Privacy Policy
1. Information about the collection of personal data and contact details of the controller
1.1 We are delighted that you are visiting our website and thank you for your interest. Below, we provide information about how we handle your personal data when you use our website. Personal data is any data that can be used to identify you personally.
1.2 The controller responsible for data processing on this website within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is Ecologa Europe GmbH / Patricia Bös, Ziegelhüttenstr. 11, 63768 Hösbach, Germany, tel.: 06021/5830120, email: info@ecologa-europe.com. The controller responsible for the processing of personal data is the natural or legal person who, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data.
1.3 For security reasons and to protect the transmission of personal data and other confidential content (e.g. orders or enquiries to the controller), this website uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognise an encrypted connection by the string “https://” and the lock symbol in your browser line.
2. Data collection when visiting our website
When using our website for informational purposes only, i.e. if you do not register or otherwise provide us with information, we only collect data that your browser transmits to our server (so-called “server log files”). When you visit our website, we collect the following data, which is technically necessary for us to display the website to you:
- Our visited website
- Date and time of access
- Amount of data sent in bytes
- Source/reference from which you accessed the site
- Browser used
- Operating system used
- IP address used (if applicable: in anonymised form) The processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interest in improving the stability and functionality of our website. The data will not be passed on or used for any other purpose. However, we reserve the right to check the server log files retrospectively if there are concrete indications of illegal use.
3. Cookies
To make your visit to our website more attractive and to enable the use of certain functions, we use so-called cookies on various pages. These are small text files that are stored on your device. Some of the cookies we use are deleted after the end of your browser session, i.e., after you close your browser (session cookies). Other cookies remain on your device and allow us or our partner companies (third-party cookies) to recognize your browser on your next visit (persistent cookies). When cookies are set, they collect and process certain user information, such as browser and location data, as well as IP addresses, to varying degrees. Persistent cookies are automatically deleted after a specified period, which can vary depending on the cookie.
In some cases, the cookies serve to simplify the ordering process by saving settings (e.g., remembering the contents of a virtual shopping cart for a later visit to the website). If any of the cookies we implement process personal data, this processing is carried out in accordance with Article 6(1)(b) GDPR for the performance of the contract or in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) GDPR to protect our legitimate interests in ensuring the best possible functionality of the website and a user-friendly and effective website experience.
We may work with advertising partners who help us make our website more interesting for you. For this purpose, cookies from partner companies may also be stored on your hard drive when you visit our website (third-party cookies). If we work with the aforementioned advertising partners, you will be informed individually and separately about the use of such cookies and the scope of the information collected in the following paragraphs.
Please note that you can configure your browser to notify you when cookies are set and allow you to decide whether to accept them individually, or to block cookies in certain cases or entirely. Each browser differs in how it manages cookie settings. This is described in the help menu of each browser, which explains how to change your cookie settings. You can find this information for the respective browsers at the following links:
Internet Explorer: https://support.microsoft.com/de-de/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-delete-manage-cookies
Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/de/kb/cookies-erlauben-und-ablehnen
Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=de&hlrm=en
Safari: https://support.apple.com/kb/ph21411?locale=de_DE
Opera: http://help.opera.com/Windows/10.20/de/cookies.html
Please note that if you do not accept cookies, the functionality of our website may be limited.
To make your visit to our website more attractive and to enable the use of certain functions, we use so-called cookies on various pages. These are small text files that are stored on your device. Some of the cookies we use are deleted after the end of your browser session, i.e., after you close your browser (session cookies). Other cookies remain on your device and allow us or our partner companies (third-party cookies) to recognize your browser on your next visit (persistent cookies). When cookies are set, they collect and process certain user information, such as browser and location data, as well as IP addresses, to varying degrees. Persistent cookies are automatically deleted after a specified period, which can vary depending on the cookie.
