The EU Product Award for Sustainable Development 2004
In February 2004 the Danish Minister for the Environment, Mr. Hans Christian Schmidt, presented the EU Product Award for Sustainable Development to Mr. Birger Schjerning, Messrs. Schjerning Farver A/S.
The award is every second year presented to a company, which has made renovate and sustainable initiatives in regards to the environmental area. The award was presented for the first time in 1987.
Schjerning Farver A/S received the award as an appreciation for developing, producing and selling products, which are A-labelled, according to the criteria of the Joint Council for Creative and Hobby Materials (FFFH).
In the published press release, Mr. Birger Schjerning says: “It is a very great pleasure to receive this manifestation for the work which the company has done through many years in regards to the environment. It is also a pleasure because the environmental efforts are for the benefit of the many users of hobby colours, our employees and our surroundings on the whole.
Schjerning Farver A/S is a small company with a big environmental policy.
Environmental Policy
The environmental policy of Schjerning Farver A/S is to produce and sell products that are as environmentally friendly as possible. The environment control is valid for our own production.
ISO 14001
Since 1998, Schjerning Farver A/S has held an ISO 14001 certification, which has resulted in substantial environmental improvements. In our laboratory we develop and test paints in close cooperation with suppliers and independent monitors. Environmental consultancy companies document all raw materials used in the production. All raw materials are checked against an online database of raw materials that is continuously updated when raw material content or environmental laws are changed. No products containing PVC, softeners or carcinogenic substances are included in the production - not even if they contain legally allowable amounts.
We pose the strictest demands on our suppliers as well as on our own production. In our day-to-day operation, we go to great lengths to spare the environment and to achieve a cleaner production. Our employees are continuously kept updated with information about the environment. The consumption of electricity and water is controlled and reduced and our waste is carefully sorted.
The Environmentally Friendly Alternative
Schjerning Farver A/S has a wide production program in hobby paints: School paints for children and educational use, the ES line for hobby use, and the ART line for the demanding artist. All products in these series are water based and marked "A" after the strict requirements set by the Joint Council for Creative and Hobby Materials.
The paints are developed and produced as environmentally friendly as possible while retaining the high quality. All products are at the top of the range in their categories, both for painting properties and coverage.
Schools and institutions can safely let children use the paints. Furthermore, many adults today choose the most environmentally friendly alternative.
The Future
In the future Schjerning Farver A/S will continue to prioritise those suppliers who best live up to the environmental requirements - both in the finished products and during the production process. By openly sharing information, we make every effort to help our customers be aware that they have an opportunity to use environmentally friendly alternatives. We all have a responsibility to minimize our impact on the environment. Every day we must all make the right choices in order to conserve the environment for future generations. Schjerning Farver A/S always considers the environment - without compromising on the quality of our products.
