Sustainability is a living tradition at Hahnemühle and has defined the company’s history for more than four centuries. Hahnemühle is the oldest German paper manufacturer with an uninterrupted manufacturing tradition at the same site. The company has recently been certified for all its sustainability measures and its environmentally sensitive actions according to the ISO 14001 guideline for environmental management. This is part of Hahnemühle’s journey to becoming the first climate-neutral paper mill by 2030.
Hahnemühle’s measures for more sustainability in detail:
Hahnemühle has been using pure spring water since 1584
At the foot of the Solling, Hahnemühle has been producing the finest artist‘s papers with pure spring water for more than four centuries. The sole production site in Germany is located in a landscape conservation area. Accordingly, paper production must be environmentally friendly, sustainable and is strictly controlled. The pure spring water Hahnemühle is using since it´s founding days is fed into the nearby river Ilme – free from chemical cleaning agents, biocides or preservatives.
Hahnemühle´s raw materials
As trees grow and continue to age, the more CO2 they absorb from the atmosphere. Hahnemühle only uses paper pulp that comes from sustainable and FSC- or PEFC wood plantations as primary fibres. No tropical rainforest in South America is destroyed either. The cellulose from eucalyptus is planted and extracted in certified plantations. The cotton rag fibres (linters) used by Hahnemühle are fine fibres that cling to the seed of the cotton plant and occur as a by-product of the textile and oil industries.
Hahnemühle’s “green” papers continue to grow
Hahnemühle has been producing high quality artists’ papers from innovative, rapidly renewable fibres since 2008. The Hahnemühle Bamboo paper was and is the pioneer. In addition, there are now papers made from hemp and agave fibres for painting and drawing as well as digital fineart printing. Digital printable hemp paper for books and brochures also comes from Hahnemühle. All these fibres grow quickly, require no pesticides and little water for cultivation.
Hahnemühle papers are highly resistant to ageing according to ISO standard 16245
All Hahnemühle papers meet the high requirements of ISO standard 16245 for ageing resistance of paper and extreme light fastness. In combination with museum conditions and highly lightfast and acid free artist materials, artworks will last for hundreds of years, without loss of colour.
All Hahnemühle papers are vegan
As early as 1965, Hahnemühle was the first paper manufacturer to produce exclusively vegan artists’ papers and does not use animal glues or other animal substrates in its papers or manufacture.
Energy used for manufacturing comes exclusively from 100% renewable sources
Hahnemühle covers its entire electricity requirements through wind, water and solar energy. In a certified system to improve energy efficiency, all energy data is recorded, evaluated and continuously reduced in a professional, traceable and proper manner. Currently, the small fleet of company vehicles is being converted to alternative drives.
As a paper manufacturer ISO14001 certified for environmental management
Hahnemühle has recently been certified for all its sustainability measures and its environmentally sensitive actions according to the ISO 14001 guideline for environmental management. This is part of Hahnemühle’s journey to becoming the first climate-neutral paper mill by 2030.
Recycling in the production cycle
The paper mill returns production waste and offcuts to the production cycle or, where this is not possible, passes them on to other processors. Hahnemühle always gives preference to recycled material when this can be implemented without compromising the quality of the premium papers, for example cardboard tubes for the papers in reels and packaging cartons.
Hahnemühle uses environmentally friendly packaging
For example, the filling material for our transport boxes is made of recycled paper or corn chips from 100% compostable corn starch. Adhesive tapes and delivery note envelopes made of paper are also used helping to reduce plastic.
Environmentally friendly paper production increases quality
New, innovative raw materials and resource-saving processes are characteristic for Hahnemühle papers. This sometimes makes the raw materials more expensive and thus also the end product. Hahnemühle suppliers follow stringent quality and compliance guidelines to ensure that no artificial or environmentally harmful substances are used to produce and supply our raw materials.
Hahnemühle papers are available in more than 130 countries around the world
Hahnemühle´s central logistics location is in Göttingen in southern Lower Saxony. The logistics provider has been awarded a sustainability prize and supports our climate protection efforts. We bundle our shipments for transport in order to make the best use of our means of transport and – where possible – rely on climate-neutral shipping. The majority of our products are transported by ship or rail.
Hahnemühle Green Rooster initiative supports sustainability projects worldwide
The red rooster is Hahnemühle’s well-known trademark, and with the Green Rooster initiative the company supports regional and international environmental protection and sustainable projects. With reforestation, wildlife protection and education programmes, Hahnemühle is actively protecting the environment and the climate. Hahnemühle is guided by the 17 sustainability goals of the United Nations and the Gold Standard for environmental protection projects.
About Hahnemühle
Hahnemühle FineArt has been producing paper since 1584. Today’s portfolio includes traditional and digital FineArt papers for painting and all types of printing techniques as well as stationery products. The customised production of high-purity papers for life science applications and speciality papers are also part of the manufacturing portfolio.
All paper grades are produced according to old recipes from high-quality cotton fibres, cellulose or fast-growing plant fibres and pure spring water. They have best-in-class quality characteristics and are highly resitant to ageing. Hahnemühle has an excellent reputation worldwide as German “Brand of the Century”. Its products are available in more than 130 countries worldwide.
The company has its headquarters in Dassel in southern Lower Saxony and subsidiaries in Great Britain, France, USA, Singapore and China.
With its “Green Rooster” initiative, Hahnemühle has been supporting environmental protection projects worldwide since 2008, including reforestation, animal welfare and environmental education programmes. The long-established company produces papers in a landscape conservation area under strict environmental regulations and and, with its sustainable paper production, makes an important contribution to environmental and climate protection.
For more information on the brand, history and environmental responsibility, visit www.hahnemuehle.com.