In some cases, the cookies serve to simplify the ordering process by saving settings (e.g., remembering the contents of a virtual shopping cart for a later visit to the website). If any of the cookies we implement process personal data, this processing is carried out in accordance with Article 6(1)(b) GDPR for the performance of the contract or in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) GDPR to protect our legitimate interests in ensuring the best possible functionality of the website and a user-friendly and effective website experience.
We may work with advertising partners who help us make our website more interesting for you. For this purpose, when you visit our website, cookies from partner companies may also be stored on your hard drive (third-party cookies). If we work with the aforementioned advertising partners, you will be informed individually and separately about the use of such cookies and the scope of the information collected in the paragraphs below.
Please note that you can configure your browser to notify you when cookies are set and allow you to decide whether to accept them individually, or to block cookies in certain cases or entirely. Each browser differs in how it manages cookie settings. This is described in the help menu of each browser, which explains how you can change your cookie settings. You can find instructions for each browser at the following links:
Internet Explorer: https://support.microsoft.com/de-de/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-delete-manage-cookies
Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/de/kb/cookies-erlauben-und-ablehnen
Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=de&hlrm=en
Safari: https://support.apple.com/kb/ph21411?locale=de_DE
Opera: http://help.opera.com/Windows/10.20/de/cookies.html
Please note that if you do not accept cookies, the functionality of our website may be limited.
4. Contacting Us
When you contact us (e.g., via contact form or email), personal data is collected. The specific data collected via a contact form is indicated on the form itself. This data is stored and used solely for the purpose of responding to your inquiry, contacting you, and for the associated technical administration. The legal basis for processing this data is our legitimate interest in responding to your inquiry pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. If your contact is aimed at concluding a contract, the additional legal basis for processing is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR. Your data will be deleted after your inquiry has been fully processed. This is the case when it is clear from the circumstances that the matter has been resolved and provided that no statutory retention obligations apply.
5. Data Processing When Opening a Customer Account and for Contract Fulfillment
In accordance with Article 6 Paragraph 1 Letter b GDPR, personal data will continue to be collected and processed if you provide it to us for the performance of a contract or when opening a customer account. The specific data collected is evident from the respective input forms. You can delete your customer account at any time by sending a message to the controller’s address listed above. We store and use the data you provide for contract fulfillment. After complete contract fulfillment or deletion of your customer account, your data will be blocked in accordance with tax and commercial law retention periods and deleted after these periods have expired, unless you have expressly consented to further use of your data or we have reserved the right to further use your data as permitted by law, about which we will inform you accordingly below.
6. Use of your data for direct marketing
6.1 Newsletter Subscription
When you subscribe to our email newsletter, we will regularly send you information about our offers. The only mandatory information required for sending the newsletter is your email address. Providing any other data is voluntary and is used to personalize our communications with you. We use the double opt-in procedure for sending the newsletter. This means that we will only send you an email newsletter after you have expressly confirmed that you consent to receiving it. We will then send you a confirmation email asking you to click on a link to confirm that you wish to receive future newsletters.
By activating the confirmation link, you give us your consent to use your personal data in accordance with Article 6 Paragraph 1 Letter a GDPR. When you subscribe to our newsletter, we store your IP address, which is registered by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), as well as the date and time of your subscription, in order to be able to trace any potential misuse of your email address at a later date. The data we collect when you subscribe to the newsletter is used exclusively for sending you promotional material via the newsletter. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link provided in the newsletter or by sending a message to the data controller named above. After you unsubscribe, your email address will be immediately deleted from our newsletter mailing list, unless you have expressly consented to further use of your data or we reserve the right to use your data for other purposes permitted by law, which we will inform you about in this privacy policy.
6.2 Newsletter Distribution via CleverReach
Our email newsletters are distributed via the technical service provider CleverReach GmbH & Co. KG, Mühlenstr. 43, 26180 Rastede (“CleverReach”), to whom we transfer the data you provided when subscribing to our newsletter. This transfer is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR and serves our legitimate interest in using an effective, secure, and user-friendly newsletter system. The data you entered for newsletter subscription (e.g., email address) is stored on CleverReach’s servers in Germany or Ireland.
