Energy management system ISO 50.001
Natural gas and electricity are required for the production of wallpaper. Natural gas is needed to operate a so-called ‘thermal exhaust air purification’ system and for heating. We need electricity to operate our production facilities and to generate compressed air and cooling.
As part of our ISO 50.001 certification, we have developed an energy concept to ensure efficient energy use. Heat exchangers are used in the thermal exhaust air purification systems so that the process heat generated can be used, for example, to dry the inks in the printing process. This saves energy and reduces the remaining waste heat potential.
Energy transition in companies – use of renewable energies
A.S. Création Tapeten AG in Germany has been purchasing green electricity since 2021. This change results in annual savings of 2,000 to 3,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents. This is equivalent to the heating of around 1,000 single-family homes. See more details in our sustainability report.
When purchasing renewable energy, A.S. Création relies on certified green electricity from Germany. The green electricity used is certified by Guarantees of Origin, ensuring that every kilowatt-hour consumed is unambiguously attributed to A.S. Création and that double counting is avoided. With this decision, the company takes a further important step within its 'GREEN STEPS' sustainability strategy.
Climate protection at the heart of A.S. Création's sustainability efforts
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. A.S. Création Tapeten AG is aware of its contribution to climate change as a manufacturing company and therefore places climate protection at the heart of its sustainability efforts. We are pushing ahead with extensive measures to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in order to help ensure that the Paris Climate Agreement is still met despite the poor prognosis and to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius.
The carbon footprint of A.S. Création Tapeten AG
The basis for our climate protection measures is the annual calculation of the company's carbon footprint. The comprehensive understanding of our impact on climate change gained from these calculations enables us to identify targeted climate protection measures and continuously measure their effectiveness. Our absolute CO₂ emissions have developed as follows over the past years.
| Emissions in tonnes of CO2 | 2020 | 2020 (recalculation) | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Scope 1 (heating, cooling, vehicle fleet) | 8.939 | 8.939 | 8.640 | 6.974 | 6.043 | 6.023 | 5.142 |
| Scope 2 (electricity) | 3.246 | 3.246 | 0 | 0,00 | 0,00 | 0,00 | 5 |
| Scope 3 (purchased goods, logistics, disposal, etc.) | 101.568 | 92.518 | 83.026 | 59.312 | 50.025 | 49.127 | 40.754 |
| Total emissions | 113.753 | 104.703 | 91.666 | 66.286 | 56.068 | 55.150 | 45.901 |
| Reduction Indicator (kgCO2e/euroroll) | 5,65 | 5,20 | 5,19 | 5,14 | 5,19 | 5,05 | 4,68 |
Our CO2 reduction concept:
A.S. Création recognises that determining emissions alone is not sufficient to contribute to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. Rather, this requires deriving a reduction strategy from the carbon footprint, defining specific reduction measures and implementing them consistently. A.S. Création has therefore identified potential for CO2 reduction. In identifying this reduction potential, each individual emission category of the carbon footprint was examined separately. The analysis was based on internal assessments, supplier surveys and the evaluation of scientific sources.
We measure the progress of our reduction measures using the key performance indicator 'kgCO2e/euroroll'. This relative indicator adjusts for the effect of varying annual production volumes and thus gives an honest picture of the reduction pathway. This indicator is shown in the last row of the table above.
Contributing factors to this development include the switch to electricity from renewable sources backed by Guarantees of Origin and the implementation of identified efficiency measures. To further reduce our emissions, we are driving strategic projects in the following areas, each implemented by specialist teams: Material substitution and improvement, Modernisation of production facilities, processes and energy technology, Reduction and optimisation of packaging, Circular economy.
Within these areas, we are continuously implementing specific measures.
Straight in the bin - or not? What happens to the wallpaper after the renovation?
Wallpaper generally consists of a paper or non-woven base layer, which serves as the substrate for the printing inks applied in a subsequent step to create the decorative pattern. A textured ‘3D surface’ is another popular product feature. It is created by applying an embossed plastic layer. However, this layered construction means that different materials are firmly bonded together.
