Over the past two years, the companies of VEMAG have worked intensively to implement all necessary measures to be fully compliant by the planned effective date of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) on December 30, 2025. We have achieved this goal and are proud of it, as the objective of the regulation—deforestation-free supply chains—is very important to us.

In December 2025, the EU trilogue negotiations concluded that printed products will no longer be subject to the EUDR.

What changes for you and for us?

• Bureaucratic relief for both you and us.
• Process simplification: EUDR conformity documentation for printed products is no longer required.
• Faster lead times: Fewer mandatory disclosures across the supply chain.
• Reduced compliance risk: No EUDR audit requirements for HS code 49.

As a result, our products no longer require the submission of a due diligence statement, nor the collection or transfer of reference and verification numbers.

Are VEMAG’s products still deforestation-free?

Yes. Our standards remain consistently high:

• Paper placed on the European market must continue to be deforestation-free—the proof is provided by paper suppliers.
• For paper produced outside Europe, we will continue to rely on FSC-certified grades; deforestation-free sourcing is firmly embedded in the FSC framework.
• Books made from 100% recycled paper remain outside the scope of the EUDR.
• Our cartons and cardboard displays consist of 100% recycled material and are therefore not EUDR-relevant.

Our sustainability focus for 2025/2026

For VEMAG, the year 2025 was strongly shaped by sustainability. In 2026, we will continue to refine our sustainability strategy and work intensively to achieve our self-imposed climate targets.

In October 2025, we published our first sustainability report for our corporate group on a voluntary basis. It covers the years 2023/2024 and follows the VSME Standard (Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for non-listed Small and Medium-sized Enterprises). The report covers all companies in our group as well as all locations. We will continue reporting to transparently communicate both our achievements to date and our future sustainability goals.

Also in October, we were awarded the EcoVadis Gold Medal. An EcoVadis certification confirms the successful assessment of a company’s sustainability performance and its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This places us among the top 5% of more than 150,000 assessed companies worldwide.

In August, four of our publishing houses received badges for the first time from right. based on science. This recognized climate tech company confirms that we have developed climate strategies for these publishers that do not unduly accelerate global warming and set a course to limit it to 1.5 / 1.7°C. The badge indicates the target temperature we can realistically achieve with our planned measures. It is a clear signal that we, as a company, are addressing “climate strategy” with care.

Our EUDR software partner osapiens also confirmed in the summer: “In the publishing industry, VEMAG is a pioneer in advancing sustainability and transparency in global value chains. We have been working together very successfully on implementing the EU Deforestation Regulation since 2024.” (Alberto Zamora, Co-Founder and CEO of osapiens)

Contact

If you have further questions about the EUDR or about sustainability at VEMAG companies, please use your known communication channels with us or the following addresses:

• EUDR: eudr@vemag-medien.de
• Sustainability: sustainability@vemag-medien.de