With regard to our environment, the packaging material comes into focus as a particularly important and critical point. In direct interaction with our suppliers, we always ensure that the most resource-saving materials are used, but the human factor and therefore you, our customers and partners, play a decisive role here. As good as the materials used are recyclable, sustainability ultimately depends on the extent to which our packaging is added to the recycling cycle. If these end in nature, they harm the environment and thus the entire flora and fauna.
Therefore, we´re also asking you to sort and dispose of packaging materials according to the generally applicable specifications. This is the only way we can do something good for our environment together.
We´re primarily using bags made of LD-PE (Low Density Polyethylene) for heavier metal products. Here are some key facts about this material:
LD-PE ...
Important: packaging made of LD-PE belongs in the recycling cycle, where it can be reused almost 100%. In nature, the material takes 100 years and more to disintegrate into microplastics, which can damage the environment and enter the food cycle.
We´re primarily using packaging made from recycled cardboard for lighter plastic products. Here are some key facts about this material:
Cardboard boxes made from recycled material ...
Important: Large amounts of wood, water, energy and chemicals are required to produce new cardboard boxes. Used cardboard boxes therefore belong in the recycling cycle in order to keep the need for new goods as low as possible.
Since a lot of energy, water and chemicals are also required for the recycling process of paper and cardboard, it makes sense to use packaging material several times. At RST in particular, outer cartons in which material has been supplied by the supplier are sometimes used several times. You can recognize these boxes by our stamp “Box reused. We care about nature!". Of course, when reusing packaging materials, we make sure that they are in good condition and reliably serve their intended purpose.
As our customer, supplier and partner, first think about whether packaging actually needs to be disposed of directly, simply because it may not correspond 100% to your corporate design or have minor blemishes. It often deserves a second chance without being directly fed into the ultimately resource-demanding recycling process. Raising the awareness of the responsible employees is desirable and recommended.
As part of the manufacture, storage and distribution of any product, it is important to comply with legal requirements for the protection of society and the environment. For this reason, the fullest possible compliance with the EU regulations REACh and RoHS plays a particularly important role for us.
REACh is a European chemicals regulation (No. 1907/2006), which primarily deals with the registration, evaluation, approval and restriction of chemicals. The basic principle is that manufacturers and importers takes responsibility for the chemicals used individually and ensure responsible handling of the corresponding substances. REACh is not only one of the most modern, but also one of the strictest chemicals laws worldwide. There is an obligation to pass on information if a so-called candidate substance (SVHC) is present in an article with a share of more than 0.1%. Further information on the content of the regulation can also be found at: https://echa.europa.eu/de/candidate-list-table und https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/chemikalien/reach-chemikalien-reac.
The RoHS directives 2011/65 / EU and 2015/863 / EU regulates the restriction of the use of ten hazardous substances in electronic devices. The aim is to circulate devices without dangerous substances. The German implementation is implemented into national law with the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Substance Ordinance. Every four years, new substances are banned, exemptions expire or new ones are added. In July 2019, the list of fabrics in Annex II was expanded. The four substances were already included in the REACh candidate list in 2008 and 2010 respectively. You can find more information on the content of the guideline at https://www.zvei.org/themen/gesellschaft-umwelt/rohs-richtlinie/ und https://www.vde.com/tic-de/news/2019-1/rohs-richtlinie-erweitert.
Based on the complete REACh documentation, we can confirm that our products currently do not exceed the trivial limits specified in the RoHS 2015/863 / EU directive.
We make sure that our suppliers are certified according to ISO 14001 and can therefore demonstrate an appropriate environmental management system. Further information on the content of the standard can also be found at https://www.intertek.de/systemzertifizierung/iso-14001/.
In recent years, the legal requirements have been tightened further and further. A total ban on lead is becoming increasingly likely in the medium to long term.. Lead is not absolutely necessary, but it considerably facilitates the machinability of the MS58 material. It is technically possible to do it without lead, but it requires significantly longer machine running times and thus a higher use of energy and resources. This factor will also have a significant impact on the pricing of lead-free products. According to REACh and RoHS, there are restrictions and disclosure requirements (Annex III, Exemption 6c), which we comply with with corresponding explanations. In addition, there are no clear prohibitions so far.
Not least because of the general market requirements, we offer new cable glands and accessories made of lead-free brass as an alternative to our proven products made of MS58:
Further information in our flyer.
You can find more information on the subject of lead-free brass at: https://www.cuphinschmiede.de/material/ und https://www.wieland.com/files/pdfs/download_pdfs_de/ECOBRASS-Thelead-freemachiningbrass.pdf.
The issue of environmental and climate protection is a matter close to our hearts. We don't just talk, we always act and work on optimizing our internal processes (also) for the good of nature.
Do you have any questions or suggestions about the points mentioned above? We are looking forward to your contact! Please also follow us at XING, LinkedIn or facebook. We'll keep you up to date.