Method for contour punching an output stack consisting of sheet-like material, in particular for punching out labels from an output stack consisting of sheet-like material, characterized in that the method has the following method steps: - providing an output stack consisting of sheet-like material to be punched, wherein the respective sheet has a printed region and an unprinted region which encloses the printed region, wherein the printed region has an outer contour, - providing a first contour punching blade, wherein a punching contour of the first contour punching blade is larger than the outer contour of the printed region, - pressing the provided output stack into the first contour punching blade for forming a pre-punched stack, such that the first contour punching blade exclusively penetrates the output stack in the unprinted region, so that first punching waste which is formed in this first punching procedure is free of printed regions, - collecting the first punching waste, - providing a second contour punching blade, wherein a punching contour of the second contour punching blade is smaller than the outer contour of the printed region or corresponds to the outer contour of the printed region, - pressing the pre-punched stack into the second contour punching blade for forming a usable stack, in particular for forming a stack of punched-out labels, such that the second contour punching blade cuts through the pre-punched stack in the printed region, in particular exclusively in the printed region, so that second punching waste which is formed in this second punching procedure has printed regions, - collecting the second punching waste, wherein the second punching waste is collected separately from the first punching waste. - providing an output stack consisting of sheet-like material to be punched, wherein the respective sheet has a printed region and an unprinted region which encloses the printed region, wherein the printed region has an outer contour, - providing a first contour punching blade, wherein a punching contour of the first contour punching blade is larger than the outer contour of the printed region, - pressing the provided output stack into the first contour punching blade for forming a pre-punched stack, such that the first contour punching blade exclusively penetrates the output stack in the unprinted region, so that first punching waste which is formed in this first punching procedure is free of printed regions, - collecting the first punching waste, - providing a second contour punching blade, wherein a punching contour of the second contour punching blade is smaller than the outer contour of the printed region or corresponds to the outer contour of the printed region, - pressing the pre-punched stack into the second contour punching blade for forming a usable stack, in particular for forming a stack of punched-out labels, such that the second contour punching blade cuts through the pre-punched stack in the printed region, in particular exclusively in the printed region, so that second punching waste which is formed in this second punching procedure has printed regions, - collecting the second punching waste, wherein the second punching waste is collected separately from the first punching waste.