CleverReach uses this information to send and statistically analyze the newsletters on our behalf. For this analysis, the emails sent contain so-called web beacons or tracking pixels, which are single-pixel image files stored on our website. This allows us to determine whether a newsletter message has been opened and which links, if any, have been clicked. With the help of so-called conversion tracking, we can also analyze whether a predefined action (e.g., purchasing a product on our website) has occurred after clicking the link in the newsletter. Technical information is also collected (e.g., time of access, IP address, browser type, and operating system). The data is collected exclusively in pseudonymized form and is not linked to your other personal data; direct identification of individuals is therefore impossible. This data is used solely for the statistical analysis of newsletter campaigns. The results of these analyses can be used to better tailor future newsletters to the interests of the recipients.
If you wish to object to the data analysis for statistical evaluation purposes, you must unsubscribe from the newsletter.
We have concluded a data processing agreement with CleverReach, in which we obligate CleverReach to protect our customers’ data and not to disclose it to third parties.
Further information on CleverReach’s data analysis can be found here: https://www.cleverreach.com/de/funktionen/reporting-und-tracking/
CleverReach’s privacy policy can be viewed here: https://www.cleverreach.com/de/datenschutz/.
7. Data processing for order fulfillment
7.1 To process your order, we work with the following service providers, who support us in whole or in part in fulfilling concluded contracts. Certain personal data is transmitted to these service providers in accordance with the information below.
The personal data we collect is shared with the transport company commissioned with delivery as part of the contract processing, insofar as this is necessary for the delivery of the goods. We share your payment data with the commissioned bank as part of the payment processing, insofar as this is necessary for payment processing. If payment service providers are used, we will inform you explicitly below. The legal basis for the transfer of data is Article 6 Paragraph 1 Letter b GDPR.
7.2 Transfer of Personal Data to Shipping Providers
DPD: If the goods are delivered by the shipping provider DPD (DPD Deutschland GmbH, Wailandtstraße 1, 63741 Aschaffenburg, Germany), we will forward your email address and/or telephone number to DPD before delivery in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. a GDPR for the purpose of coordinating a delivery date or announcing the delivery, provided you have given your express consent during the ordering process. Otherwise, for the purpose of delivery in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. b GDPR, we will only forward the recipient’s name and delivery address to DPD. This data is only transferred to the extent necessary for the delivery of the goods. In this case, prior coordination of the delivery date with DPD or delivery notification is not possible. You can withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by contacting the data controller named above or the shipping provider DPD.
“` 7.3 Use of Payment Service Providers
PayPal: When paying via PayPal, credit card via PayPal, direct debit via PayPal, or – if offered – “purchase on account” or “installment payment” via PayPal, we forward your payment data to PayPal (Europe) S.a.r.l. et Cie, S.C.A., 22-24 Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg (hereinafter “PayPal”) for payment processing. This transfer is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. b GDPR and only to the extent necessary for payment processing. PayPal reserves the right to conduct a credit check for the payment methods credit card via PayPal, direct debit via PayPal, or – if offered – “purchase on account” or “installment payment” via PayPal. For this purpose, your payment data may be forwarded to credit agencies in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR based on PayPal’s legitimate interest in determining your creditworthiness. PayPal uses the result of the credit check, specifically the statistical probability of payment default, to decide whether to offer a particular payment method. The credit report may include probability scores (so-called “score values”). If score values are included in the credit report, they are based on a scientifically recognized mathematical-statistical procedure. Address data is one of the factors, but not the only one, used to calculate the score values. For further information on data protection, including the credit reference agencies used, please see PayPal’s Privacy Statement: https://www.paypal.com/de/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full
You can object to this processing of your data at any time by contacting PayPal. However, PayPal may still be entitled to process your personal data if this is necessary for processing payments in accordance with the contract.
