Quality assurance is one of the most important topics concerning the promotional products industry in general and Schokologo in particular. It’s not just about legal and normative requirements and regulations. After all, advertising clients literally vouch for the products they use with their name and rightly expect flawless, safe, and responsibly manufactured products. We will show you what steps Schokologo takes to ensure this.
Quality Assurance
In the promotional products industry, it wasn’t long ago that quality assurance, especially for imports from Asia, was neglected. Practically everything that could be sold on the market was imported, and potential product defects were suppressed. Much has changed since then. Due to the many directives issued by the European Commission, which were later implemented into national law and have now become binding, entrepreneurs’ awareness of the need for risk management has grown. However, the pressure doesn’t just come from politics. Customers have become more sensitive and demand seamless proof of conformity along the entire supply chain. Terms like cheap, new, or particularly striking alone are no longer enough for customers today. Safe and traceable processes, harmless raw materials, and responsibly produced chocolate are prerequisites, especially concerning environmental impact. Entrepreneurs are realizing again: The quality of products and services ultimately determines a company’s long-term success.
The Distributor is Liable
If ordered goods have not been delivered as agreed, this is referred to as a defect. It is a central term in sales law, tenancy law, and contract for work and services law (§434 BGB). However, the term quality defect not only includes performance disruptions, such as function, handling, or condition, but also legal provisions for placing products and devices on the market (safety, electromagnetic compatibility, chemical pollutant freedom, etc.). The customer therefore not only expects the agreed delivery, but also that these goods meet legal requirements and can be easily placed on the market or resold. If non-compliant consumer goods are willfully or unknowingly placed on the market in the EU, USA, or elsewhere, the responsible party acts unlawfully. The principle applies that the party placing the product on the market is liable for damages incurred by the consumer through the proper use of the product.
Sustainability and Economic Efficiency
Sustainability and social responsibility are rightly becoming an increasing focus for many companies. Customers are increasingly incorporating the concept of sustainability. Companies should consider this when selecting their promotional products.
Seamless Supply Chain – Almost all products are manufactured in our in-house chocolaterie. For both our organic and non-organic products, we exclusively use raw materials sourced from certified European manufacturers. Raw material scarcity, new environmental regulations, and industry standards are increasingly on par with economic efficiency. Several global companies have recognized not only that entrepreneurial success requires an intact environment, but they have also taken various measures and integrated social and ecological issues into their corporate strategy. Activities in the social and ecological sphere can not only bring growing economic success to companies but, especially for brand providers, reduce the risk of brand damage and sales losses. Progressive globalization has brought not only opportunities for market development but also increased risks due to global sourcing and often a lack of transparency in the supply chain. This is according to a current study by Springer Gabler Fachmedien.
Quality Assurance Concepts
The head of the Sustainability Center at the chemical group BASF says: “In the complex value chain of the chemical industry, disruptions and errors can easily occur, affecting product quality. In a global economy and global communication networks, risk management means increased attention to all aspects related to the production process—especially with subcontractors. Sins they commit are attributed to BASF: BASF is known, small companies usually are not. A sustainability strategy for BASF is therefore also the further development of risk management.”
Clear words that show that responsibility begins long before one’s own company gates.
Basically, quality and risk management begin at the start of the value creation process, i.e., when the buyer considers the implementation of a new production concept. In addition to economic calculations, important questions arise that need to be answered. Unfortunately, experience shows that there are still companies that focus almost exclusively on economic aspects, neglecting product safety, product quality, sustainability, and social responsibility.
It is regrettable that legal obligations are often ignored in this process. The customer pays for this with a loss of image, and the recipients of their promotional gifts are the ones who suffer.
Change in Awareness
Companies today can therefore be less and less indifferent to how they are perceived. Both public opinion and NGOs such as Greenpeace have long taken on the issues of product safety, quality, usability, and social responsibility. The consumer goods industry is setting standards in more and more areas, some of which already integrate quite high quality criteria. A quality-conscious consumer clientele is emerging, and the change in awareness is also promoted by the organic and sustainability concepts. Promotional product recipients are primarily consumers and transfer their quality demands to items given to them for free: For promotional products, function, design, raw material, and safety must also be right from the recipient’s perspective.
Sustainability at Schokologo
As a Customer, You Can be Sure that all these Aspects Have been Considered During Production.
- Safe – Our products are manufactured in compliance with the strictest hygienic regulations and are regularly tested in laboratories by both authorities and our own controls. We don’t need to control our production facility from afar, as we produce your chocolate logos in our own chocolaterie in Düsseldorf.
- Harmlessness – Certified by BIO, BGN, DEHOGA, and not least by our satisfied customers
- Responsible – Our products are produced in-house in the heart of Düsseldorf-Flingern. Therefore, terms like antisocial behavior, child labor, and environmental destruction are foreign to us. Fairtrade, organic, and UTZ-certified chocolates are available from us.
- Product Quality – Transparent supply chain for all ingredients and components. Sourcing exclusively from EU-certified food manufacturers. We are members of PSI, BGN, DEHOGA. BIO Certified DE-ÖKO-039.
- Sustainability – We process chocolate from Barry Callebaut for the production of your custom orders. When you source Callebaut® Finest Belgian Chocolate, you have a guarantee of sustainability. You are using chocolate that directly supports cocoa farmers and promotes sustainable cocoa cultivation (www.schokologo.com/nachhaltigkeit-bei-schokologo).
