diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index f2d17f7d4..f5e6cf829 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@
 # Remove all line-comments and save this as .env to enable
 # Do not commit the filled-out file to GitHub
 
+# possible values: all, trace, debug, info, warn, error, fatal, off (default: info)
+LOG_LEVEL=debug
+
+# possible values: [unset], json, breif, verbose (default: unset)
+LOG_FORMAT=
+
 # Wix API key for import 
 API_KEY=
 
@@ -76,4 +82,4 @@ GAMIFICATION_ACTIVE=
 REQUIRE_PUPIL_SCREENING=
 
 # Credential for the OpenAI API to use their LLMs
-OPENAI_API_KEY=
\ No newline at end of file
+OPENAI_API_KEY=
diff --git a/common/logger/logger.ts b/common/logger/logger.ts
index 00eccb2a9..9de8ed8a6 100644
--- a/common/logger/logger.ts
+++ b/common/logger/logger.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 import tracer from './tracing';
 import formats from 'dd-trace/ext/formats';
-import { isCommandArg } from '../util/basic';
 import { configure, addLayout, getLogger as getlog4jsLogger, Logger as Log4jsLogger } from 'log4js';
 import { getCurrentTransaction } from '../session';
-import { getServiceName, getHostname } from '../../utils/environment';
+import { getServiceName, getHostname, getLogLevel, getLogFormat } from '../../utils/environment';
 
 addLayout('json', function () {
     return function (logEvent) {
@@ -25,12 +24,13 @@ addLayout('json', function () {
     };
 });
 
+const logFormat = getLogFormat();
 let appenders = ['out'];
-if (process.env.LOG_FORMAT === 'json') {
+if (logFormat === 'json') {
     appenders = ['outJson'];
-} else if (process.env.LOG_FORMAT === 'brief') {
+} else if (logFormat === 'brief') {
     appenders = ['outBrief'];
-} else if (process.env.LOG_FORMAT === 'verbose') {
+} else if (logFormat === 'verbose') {
     appenders = ['outBrief', 'fileVerbose'];
 }
 
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ configure({
     categories: {
         default: {
             appenders,
-            level: isCommandArg('--debug') ? 'debug' : 'info',
+            level: getLogLevel('info'),
         },
     },
 
diff --git a/utils/environment.ts b/utils/environment.ts
index 4e556ed45..b78c987eb 100644
--- a/utils/environment.ts
+++ b/utils/environment.ts
@@ -25,3 +25,11 @@ export function isGamificationFeatureActive(): boolean {
 export function isWebflowSyncDryRun(): boolean {
     return JSON.parse(process.env.WEBFLOW_SYNC_DRY_RUN || 'true');
 }
+
+export function getLogLevel(defaultLevel: string): string {
+    return process.env.LOG_LEVEL || defaultLevel;
+}
+
+export function getLogFormat(): string | null {
+    return process.env.LOG_FORMAT;
+}