natureplus is already recognised by the most influential and important institutions as a reliable and competent partner. These include the Ministries of the federal States of Germany and Austria, The States in Switzerland and Belgium, Industry associations, building materials trading associations, Consumer-, environmental- and specialist building and construction associations, the trade union B.A.U. as well as the specialist Press.
Öko-Test, the most widely published independent consumer magazine of its type in Europe, awarded the natureplus Label a quality rating of “very good”.
The German consumer initiative (VerbraucherInitiative e.V. (VI )), an important independent movement in Germany for consumer protection, awarded natureplus the title of „Label of the Month“ in May 2004 and the natureplus-System was awarded the maximum number of points for independence, competence and overall approach.
The institute for ecological and economic research, in its study for the Environmental Advisory Association in Germany – “Assessment of product characteristics”, in July 2004 stated that “The Label natureplus is an ambitious project to establish a uniform quality seal for building products. The criteria far exceed the statutory requirements and include ecological, health and social aspects as well as wildlife protection. It takes into account the complete product life cycle, is demanding and predominantly easily verifiable. The comprehensive declaration is especially helpful for those with allergies. The issuance process is transparent and through the participation of a wide ranging spectrum of groups (e.g. environmental associations) very credible.”
The result of a survey conducted by ‘Infratest’ at the building industry exhibition ‘BAU’ in Munich in 2005, showed that 18% of the specialist visitors had heard of natureplus. According to specialist experts this is a respectable result.
A brochure from the “Action programme for the environment and health in North-Rhine Westphalia” is just one of many examples in which the highest standards were attributed to the natureplus Quality Label. The brochure is available in the internet under www.apug.nrw.de/inhalte/wohnen.php.
The developments in the numbers of newsletter subscribers, Press articles and Internet-visits show very clearly that natureplus is on the right road. The numbers of newsletter subscribers have risen from ca. 1,800 at the start of 2004 to over 3,100 by the middle of 2005, 4.500 at the end of 2005, to currently 6.500 specialists from Germany and the German speaking countries. The number of confirmed visits to the newsletter website rose from August 2004 by an average of 2,500 visits per month with 90.000 views (short visits). In 2005, this figure rose to 4,900 visits per month and 160.000 views and in 2006, an average of 6,000 visits per month and 190.000 views. The scope of announcements, either from or about natureplus, in the daily Press, specialist Press, TV and Internet rose continuously from 9 M. contacts in the first six months of 2003 (total 2003 = 20 M.) to around 15 M. in the first six months of 2004 (total 2004 = ca. 28 M.), almost 20 M. in the first six months of 2005 (total 2005 = ca. 54 M.) to almost 50 M. in the first six months of 2006.
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