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 . <EOS>