Cradle to Cradle

New Roots is always striving for more and better, especially when it comes to protecting our planet and everyone who lives on it.

C2C Label

We’re aware that packaging our products in large quantities has environmental impacts. That’s why we’ve decided to completely rethink the packaging for our Le Grilled products. We’ve opted for Cradle-to-Cradle certified packaging. Martin Schlegel, our expert at our printer Vögeli, talks to us about his passion for paper and his commitment to a better world.

Why isn't traditional paper recycling a sustainable solution?

Traditional paper recycling isn’t ideal because the raw materials – old paper and cardboard – are treated with various harmful substances during their production. Only 70% of the fibers can actually be recycled; the remaining 30% end up as sludge made of short fibers, varnishes, glues, and inks, all toxic to nature. This waste has to be burned and treated, even though it’s unnecessary to use toxic products in prints in the first place! So, recycling alone isn’t sustainable long-term if we don’t address the root causes by being innovative in product development. It must be ensured, first and foremost, that prints and packaging are made only from clean and ecological raw materials, and then recycling will be possible without restrictions, making it truly sustainable.

Can you explain what Cradle-to-Cradle means?

Cradle to Cradle Certified® is the certification of an innovative fully circular product that can remain in closed cycles – whether natural or technical – without generating waste. If it’s no longer usable, the product becomes food or raw material for a new product, without any losses. A product with Cradle to Cradle Certified® GOLD label has no negative impacts during production or at the end of its lifecycle.

In this case, it doesn’t matter if it’s recycled, composted, burned… there are no risks. To be certified, many criteria beyond material quality must be met. Renewable energies, CO2 emissions, working conditions, water and biodiversity conservation are just as important as recyclability. It’s very comprehensive and ambitious.

Your slogan is "Made for tomorrow", and ours is "Crafting the traditions of the future": So, we were made for each other, right?

Yes! We both have the mission to show with our products that problems can be solved without compromising on quality. Thanks to you, we don’t have to give up cheese, and here, we produce clean, sustainable prints of excellent quality. So many changes are possible if we’re willing to try new things, overcome challenges and prejudices, and believe that innovation leads us to products that are good for our health and good for nature too. It’s not said enough: “less bad isn’t good enough”. We need to go all the way and develop fully ecological and circular products. Our economy moves forward slowly, in my opinion, even much too slowly. Personally, though, I know that I’m contributing to shaping our future and creating a better world for our children.