog and other species of amphibians in the Rheinauen wetlands. To that end, NABU develops concepts and projects for peaceful coexistence of humans and Nature. As a result of measures taken in past years, the vulnerable tree frog has found its way back. The frog needs richly structured territory with a high groundwater table in hills and flatlands. Ponds and backwaters are essential spawning waters for the frog.

With the purchase of areas in the Rheinauen near Bingen-Gaulsheim, NABU protects the quality of an important biotope. Some cropland, an apple orchard and a recreation area were acquired to carry out the plan of gradually turning the areas into semi-natural meadows or orchards.

NABU currently holds 58 hectares of land in Bingen and its surroundings. In the interest of conservation, NABU works with farmers and volunteers on the use and maintenance of the properties.

In addition, small bodies of water were established in the Rheinauen near Bingen, particularly as part of the "Lebensader Oberrhein" project, which ended in September 2019. The project created new habitats for the tree frog. Maintenance is required because overly thick growth at the water's edge, sedimentation of the water surfaces and other changes run counter to the goal of providing a permanent home for frogs. Although the silted up areas are sometimes attractive, they are not suitable as sunny breeding grounds for amphibians. For this reason, conservation work sometimes involves the use of saws and mowers. The "Frosch protects frogs" project develops continuously to expand habitats for the tree frog and other members of its species and to protect them so that they can feel safe and at home in lovely Rheinhessen.

Biological Diversity on Mainz Company Grounds Small biotopes can be created for animals and plants in home gardens or on company premises. As part of the project "Upper Rhine lifeline – wet to dry natural diversity," Werner & Mertz, together with NABU, worked out measures to increase biodiversity on our property.

Those measures in detail:

• set up three wild bee hotels,

• change the frequency of mowing the grassy area near employee parking and elsewhere,
• plant wild rose bushes,

• establish unusual species acquired from NABU propagation station for rare plants,

• install informative signs for visitors and

• set up nesting blocks for wild bees.


The flowering areas on the Mainz site had developed very well by 2019, according to observation reports.

Biological diversity also is promoted on our company site in Hallein. With the "Frosch and Wild Bees" project kicked off in 2016, Werner & Mertz Hallein contributes to the conservation of habitats for native and biologically-bred plant species.

Additionally, all green areas on the property and two traffic circles in Hallein were redesigned to be bee-friendly. Since the beginning of the redesign in 2016, a wild bee expert has observed the development of the wild bee population. The success of the project can be seen and quantified.

The semi-natural design resulted in a tripling of the number of species of wild bees to 27 within the first year. According to wild bee expert Johann Neumayer, it can be expected that altogether three to four times the number of bee species will appear.

In development and production, we consistently use renewable energy technology and raw materials. We also pay attention to the biological degradability of materials and, in compliance with EU Ecolabel requirements, we exclude raw materials with negative environmental impact.

Our development guidelines form the basis for our entire Green Care portfolio and follow the Cradle to Cradle® principle. Starting with the brand’s creation, we work at optimizing our technical and biological cycles so that our formulas and packaging become even more sustainable.

According to the EU Regulation on Detergents, surfactants (wash-active substances) must be readily degradable. The formulas, however, consist not only of surfactants and water, but also of other ingredients which are necessary to achieve optimum cleaning and care results.

After their use, cleaning product ingredients flow through the wastewater system to the treatment plant. There the biologically degradable ingredients are subject to microbial conversion under ideal conditions. Substances that are not at all or not readily biodegradable have to be removed from the wastewater by other means before the treated water is returned to the environment. All the surfactants we use are readily degradable, as required by the EU regulation on detergents. For our Green Care Professional brand, we voluntarily have all our formulas tested for their inherent biological degradability with the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) test method.

We are proof that sustainability and cleaning power are not mutually exclusive. The Green Care Professional brand stands for high-performance and efficient cleaning with the highest quality requirements.

“Made in Germany“ – Our strong & integrally sustainable formulas are developed by experts in Germany. Our brand-name products are produced exclusively in EMAS-certified factories in Mainz and Hallein (Austria) in accordance with the highest quality standards.

Safety for human life and the environment has top priority for us. With proper use, our formulas and packaging are safe for humans and nature and suitable for safe return to biological and technical cycles.

With current and future generations in mind, we pay close attention to how products are developed and produced.

The raw materials used are subject to strict checks of their origin, properties and biodegradability. Our surfactants, which are based on plants, are demonstrably readily biologically degradable. We do not use substitutable ingredients such as phosphates or parabens in our products.