8. Use of social media: Social plugins
Facebook as a Standard Plugin
Our website uses social plugins (“plugins”) from the social network Facebook, operated by Facebook Inc., 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA (“Facebook”). The plugins are identified by a Facebook logo or the phrase “Facebook Social Plugin.” An overview of the Facebook plugins and their appearance can be found here: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins
When you visit a page on our website that contains such a plugin, your browser establishes a direct connection to Facebook’s servers. The plugin content is transmitted directly from Facebook to your browser and integrated into the page. Through this integration, Facebook receives the information that your browser has accessed the corresponding page of our website, even if you do not have a Facebook profile or are not currently logged into Facebook. This information (including your IP address) is transmitted directly from your browser to a Facebook server in the USA and stored there.
If you are logged into Facebook, Facebook can directly associate your visit to our website with your Facebook profile. If you interact with the plugins, for example, by clicking the “Like” button or leaving a comment, this information is also transmitted directly to a Facebook server and stored there. The information is also published on your Facebook profile and displayed to your Facebook friends.
The data processing described above is carried out in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) GDPR on the basis of Facebook’s legitimate interests in displaying personalized advertising, informing other users of the social network about your activities on our website, and tailoring the service to user needs. If you do not want Facebook to directly associate the data collected via our website with your Facebook profile, you must log out of Facebook before visiting our website. You can also prevent Facebook plugins from loading and thus the data processing described above by using browser add-ons, such as the script blocker “NoScript” (http://noscript.net/).
Facebook Inc., based in the USA, is certified under the EU-US Privacy Shield Framework, which ensures compliance with the level of data protection applicable in the EU.
For information on the purpose and scope of data collection and the further processing and use of data by Facebook, as well as your related rights and privacy settings, please see Facebook’s Privacy Policy: http://www.facebook.com/policy.php
9. Use of social media: Video
Use of YouTube Videos
This website uses the YouTube embedding function to display and play videos from the provider “YouTube,” which belongs to Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA (“Google”).
The enhanced privacy mode is used, which, according to the provider, only initiates the storage of user information when the video(s) are played. When embedded YouTube videos are played, the provider “YouTube” sets cookies to collect information about user behavior. According to YouTube, this information is used, among other things, to collect video statistics, improve user-friendliness, and prevent misuse. If you are logged into Google, your data will be directly associated with your account when you click on a video. If you do not want this association with your YouTube profile, you must log out before activating the button. Google stores your data (even for users who are not logged in) as usage profiles and analyzes them. Such analysis is carried out, in particular, pursuant to Article 6(1)(f) GDPR, based on Google’s legitimate interests in displaying personalized advertising, conducting market research, and/or tailoring its website to user needs. You have the right to object to the creation of these user profiles, and to exercise this right, you must contact YouTube.
Regardless of whether the embedded videos are played, a connection to the Google “DoubleClick” network is established each time this website is accessed, which may trigger further data processing operations beyond our control.
Google LLC, based in the USA, is certified under the EU-US Privacy Shield Framework, which ensures compliance with the level of data protection applicable in the EU.
Further information on data protection at YouTube can be found in the provider’s privacy policy at: https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy
10. Web analytics services
Matomo (formerly Piwik)
This website uses the web analytics software Matomo (www.matomo.org), a service provided by InnoCraft Ltd., 150 Willis St, 6011 Wellington, New Zealand (“Matomo”), to collect and store data based on our legitimate interest in the statistical analysis of user behavior for optimization and marketing purposes in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR. Pseudonymized user profiles can be created and evaluated from this data for the same purpose. Cookies may be used for this. Cookies are small text files that are stored locally in the cache of the website visitor’s internet browser. Among other things, cookies enable the recognition of the internet browser. The data collected using Matomo technology (including your pseudonymized IP address) is processed on our servers.
The information generated by the cookie in the pseudonymized user profile is not used to personally identify visitors to this website and is not combined with personal data about the holder of the pseudonym.
