EU Commission honours VARTA with Product Safety Award Gold

VARTA Power Banks take first place in the "Large Companies" category / Comprehensive safety features as reasons for the award

The EU Commission has honoured VARTA with the Gold Award at the EU Product Safety Award. The prize goes to the Ellwangen-based technology company for its power banks. According to the Commission, the reasons for first place in the "Large Companies" category were the extensive safety features of the power banks, which guarantee maximum safety even in the event of foreseeable product misuse.

"We feel very honoured," says Kathrin Geier, who is responsible for the product line at VARTA. "The award confirms that we always develop all our products with the aim of offering customers the highest quality, performance, convenience and safety. That is why we have developed six safety features as standard for power banks. They form the basis for all product developments, from the initial idea to the market launch and beyond. We continuously test safety to ensure that the product really deserves the VARTA brand name."

The EU Product Safety Award was presented for the third time this year. According to the Commission, the award encourages and honours innovative business initiatives and research that enhance consumer safety beyond legal requirements. Six company initiatives and four research projects were celebrated this year for their outstanding contribution to consumers’ safety.

Didier Reynders, EU Commissioner for Justice: "European consumers have a right to trust that the products on their shelves are safe. The Product Safety Award is meant to celebrate those who put consumers’ interests at the heart of their mission. This Award shows how the right encouragement can foster cutting-edge initiatives from talented innovators to enhance consumer safety.”

This year's edition of the award was open to small, medium and large companies, as well as early-career and senior researchers. The competition for businesses focused on initiatives that enhance the safety of young people. Researchers from any discipline whose work contributes to improve product safety were also invited to apply.

All information about the award can be found here, the official press release of the Commission here.

Press contact

VARTA AG
Dr. Christian Kucznierz
Head of Corporate Communications

VARTA-Platz 1
73479 Ellwangen

Phone: +49 (7961) 921 – 2727


About VARTA AG

VARTA AG produces and markets a comprehensive battery portfolio ranging from micro batteries, household batteries, energy storage systems to customised battery solutions for a variety of applications and sets the industry standards as a technology leader in key areas. As the parent company of the Group, it is divided into the segments "Micro Batteries", "Lithium-Ion CoinPower", "Consumer Batteries", "Energy Storage Systems" and "Other".
The "Micro Batteries" segment includes micro and hearing aid batteries, "Lithium-Ion CoinPower" small-format lithium-ion round cells for OEM applications. "Consumer Batteries" represents the business with household batteries, rechargeable batteries, chargers, portable power (power banks) and lights. “Energy Storage Systems" includes energy storage solutions for primarily private, but also for commercial applications. The "Other" segment includes the "Lithium-Ion Battery Packs" and "Lithium-Ion Large Cells" business units (high-performance lithium-ion round cells for industrial applications in the automotive and non-automotive sectors).
Through intensive research and development, VARTA sets global standards in many areas of lithium-ion technology and in micro batteries, making it a recognised innovation leader in the important growth markets of lithium-ion technology and in primary hearing aid batteries. The VARTA AG Group currently employs around 4,200 people. With five production and manufacturing facilities in Europe and Asia as well as distribution centres in Asia, Europe and the USA, VARTA AG's operating subsidiaries are currently active in over 100 countries worldwide.