There is an edding for everything - so goes the maxim of edding AG from Ahrensburg. There is also an environmentally-friendly alternative for everything. It's a view firmly shared by the medium-sized company as it unveils a selection of new eco-friendly alternatives.

Products in this new "EcoLine" series include two permanent markers, one with a bullet tip and one with a chisel tip, and a board marker with a bullet tip. At least 80% of total plastic used to make the plastic parts is from recycled material. In addition, the specialist for markers and felt and fibre-tip pens is now extending its environmentally-friendly range to include a highlighter with a barrel and cap, at least 70% of which is made from a renewable resource.

One really new development, available from February 2009, is an EcoLine board marker with a chisel tip. The development of the five refillable products is further evidence of the company's excellent commitment to the environment, a commitment that extends way beyond that required of it by law and for which edding has been known for years. Back in 1995, for example, the company's founder won the much coveted B.A.U.M. award in recognition of his excellent record on environmental issues.

It's a commitment that edding has upheld to this day. The company's environmentally-friendly measures start during the production process (edding markers always contain the "kindest" solvents possible), but evidence of its eco-friendly initiatives are also to be found in its commercial operations. Take packaging, for example: as an environmentally-aware producer, edding uses eco-friendly materials for its packaging.

On top of that, edding has also sought to ensure sustainability in everyday office life. The best example of this is a photovoltaic system recently installed by the company one year ago in Ahrensburg and which generates electricity from solar power. Annually, it produces around 20,000 kilowatt hours, avoiding 17,720 kg/a CO2 emissions.

Since the end of June, V.D. Ledermann & Co GmbH - a subsidiary of the company - has been using solar power.  990 solar modules covering an area of 7,000 square metres generate 160,000 kilowatt hours of solar energy every year on the roof of the company building. The installation of a combined heat-and-power unit in Ahrensburg is also planned for 2009.

The edding Group has recently been successfully certified in accordance with international environment management standard ISO 14001 and the internationally recognised standard for occupational health and safety, OHSAS 18001. Through these measures, edding is meeting the internationally recognised requirements imposed on company environmental-management systems, further highlighting its ecological credentials.