After the first Cradle to Cradle® certification was awarded for the duroZINQ® surface in 2013, the thin-film batch galvanizing process microZINQ® from technology service provider and licensor in the batch galvanizing industry ZINQ® Technologie GmbH has now also received this special certification.

This means that all ZINQ® batch galvanizing surfaces are now certified according to Cradle to Cradle® standards. Cradle to Cradle® essentially recognizes no waste. Instead, products are evaluated as resources for the next phase of use during the development and production process and optimized for their later material life at this early stage.

The US Environmental Protection Agency considers Cradle to Cradle® product certification to be one of the most meaningful and demanding standards and environmental labels. Thanks to this latest certification, duroZINQ® and microZINQ® surfaces guarantee 100% recyclability with consistent quality. In addition, they are free of non-recyclable materials in the process and in the product – already in compliance with the requirements of the EU Circular Economy Directives.

Since 2010, ZINQ® technology has been working with the Hamburg-based environmental institute EPEA (Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency), which in turn has been defined as a licensed auditor by the American C2CPII. The actual certificate, as now awarded to ZINQ, is ultimately issued by the Americans. As an auditor, the German EPEA has embarked on a path of consistent review and conversion of all material cycles.

After completing all tests, ZINQ offers the only products worldwide certified according to the “Cradle to Cradle®” standard in the field of surface technology, thus enabling closed material cycles in the process and in the product.