If you do not agree to the storage and analysis of this data from your visit, you can object to its storage and use at any time by clicking below. In this case, an opt-out cookie will be stored in your browser, which will prevent Matomo from collecting any session data. Please note that deleting all your cookies will also delete the opt-out cookie, and you may need to reactivate it.
11. Rights of the data subject
11.1 The applicable data protection law grants you comprehensive rights as a data subject (rights of access and intervention) with regard to the processing of your personal data by the controller, which we inform you about below:
Right of access pursuant to Article 15 GDPR: In particular, you have the right to obtain information about your personal data processed by us, the purposes of the processing, the categories of personal data processed, the recipients or categories of recipients to whom your data have been or will be disclosed, the planned storage period or the criteria for determining the storage period, the existence of a right to rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, objection to processing, lodging a complaint with a supervisory authority, the origin of your data if they were not collected from you by us, the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, and, where applicable, meaningful information about the logic involved and the significance and the envisaged consequences of such processing for you, as well as your right to be informed of the safeguards pursuant to Article 46 GDPR relating to the transfer of your data to third countries;
Right to rectification pursuant to Article 16 GDPR: You have the right to the immediate rectification of inaccurate personal data concerning you and/or the completion of incomplete personal data stored by us;
Right to erasure pursuant to Article 17 GDPR: You have the right to request the erasure of your personal data if the conditions of Article 17(1) GDPR are met. However, this right does not exist, in particular, if the processing is necessary for exercising the right of freedom of expression and information, for compliance with a legal obligation, for reasons of public interest, or for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims;
Right to restriction of processing pursuant to Article 18 GDPR: You have the right to request the restriction of processing of your personal data while the accuracy of your data, which you have contested, is being verified; if you object to the erasure of your data due to unlawful processing and request the restriction of its processing instead; if you require your data for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims after we no longer need it for the purposes for which it was collected; or if you have objected to processing on grounds relating to your particular situation, pending verification of whether our legitimate grounds override yours.
Right to be informed pursuant to Article 19 GDPR: If you have asserted your right to rectification, erasure, or restriction of processing against the controller, the controller is obligated to communicate any rectification or erasure of personal data or restriction of processing to each recipient to whom the personal data concerning you have been disclosed, unless this proves impossible or involves disproportionate effort. You have the right to be informed about those recipients.
Right to be informed Right to data portability pursuant to Article 20 GDPR: You have the right to receive the personal data you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format, or to request its transmission to another controller, insofar as this is technically feasible;
Right to withdraw consent pursuant to Article 7(3) GDPR: You have the right to withdraw your consent to the processing of your data at any time with effect for the future. Upon withdrawal, we will delete the data concerned without undue delay, unless further processing is permitted by another legal basis that does not require consent. The withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal;
Right to lodge a complaint pursuant to Article 77 GDPR: Without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your habitual residence, your place of work, or the place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data relating to you infringes the GDPR.
Right to lodge a complaint pursuant to Article 77 GDPR: Without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your habitual residence, your place of work, or the place of the alleged infringement.
11.2 Right to Object
If we process your personal data based on our overriding legitimate interest as part of a balancing of interests, you have the right to object to this processing at any time, on grounds relating to your particular situation, with effect for the future. If you exercise your right to object, we will cease processing the data in question. Further processing will only be permitted if we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override your interests, fundamental rights and freedoms, or if the processing serves the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims.
If we process your personal data for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of your personal data for such marketing. You can exercise your right to object as described above.
If we process your personal data for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of your personal data for such marketing. If you exercise your right to object, we will cease processing the data in question for direct marketing purposes.
12. Duration of storage of personal data
The duration for which personal data is stored is determined by the respective statutory retention period (e.g., commercial and tax law retention periods). After this period expires, the corresponding data is routinely deleted, unless it is still required for contract fulfillment or initiation and/or we have a legitimate interest in its continued storage.