German Federal Environment Agency: Blue Angel now also available for baking paper and muffin cups
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The Blue Angel DE-UZ 65 eco-label now also applies to baking paper that consists of at least 70% cellulose from sustainable forestry, according to the Federal Environment Agency, following the revision and expansion of the award criteria that have been in place for cooking and hot filter paper since 2014.
The products covered by the eco-label now also include baking paper rolls and pre-cut sheets, as well as baking tins such as muffin cases. The baking papers must therefore be characterized by low-emission and low-pollutant production and be PFAS-free.
The ban on bleaching for cooking and hot filter papers will remain in place in the revised January 2025 edition for the production of pulp. In the production of baking paper, it has been shown that new plants for the production of pulp with ECF (elementary chlorine free) bleaching can produce lower wastewater volumes and lower energy consumption than older plants without bleaching. In addition, a mix of bleached and unbleached fibers is often used in baking paper production. After weighing up the overall environmental impact, the UBA decided against a general ban on bleaching for baking papers.
Silicones can be used under the Blue Angel label for coating baking paper to make it water and grease resistant, but are subject to additional requirements.
