Papieratlas 2023: HNEE is the most recycling paper-friendly university in Germany

Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) was named the "most recycled paper-friendly university" by the Federal Ministry for the Environment in Berlin on Tuesday, 10 October 2023. With its exemplary use of Blue Angel paper, HNEE came out on top against 54 universities in the Paper Atlas University Competition 2023 (Papieratlas-Hochschulwettbewerb) organised by the Pro Recycling Paper Initiative.

President Prof Dr Matthias Barth accepted the award from Christian Kühn, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment. "We are delighted to have received this award from the Pro Recycling Paper Initiative, which confirms and encourages us in our sustainable behaviour, including in terms of resource consumption," said the university president.

With its consistent use of Blue Angel paper, HNEE is making an important contribution to climate and resource protection, according to the reasons for the award. This is confirmed by the Federal Environment Agency's updated life cycle assessment for graphic paper. Last year, HNEE saved more than 83,000 litres of water and over 18,000 kilowatt hours of energy.

The Paper Atlas (Papieratlas) has documented paper consumption and recycled paper rates in German cities every year since 2008, in universities since 2016 and in rural districts since 2018. Cooperation partners are the Federal Ministry for the Environment, the Federal Environment Agency, the German Association of Cities, the German Association of Towns and Municipalities, the German Association of Counties and the German Association of Universities. This year, the Paper Atlas achieved a new record participation with 230 municipalities and universities taking part for the first time.

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