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From Experience to Memory: We’ll show you how a digital image is turned into a personalized photo product and which sustainability considerations are important to us in this production process.
Experience
That special experience—the moment captured in a photo—is the inspiration behind a personalized photo product. We—the brands of the CEWE Group—therefore promote photo culture through exhibitions, partnerships, and contests. Among other initiatives, the CEWE Photo Award, the world’s largest photography contest, combines creative expression with social engagement.
Promoting Diversity in Photography
As Europe’s leading photo service provider, the CEWE Group promotes photography as a cultural asset, an art form, and a means of expression. Through national and international photo festivals, the CEWE Group creates platforms for professionals, emerging talents, and amateur photographers, bringing the diversity of photography to life. Its flagship is the CEWE Photo Award, the world's largest photography contest, where participants share their perspectives on the beauty of our world.
Uploading and Design
Our Customer Charter describes how we handle personal photos and customer data. For select features, customers can choose whether they want to use AI-powered design suggestions.
Responsible Digitalization
At the CEWE Group, we are committed to the responsible and customer-centric use of digital technologies. Personal photos are processed for the design and production of the ordered photo products. In our Customer Charter we outline the principles governing the handling of image data and digital applications. Data protection at the CEWE Group goes beyond the minimum legal requirements. A central component of our measures is the secure processing and storage of data.
Data Center Processing & Order Processing in Production IT
Our precise process control minimizes production errors. At the same time, energy-intensive data processing presents us with environmental challenges. We therefore rely on a partner that powers its data centers with green electricity.
Between Efficiency and Energy Consumption
When customers design a photo product, images and order data are digitally processed, verified, and forwarded to the appropriate production site. Applications from our Mobile and Artificial Intelligence Campus (MAIC) can assist with design and image selection, among other things. This helps minimize production errors and unnecessary reorders. At the same time, data storage, transmission, and AI applications consume energy. This environmental impact cannot be completely avoided. That is why we are working on more efficient IT systems and rely on a partner that sources electricity from renewable sources for external data center services.
Delivery of Resources
For paper, our most important raw material, we rely on FSC®-certified materials. Our Supplier Code of Conduct sets out requirements regarding human rights, working conditions, and the environment.
Material Procurement and Supplier Standards
For our photo products, we source materials such as paper, cardboard, inks, adhesives, and packaging. For all wood-fiber-based materials, we prioritize FSC®-certified sources. We also expect our direct business partners to comply with requirements regarding human rights, working conditions, occupational safety, and the environment. Our Supplier Code of Conduct, along with risk-based assessments, questionnaires, and audits, helps us identify potential risks in the supply chain and address them together with our partners.
Production is tailored to demand using modern printing technology. Environmental and energy management, green electricity, and water treatment are firmly integrated into our processes.
Resources and Processes in Production
Our photo products are manufactured on a made-to-order basis. We manage environmental and energy aspects through an integrated management system compliant with ISO 14001 and ISO 50001. At its German locations, the CEWE Group uses 100% green electricity; the transition of additional locations is ongoing. This also includes on-site electricity generation via photovoltaics at selected production sites. Water from production processes is not discharged directly into water bodies but is treated via municipal wastewater systems. Regular analyses help us monitor relevant limit values and process requirements.
Further Processing
We track material usage, production scrap, and waste to identify opportunities for improvement. Environmental management and material efficiency are key components of our production processes.
Prevent, Recycle, Improve
The processing of materials results in, among other things, material scraps and production waste. The CEWE Group regularly tracks these environmental aspects and evaluates them as part of its environmental management system. Based on this, measures are developed to reduce scrap and use materials more efficiently. Unavoidable waste is collected separately and—to the extent possible—reused, recycled, or otherwise recovered. Waste management follows the European waste hierarchy: prevention before reuse, recycling, other recovery, and disposal.
Packaging and Shipping
The CEWE Group primarily uses FSC®-certified shipping packaging. We are working to optimize our use of materials and reduce the amount of plastic to a minimum.
Between Product Protection and Material Use
Depending on the product and shipping method, our shipping packaging is made from various materials, including FSC®-certified cardboard and plastic components. When selecting and refining these materials, we consider material usage, product protection, and recyclability. The CEWE Group primarily uses recycled materials for packaging and is constantly exploring ways to reduce the amount of plastic used. However, packaging is only effective if it adequately protects the product during shipping and prevents damage and unnecessary reshipments.
Reminder
Personalized photo products are designed to preserve special moments. That’s why all brands within the CEWE Group are constantly working to improve product quality, the design experience, customer satisfaction, and service.
Continuously Improving Quality and Service
A photo book, wall art, or photo gift is meant to preserve personal moments for the long term. That is why the CEWE Group is constantly refining its products, ordering processes, and services—from design through production to delivery. Customer feedback, including that gathered from Net Promoter Score surveys, is incorporated into this ongoing improvement process. When it comes to product quality, delivery reliability, and customer service, the goal is also to avoid complaints, backorders, and unnecessary rework as much as possible.