There are technical methods for separating the plastic layer from the paper layer, yielding two reusable material fractions. These techniques are used, for example, when recycling in-house production rejects. However, the disposal routes available to end consumers are not designed to separate these materials, which means that wallpaper belongs in general waste after use. For this reason, A.S. Création focuses on minimising the product's environmental impact on the input side.
The further development of the product into a circular material is currently being evaluated. Beyond the purely technical and material challenges, however, there is an additional problem: after many years of use, customers would still need to recognise the product as recyclable when removing it and dispose of it in the correct waste stream. In addition, removing wallpaper often generates further mixed construction waste. As this mixes with the wallpaper waste, recyclability is significantly impaired. The vision of a ‘circular wallpaper’ is therefore a major challenge that may not be achievable.
End consumers can dispose of the wallpaper packaging for recycling. The product is supplied with a paper insert containing all the important product information. To protect it from dirt and damage during transport and in the shop, it is wrapped in transparent PE shrink film. The transport packaging for delivering a complete packaging unit is a corrugated cardboard box. We are also working to increase the proportion of recycled material in the packaging itself.
Promoting the circular economy
‘You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.’ In manufacturing, the broken shells are operational waste – and wallpaper production is no exception.
In wallpaper production, the largest share of operational waste comes from rejects. These are a technically unavoidable result of the printing process and arise primarily from colour adjustments. Further waste is also generated unexpectedly through production errors. Together, these two fractions make up what is known as ‘pure wallpaper waste’.
Wallpaper production also generates waste in the form of solid and liquid residues, for example from cleaning printing tools. Packaging materials and typical production waste such as scrap metal, wood waste and municipal waste from administration also contribute to the total waste volume. Hazardous waste plays a minor role in A.S. Création's business operations. It comprises absorbent and filter materials contaminated with oil, as well as some construction and demolition waste.
You can find more detailed information on our circular economy key figures in our sustainability reports.
Recycling and reuse instead of incineration
To avoid wasting raw materials, we have partnered with waste management companies to develop material recycling routes (no incineration or chemical dissolution) for the ‘pure wallpaper waste’ fraction. One outcome of this cooperation is the manufacture of sound insulation products from this waste fraction. Another material stream is processed and used as an auxiliary material in the paper industry.
Each year, we aim to recycle 100% of our pure wallpaper waste. At A.S. Création Tapeten AG, we also monitor the ‘separate collection rate’. Separately collected waste is sent for recycling appropriate to its material type. By contrast, mixed waste is usually incinerated. Here, too, our target is to approach 100%.
Sustainable procurement – use of secondary raw materials in production
In its ‘Sustainable Procurement Policy’, A.S. Création sets out procedures for increasingly switching to recycled materials in its procurement of raw materials and reducing the use of primary raw materials.
In order to do this in a data-based and objective manner, we obtain product carbon footprints (PCFs) from suppliers in order to evaluate the sustainability performance of individual raw materials and compare them with the initial product. This enables us to identify less carbon-intensive raw material alternatives.
There is a particular focus on replacing fossil-based raw materials with bio-based or recycled alternatives. The purchasing strategy also includes increased cooperation with suppliers who offer alternative recycled materials.
Other important objectives within the framework of our sustainable procurement policy are the reduction of harmful substances in key raw materials and the promotion of renewable energies in the supply chain. Suppliers who are particularly advanced in terms of the aforementioned sustainability aspects receive a better rating in the company's own supplier assessment.
Sustainable forestry – certified and deforestation-free wood
A.S. Création has an impact on the forest ecosystem through its purchase of paper products. Healthy forests play a central role in safeguarding intact ecosystems worldwide, promoting biodiversity and protecting the climate, water and soil. That is why our goal must be to value the forest habitat, which is threatened by humans, and to preserve it in good condition. This principle is also enshrined in our environmental policy.
In order to contribute to the preservation and restoration of the forest ecosystem, another core principle of sustainable procurement is to source wood products exclusively from responsibly managed, (FSC) certified forests.
We also welcome the legislative development whereby, from the end of 2026, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will require all market participants to check wood products (and, where applicable, other EUDR-relevant products) for potential deforestation risks when placing them on the EU market. This creates a further important safeguard for the procurement of environmentally and socially responsibly sourced raw materials within the EU.