Detailed History and Explanation of Blue Angel and Public Procurement in Germany

Detailed History and Explanation of Blue Angel and Public Procurement in Germany

1990s: Foundation for Environmental Protection
In the 1990s, environmental awareness increased in Germany, especially in Berlin, which procured over 1000 tons of recycled paper annually. In the automotive industry, BMW and Volkswagen advanced efforts to use recycled materials in 20% of their vehicles. In public procurement across the government, the percentage of spending on environmentally labeled products reached about 5%. During this period, the proliferation of recycled products progressed, establishing a foundation for environmentally conscious procurement.

2000s: Expansion of Environmental Labels through EU Directives
In 2004, an EU directive was enacted, officially incorporating environmentally labeled products as standards for public procurement. Following this directive, Hamburg introduced recycling plastic trash cans, achieving a 10% reduction in overall waste. The domestic public procurement market reached approximately 260 billion euros annually, with about 10% allocated to environmentally labeled products.

2010s: Strictening of Certification Standards and Corporate Responses
In 2016, Germany's public procurement law was amended, making Blue Angel certification a mandatory standard. Consequently, BMW integrated 95% recyclable parts in its "i3" model and obtained environmental labeling. In Frankfurt, there was a comprehensive shift to environmentally labeled products for public facility office furniture, successfully reducing CO₂ emissions by 5,000 tons annually.

2020s: Strengthening Resource Circulation and Climate Change Measures
In the 2020s, the number of certified Blue Angel products exceeded 30,000, with about 15% (600 billion euros) of total public procurement funds allocated to environmentally labeled products. Berlin introduced recycled plastic furniture, aiming to reduce waste plastic by 500 tons annually. BASF provided low-VOC paints, promoting the reduction of VOC emissions at construction sites. Additionally, Heidelberg achieved a 20% reduction in energy consumption by introducing insulation materials, resulting in an annual reduction of 8,000 tons of CO₂.

Conclusion
The use of Blue Angel certified products has led to an annual reduction of 10% in greenhouse gas emissions across public procurement sectors nationwide, contributing to the establishment of a sustainable economy. This trend is expected to continue, balancing environmental protection and economic development.