National and international certificates verify the quality of a company's processes and products. Our goal is to earn and retain certificates.

From the audits required for certification, we learn how we can further optimize our operations. Every certificate brings us new incentive and serves as a motivational milestone in our continuous improvement process.

Our Green Care Professional portfolio offers a broad assortment of certified products. For all areas of application, there are products which have at least one certificate. In our sector, we are the pioneer with the most Cradle to Cradle® certified products. We are proud that we have proof of the recyclability of our product formulas and packaging.

Crucial to animal welfare is the health and well-being of animals along with their freedom to engage in natural behaviors. "Animal testing" refers to scientific experiments on and with live animals and on animals killed for such tests. Animal experiments are subject to strict criteria and are forbidden for end products such as laundry detergents and cleaning agents and for cosmetics in the EU and most other countries.

However, ingredients and/or raw materials for laundry detergents and cleaning agents could have been tested on animals by suppliers sometime in the past. EU law (REACH regulation) requires suppliers to conduct a one-time test of raw materials for their effect on human health and the environment before they are put on the market. Our suppliers, our company and other manufacturers of cleaning products and cosmetics cannot circumvent these tests.

For Werner & Mertz the protection of animals and the conservation of their natural habitats have high priority in product development. Therefore, we have not conducted any animal testing or contracted a third-party to do any animal testing. In addition, we do not export any of our products to countries whose laws require animal testing for product approval.

Because the products from Green Care Professional contain no components of animal origin, the products can be called “vegan” even though this term comes from the food/nutrition field and has no legally binding definition.

The Hochwald National Park in Hunsrück is an area given the highest priority by nature conservationists. Today the ecological system is still characterized by large peat bogs. The sloping and transition mires or bogs in the Hochwald are home to very many animal and plant species. Given their rarity and human intervention in their moor habitat, the diversity of flora and fauna and species has become seriously endangered. Initiated in 2015, the LIFE project "Restoration and conservation of sloping and transition mires in low mountain range Hunsrück (Hochwald area)" pursues the goal of reactivating the valuable wetlands so that flora and fauna typically found in mires can resettle here and halt the disintegration of the peat. In addition to other organizations and government agencies, Werner & Mertz works together with NABU Rhineland-Palatinate to make this project a success.

Intact peatlands contribute greatly to climate protection as they store CO2 over the long term. Translated into figures: although bogs cover only three percent of the world's surface, they contain more than 500 gigatons of carbon in their peat (more than 1,800 gigatons of CO2). That is twice as much as the entire forest biomass in the world (30 percent of land mass).

Road construction, draining and deforestation over the years caused significant changes and, in some cases, the loss of bog habitats. Where the moor is drained, the peat dries out, begins to mineralize and disintegrates. The process not only leads to the loss of a natural environment with unusual plants and animals, but also releases into the atmosphere the carbon dioxide long held in the intact bogs. Protection of the bogs, therefore, contributes to climate protection.

After an intense planning phase at the beginning of the project, work began on the rewetting of the bogs. Targeted steps included the careful removal of spruces in such a way that the ground was not damaged or the rest of the peat destroyed. At the same time volunteers manually closed and dammed former drainage ditches at hundreds of places. The positive effect of all that manual labor can be seen today. The mineral decomposition in the last remnants of peat has been stopped and rain water, even after heavy precipitation, now flows measurably more slowly out of the area than before.

In Austria, our site Werner & Mertz Hallein acts as the main cooperation partner of the Austrian Alpine Association in work aimed at nature and species protection.

In long-term joint efforts with the association, Werner & Mertz Hallein pursues the goals of nature conservation and sustainable development of the alpine region. Every year support is given to about 40 mountain forest projects and environmental work sites.

Young volunteers, aged 16 to 30 years, work on the sites. They repair environmental damage, maintain trails, plant trees and seed areas damaged by erosion.

Volunteers aged 18 and up work on mountain forest projects. Local mountain farmers, foresters and environmental agents support the volunteers who work to maintain the stability and vitality of the forest.

The project “Frosch protects frogs” in Austria is now more than 10 years old. Our company and WWF work together for the protection and conservation of the Morava-Djye floodplains. Unique specimens of their type, the Morava-Dyje floodplains in Austria are among the absolute hot spots of species diversity in Central Europe. The wetlands offer habitats for more than 500 endangered species of flora and fauna, including white-tailed eagle, white stork, corncrake, Danube crested newt, moor frog and Dianthus collinus.

