The Druckstudio Group was awarded the silver medal by EcoVadis in March 2025 and immediately made it into the top 15 percent of all companies worldwide that have taken part in the ranking in the past 12 months. With this award, the Düsseldorf-based print and media service provider is continuing to pursue its sustainability strategy.
Information about EcoVadis
More and more companies are focusing on transparency and responsibility in their supply chains. EcoVadis offers a globally recognized platform for assessing the sustainability performance of companies and has a network of more than 150,000 assessed companies from 220 different industries in over 180 countries. It analyzes and evaluates companies in the areas of environment, labor and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. The assessment is based on international standards such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the UN Global Compact and ISO 26000. The result of the EcoVadis assessments strengthens credibility with customers and business partners, promotes sustainable action within the organization and can create competitive advantages in the market. In addition, more and more clients are demanding proof of sustainability – a good EcoVadis rating can be the deciding factor for new business relationships.
EcoVadis silver medal for the Druckstudio Group
“The fact that we were awarded the EcoVadis silver medal at the first attempt is something special – even though we already have many certifications in the area of sustainability,” explains Werner Drechsler, Managing Partner of the Druckstudio Group. The ranking is testament to the wide range of measures the company has implemented to promote sustainability in the printing industry. For example, the company is also certified to the world’s highest environmental standard, EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme). Specifically, the Druckstudio Group relies on 100 percent green electricity, the use of process waste heat through a heat recovery system on the printing presses, the generation of renewable energy through a photovoltaic system on the roofs of the company buildings, chemical-free printing plates, 100 percent IPA-free printing (alcohol-free printing) and organic inks based on vegetable oil. The company’s recycling rate is 94.4 percent. In addition to the Druckstudio Group, only four other print shops in the top 25 of the environmental index for printed matter (UmDEX.de) have been awarded an EcoVadis label. UmDEX lists the most environmentally friendly print shops in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland).
Review process provides impetus for further improvements
EcoVadis not only reviews the environment, however, but also the fields of ethics, labor and human rights and sustainable procurement. “The ranking process is comprehensive,” reports Werner Drechsler. “But that’s precisely what makes it so valuable, as it gives us new impetus as to where we can still improve. After all, sustainability is part of our brand essence.” As recently as 2024, for example, the company modernized its heat recovery system and added an additional intermediate storage tank. This means that the heat can still be used when the printing presses are not running and the company can completely dispense with heating oil.
The Druckstudio Group’s Green Team has been working intensively on the issue of sustainability since 2007 and is one of the pioneers in the industry. It was one of the few print shops in Germany to be awarded the EU Green Brands seal of approval in 2021. “Sustainability has long been deeply embedded in our corporate culture,” says Werner Drechsler. “The silver medal proves once again that our team’s work is paying off and that sustainable production and premium print quality are not mutually exclusive.”