For the first time in the world there are Nordic Swan Ecolabelled coffee services. People will now have the chance to drink coffee that is certified with several sustainability labels.
"We hope that workplaces and public arenas choose Nordic Ecolabelled coffee services. The positive result will be that more people will be given the opportunity to drink coffee, tea and chocolate carrying environmental, ecological and social sustainability labels. In this way, major environmental gains can be achieved, " said Caroline Karlsson, product manager at Ecolabelling Sweden and continues:
"Only 7 of 10 consumers choose ecological coffee in the stores today*). We believe that if one learns a new habit at work, this habit will even carry over to one´s home."
A Nordic Swan Ecolabelled coffee machine is a smart climate choice. The Nordic Ecolabelling criteria has a limit to how much energy a machine may use in operation and automatic energy saving mode. The requirements also include the installation and maintenance.
Facts about Nordic Swan Ecolabelled coffee services:
- At least 90 % of the coffee should be organic. Tea, chocolate, milk and sugar: 50 % organic.
- At least 30 % of the coffee should be certified according to a label for corporate social responsibility. Tea, chocolate and sugar: 10 %.
- A Nordic Swan Ecolabelled coffee service is also a good choice for your health. The Nordic Swan sets high demands on which substances may be included in the plastic and metal that come into contact with the coffee and other foods that are used in the machine. Substances that are not environmentally sound or dangerous to one´s health, for example a flame retardant, halogenated organic compounds and plasticizers (for instance phthalates) are prohibited. See the full list of prohibited substances on svanen.se/kaffetjänster.
- No cleaning chemicals that are classified as hazardous to the environmental or to one´s health or carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction may be used.
- Any disposable cups that are delivered together with the coffee service must be Nordic Swan Ecolabelled or fulfill these requirements for disposable items for food.
- Capsule machines are not allowed
Coffee as a work benefit
In Sweden, 98 % of the workplaces provide coffee to their employees, most of them for free. There are about 90 000 coffee machines, maintained by operators/coffee service company**) in Sweden. More than 300 000 machines are installed annually in the Nordic countries, well-known for their love of coffee. The Finnish people for example drink more coffee than any other nation in the world. The Nordic Ecolabelling organization was initiated in 1989 by the Council of Nordic Ministers to help Nordic consumers choose the most environmentally friendly products and services on the market.
For more information please contact:
Product Manager Caroline Karlsson, Ecolabelling Sweden.
tel 46 (0)8 – 55 55 24 95, email: caroline.karlsson@svanen.se
Press contact: Anna Norberg, Ecolabelling Sweden
tel 46 762 625490, email: anna.norberg@svanen.se
*) Source: Naturskyddsföreningen Ekofika
**) Facts from 2012: www.vending.se