The rivers Morava and Dyje are the lifeblood of the protected area in the trilateral border zone. However, when the Morava was straightened and dammed in the 20th century and bodies of water and marshes were drained, certain ecological processes were changed, resulting in the slow disappearance of valuable habitats. The WWF pursues the goals of revitalizing the area and protecting species diversity by means of ambitious restoration measures. With support from Werner & Mertz, valuable bodies of water for amphibians and previously silted up flood plain waters have been restored since 2009.

In 2019 targeted activities were carried out to restore the natural river morphology of the Morava. The restoration of the Morava-Dyje floodplains plays a major role in climate protection and the conservation of species diversity in this region. With the re-establishment of river islands and tributaries, the water supply could be expanded and the floodplains could be prepared for the dry summer months. The work created protected wet areas for animal and plant species that are especially threatened by climate change. Now the Morava-Dyje floodplains offer spawning grounds for the fire-bellied toad and Danube crested newt, for example. More juvenile fish also were observed in 2019 at the new spawning site.

Intact eco systems and floodplains in particular contribute to climate protection. They extract CO2 from the air and store it in trees and humus in the soil. With a variety of ecological niches, high water storage capacity and protected habitats for plants and animals, the Morava-Dyje floodplains make a substantial contribution to species protection and to the fight against climate change.

Wetland meadows are among the most species-rich natural habitats in Germany. They bind CO2 and thus contribute greatly to climate protection. These are reasons why Werner & Mertz participates in NABU projects aimed at expanding and protecting regional floodplains. In one of those projects, NABU acquired a field on the edge of the Rheinauen near Bingen-Gaulsheim, where the organization built the new NABU Rheinauen center. The largest piece of the property was developed into the "AuenLand" nature discovery area, which contains highly diverse species in small biotopes.

Several biotope exhibits have been set up in AuenLand (formerly known as "Im Briel") to give visitors concrete ideas on how to use semi-natural designs in their own gardens. Companies also can find new approaches for landscaping their properties.

Other small habitats are in the AuenLand, including a specially constructed wet trough. In the summer months in 2019 the trough was covered with plastic sheets to keep the water in small areas. Among other things, that allowed amphibian larva from the tree frog to develop. The nature discovery pond, measuring 25 by 15 meters, is home to different species of amphibians. In 2019 marsh marigolds and other wetland plants became established at the edge of the pond. A dry stone wall provides a refuge and winter quarters for amphibians. Lizards also have been seen near the wall. Once all the construction work has been completed, sand lizards might settle in the nature discovery area too.

AuenLand also offers flowering areas with cultivated plants, a meadow orchard with sage and oat grass, a dry hill and wild perennial border next to a hedge whose fruits provide food for birds and other animals in autumn and winter. Several wild plant species are raised in a propagation station for rare plants. They can then be transplanted to increase species diversity in marshes or to landscape company grounds.

A wild bee hotel is nearby to help the bees find their way to the wild plants in the station. Visitors are especially interested in the insect hotel and information about how they too can integrate biodiversity in their own gardens at home.

Genuine recycling can work only if packaging from the Yellow Bag is put into a closed technical production cycle. That is the approach taken by the Recyclate Initiative.

Together we are working on innovative solutions for an effective circular economy based on resource conservation and sensible, sustainable product design. When sustainability is designed into the product, less waste will be generated and less pollution will burden the environment. In the end, we have a sustainable way to care for our future.

The Recyclate Initiative is forging ahead with closed systems for the production, use and material recycling of plastic packaging. Thanks to its efforts, used PET bottles and HDPE material obtained from the Yellow Bag are turned into packaging of the same quality as the originals.

For years Werner & Mertz has repeatedly set new standards for the recycling of plastic packaging. Since 2014 the PET bottles for Green Care Professional have been made completely of recycled material. For some time 20 percent of the material has come from the Yellow Bag and the remaining 80 percent from the European Bottle to Bottle collection system. Most recently Werner & Mertz in cooperation with ALPLA increased the used plastic share from the Yellow Bag to 50 percent.

Recycling material from the Yellow Bag actively contributes to climate protection and resource conservation. For that purpose, packaging should be designed according to the Design for Recycling principles. For what cannot be recycled at a high quality level is bound to end up in the trash and is lost to the circular economy.

In material recycling, used PET packaging yields a PET bottle, HDPE packaging another HDPE bottle and a PP article another PP cap. Genuine upcycling. The proof is found at Werner & Mertz in the millions of PET bottles, HDPE bottles and PP caps whose raw materials come from the Yellow Bag waste collection. The genuine circular economy works, raw materials are retained and the environment on land and sea is relieved of added burdens.

Design for Recycling considers the recycling of a product from the very beginning. Here are the most important properties of packaging optimized in accordance with Design for Recycling:

• The components are separable (cap and bottle).
• The materials are light-colored or transparent.
• The labels are easy to remove.
• The packaging is made of a single material (monomaterial).

Whether or how well a product can be recycled after its useful life is determined in the early design phases. The product's shape, purity of materials, types of connection (screwed, inserted, glued, etc.), labeling and other details have far-reaching consequences for its recyclability. In general, the more complex the packaging is, the greater the recycling effort.

It is not possible to recycle used products economically if they consist of a large material mix of inseparable types of plastics, if their caps and similar parts have been welded, or if their labels are not completely removable. Therefore, the Recyclate Initiative from Werner & Mertz promotes the development of recycling-friendly designs for packaging materials and product packaging.

Unfortunately, only a few companies follow the Design for Recycling when designing their packaging. But that’s the only way we can recycle plastic at a high quality level and keep it in a closed loop long-term. By doing so, we conserve fossil sources and need no new crude oil.

Within the scope of the Recyclate Initiative, Werner & Mertz has reached still another milestone on the way to a genuine circular economy. The world's first completely recyclable pouch is made of a monomaterial (polyethylene) with removable label in accordance with the Cradle to Cradle® Principle.

The result of a four-year joint project by Werner & Mertz and the global packaging and paper firm Mondi, the innovative, patented pouch design solves the problem of recycling printed plastic. As about 85% of all the packaging material is not printed, it can be recycled without any loss of quality. The remaining 15%, the extremely thin printed label, is free of adhesives and bonding agents, so it too can flow back into new uses.

The complete recyclability of the pouch was recently confirmed by the independent Institute Interseroch and HTP Cyclos. Interseroh certified that the stand-up pouch has "very good recyclability that cannot be optimized any further."

The patented stand-up pouch is the first packaging that complies with the three Rs -- reduce, reuse and recycle. The pouch can be recycled completely, so the plastic remains in the closed material loop (recycle). Compared to a bottle, the pouch saves 70 percent on packaging material for the same amount of product (reduce).

Finally, thanks to the refill packaging, a product bottle can be refilled repeatedly (reuse).

Since 2010 the Werner & Mertz office building has been a prominent landmark in Rheinallee in Mainz. The headquarters, crowned by striking wind turbine rotors on the roof, meets the highest international standards for sustainable and environmentally friendly construction. In recognition of this achievement, Werner & Mertz was awarded the LEED Platinum, the most demanding sustainability certification for buildings, in 2012. The office building is Germany's only industrial headquarters in the highest LEED award class.

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Environmental & Energy Design, classifies top-quality ecological buidlings. The LEED certification system was developed in the USA by the non-profit organization U.S. Green Building Council.

The building has an outstanding energy concept. By means of wind power, photovoltaic cells and geothermal groundwater usage, the building generates 20 percent more energy than required for its current operation. Furthermore, solar panels on the building's roof power two electric Smarts in the company's fleet.

The company's own well water is used in the heating/cooling system. From there the water flows through the demineralization system and then into Production for a resource-friendly second use. In June 2010, prior to the official dedication, the new headquarters received the renowned Rhineland-Palatinate Environmental Award. The building is a highly visible sign of the way Werner & Mertz lives in keeping with its sustainability philosophy. 

Environmental Management Validated by EMAS For nearly 20 years Werner & Mertz has had a holistic environmental managment system with the objectives of conserving raw materisls, relieving the environment, optimizing resource use and lowering costs. Since 2003 we regularly have an independent auditor validate the managment system and our progress in resource conservation against EMAS criteria.

EMAS, the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme of the European Union is a combination of environmental managment and environmental audit. Participation is open to all companies, agencies and associations interested in improving their environmental performance, regardless of their size or industry.

The EMAS organizations are examined by state-approved, independent environmental auditors. Organizations participate voluntarily and at their own expense. EMAS is considered to be the world's most demanding system for sustainable environmental management currently on the market.

What makes EMAS so special?

• High environmental standards are continuously refined
• and strict EU criteria are applied
• in annual assessments
• conducted by independent auditors.
• Employees are involved and trained in the processes.

Responsible, environmentally aware companies like Werner & Mertz put this instrument to use. Although they work to promote a sustainable and legally compliant economy, the companies cannot enjoy all the EMAS benefits due to EU restrictions.

Because EMAS is a production and site-related certification, the EU Commission forbids use of the logo on products and their packaging as products are not always manufactured on one site. The advertising ban involving EMAS on product labels affects companies like Werner & Mertz that are completely EMAS certified.

Particularly in times of consumer uncertainty, we contend that it is necessary to make product and production-related information more accessible to the public. We therefore work to make EMAS known as the seal of an environmentally aware value chain for production and product.

Energy-efficient Production Center With the construction of the new Production Center in 2019, the world’s largest recyclate bottle production was created. Two-thirds of the 4,000-square-meter rooftop area is covered by 455 photovoltaic modules which supply power for the cooling units. Heat recovery and district heating, among other things, are used to heat the building.

The entire building is equipped with LED lighting. Continuous, high volumes of fresh air ensure good air quality in the rooms.

Employees can make use of the 26 new parking spaces for e-autos with charging stations right next to the building. A Japanese garden in the rooftop courtyard, ground cover on the roof and greenery on the north wall provide a green view and contribute to biodiversity.

In June 2021 the Mainz-based cleaning specialists 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.

With the Platinum rating, Tana-Chemie receives the second EcoVadis rating in its history and takes a direct leap from Silver status into the top group. 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.

Business partners of Tana-Chemie have a transparent view of the entire supply chain. They gain benefits from the continuous improvement of extensive criteria in all areas checked during the certification process. Transparency creates lasting trust.

In order to monitor and manage all meaningful environmental parameters, all the companies at the Mainz site have identified, analyzed and assessed the direct and indirect environmental impact of their activities. The assessment provides information about the environmental impact on the site and serves as the basis for defining environmental goals.

So that we can better adjust to the always changing conditions, we regularly update the assessment of the environmental impact and rigorously follow up with suitable solutions.

The highly significant topics from the assessment involve energy consumption in our vehicular fleet, finished goods logistics, employee mobility, employee awareness of energy use and product-related effects. Some specifics follow:

• We give preference to environmentally certified and, wherever possible, local suppliers when making purchasing decisions.
• The in-house production of bottles and canisters eliminates about 1,700 truck trips per year. That corresponds to approximately one million kilometers or 250,000 liters of diesel fuel per year. That means that about 600 tons of CO2 emissions are avoided per year.

Finished Goods Logistics

In keeping with our integral approach, we select our service providers on the basis of their sustainability philosophy. For our major partners, sustainability is a core element in corporate decision-making. Consequently, since 2008 CO2 emissions per ton-km have been reduced significantly (2008 vs. 2018 = -40.2%) through the use of modern vehicles and rigorous fleet management. In the same 10-year period the share of low-emission vehicles increased from 21% to more than 94%.

Vehicular Fleet

Vehicles in the fleet for sales companies' field representatives are replaced after 150,000 km per vehicle with vehicles equipped with the latest technology. We use vehicles with particularly environmentally friendly technologies which have lower CO2 emissions than conventional models. Furthermore, fuel consumption of our vehicles is regularly monitored to allow for quick reaction to unusual changes in consumption patterns.

The modern Water Center at the Mainz site draws water from the company‘s own 70-meter-deep well. The water flows through a geothermal system for heating and cooling the headquarters building. Afterwards, the water is treated in an environmentally friendly reverse osmosis process.

In that physical process, water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane at a flow of about 12,000 liters per hour per system. Minerals are collected in a liquid concentrate on the membrane. The high-quality demineralized water serves as raw material for our products and also for cleaning and rinsing cycles in Production.

Wastewater from Production is treated in a special system that filters out minerals. The resulting filter sludge is reused as a supplemental material in the manufacturing of Poroton bricks. Circularity!

The availability of water at the site is ensured by our own wells and the municipal water pipeline system. A major portion of treated water goes into the manufacture of our products.

From the well on company premises, we have drawn up to 80 cubic meters of water daily since the beginning of 2006 and, after treatment, supply completely demineralized water to the production lines. We also draw 15 cubic meters of water daily from the well for cooling purposes. That water does not come into contact with products or other supplies and, completely uncontaminated, is redirected into the Salzach river. Groundwater extraction contributes to lowering the already high water table in the Neualm section of Hallein.