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Assurance and certification schemes should meet the European standards for the operation of product certification schemes which are set out in BS EN 45011:1998. These standards specify the way in which schemes should operate ie the nature of certification processes itself. The standards do not specify the criteria that should be used by any particular certification scheme.
This summary sets out details of some of the best-known labelling schemes. The principal category is known as a “Multi-attribute generic label”- which in spite of its name, usually applies only to the environmental aspect of a product. A good summary of all multi-attribute generic schemes is provided by the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) which is a non-profit association of third-party, environmental performance labelling organizations (founded in 1994) to improve, promote, and develop the "ecolabelling" of products and services. GEN restricts the term eco-label to those labels that are awarded independently of producers by third parties. It lists on its web site the major national (and European-wide) schemes http://www.gen.gr.jp/members.html
Other categories of labels described in the Cannybuyer guidebook are;
For further reading see;
" Environmental Labelling, Innovation and the Toolboox of Environmental Policy" Prof. Dr. Edda Müller, Executive Director of the Federation of German Consumer Organizations. This paper present lessons learned from the German Blue Angel Program. (>> download PDF-File (440 kb))
| Multi-attribute labels | |
|---|---|
| Blue Angel (Germany): www.blauer-engel.de/englisch/navigation/body_blauer_engel.htm |
Established since 1979 and administered by the German Quality Control Institute.. About 3.800 products and services from approximately 710 label users in Germany and abroad are entitled to bear the Blue Angel. These include for example: paper, office supplies and furniture; electrical products and appliances; heating plants and solar technology; build and renovate; sanitary and hygiene supplies; canteen and kitchen supplies; horticulture; traffic; and batteries. Comprehensive criteria applying to each product are listed covering eg energy use, ease of recycling, types of plastic used. |
| EU Eco-Label Scheme http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/ecolabel/index.htm |
Criteria are determined on the basis of life cycle assessment (LCA) of the product group. identifying when the most harmful impacts to the environment occur, from the extraction of raw materials through to product use and disposal. Areas of impact accounted for are: use of natural resources and energy, emissions to air, water and soil, production processes, disposal of waste, recycling and re-use, noise pollution and effects on ecosystems. Groups covered in December 2003 are washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, lightbulbs, and vacuum cleaners; televisions, personal computers, laptops; tissue paper products, copying and graphic paper; textiles, footwear, mattresses; laundry detergents, dishwasher detergents, all-purpose cleaners and cleaners for sanitary facilities, hand dishwashing detergents; hard floor coverings, indoor paints and varnishes; soil improvers and growing media; tourist accommodation. |
| Good Environmental Choice 'Bra Miljova' www.snf.se/bmv/english/criteria.htm |
(The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation)- applied to cleansers, dishwasher detergents, laundry detergent, soap and shampoo, stain removers and bleach, toilet cleansers, washing-up liquid, electricity, textiles and public transport |
| Nordic Swan www.svanen.nu/Eng/default.asp?nav=sokkriterie |
Introduced by Nordic Council of Ministers in 1989, the Swan ecolabel's vision is a sustainable society, in which future generations can benefit from the same conditions and opportunities as we ourselves do.An important step towards this vision is for us all, with the help of ecolabelling, to choose the most environmentally-friendly products” 24 product groups, have been assigned the Nordic Swan eco-label. ISO type 1 label. |
| Single natural resource labels- multi-issues | |
| The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) | The label was founded by Unilever and WWF in 1996, became fully independent in 1998, and has developed an international environmental standard for fisheries management through an extensive two-year stakeholder consultation. This standard is based on the Food and Agriculture Organisation Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. For more information see : www.msc.org |
| The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) | The FSC's objective is to promote timber from sustainably-managed forests. The FSC itself is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation that brings together groups such as the forestry profession, indigenous people's organisations, environmental and social organisations and the timber trade to work towards this goal. Under the FSC umbrella, independent certifiers use agreed standards relating to the social, environmental and economic aspects of forest management to assess producer forests. Once certified, timber and timber-based products originating from a forest or woodland are eligible to carry the FSC Trademark. Because purchasers prefer timber bearing this mark as an indication of its sustainable production, FSC provides a market incentive for producers to adopt good forestry For more information see: www.fscoax.org |
| The Little Red Tractor | The Red Tractor denotes food produced by UK farmers adhering to the “British Farm Standard” a set of country-based assurance standards covering the food safety, environmental protection and animal welfare of seven sectors of production; beef and lamb, pork, poultry, dairy, vegetables, cereals and oilseeds, and sugar. See www.littleredtractor.org.uk/ But also see www.redtractortruth.com/Truth_Behind_Little_Red_Tractor.htm for a critical view of this scheme in relation to animal welfare standards. |
| Freedom Food | Freedom Food is the RSPCA's farm assurance and food labelling
scheme, set up by the RSPCA in 1994 to improve the lives of as many farm
animals as possible. It works towards this by implementing the RSPCA species
specific welfare standards on farms, hauliers and abattoirs across the country.
www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/ContentServer? pagename=RSPCA/FreedomFood/FreedomFoodHomepage |
| LEAF Marque – linking Environment and Farming | LEAF was set up in 1991 and the recently introduced LEAF marque “provides assurance that the producer operates their business and production processes to the LEAF Integrated Farm Management principles. LEAF Marque farmers manage all key farm inputs including water and fuels, in a responsible manner to ensure that they have least impact on the environment, including the proper reuse and recycling of by-products. In addition, LEAF Marque farmers have a positive approach to improve wildlife and the landscape on their farms” www.leafuk.org/leaf/ LEAF is a member the EISA (European Initiative for Sustainable development in Agriculture) that represents five similar organisations to LEAF in Europe. www.sustainable-agriculture.org/about.html |
| Soil Association (principally organic agriculture) | The Soil Association is the UK’s principal organic agricultural labelling system. The Association is federated to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture movements and broadly speaking adopts their standards. IFOAM’s (www.ifoam.org/ ) objective is the worldwide adoption of ecologically, socially and economically sound systems that are based on the principles of Organic Agriculture. The Soil Association is piloting a joint approach to labelling in the UK with Fairtrade. All organic production and labelling in the EU has to meet Council Regulation No 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 |
| Fair trading(principally of tropical agricultural commodities) | |
| Fairtrade | The international organisation for national fairtrade labelling schemes is the worldwide Fairtrade Standard setting and Certification organisation (www.fairtrade.net/). which has 17 Fairtrade Labelling Initiatives under one umbrella organisation. In 2003 there were 360 Fairtrade certified producer groups (including many umbrella bodies) in 40 producer countries selling to hundreds of Fairtrade registered importers, licensees and retailers in 17 countries It permits more than 800,000 producers and their dependants in more than 40 countries to benefit from labelled Fairtrade. FLO guarantees that products sold anywhere in the world with a Fairtrade label marketed by a National Initiative conforms to Fairtrade Standards and contributes to the development of disadvantaged producers. Products focus on third world agriculture but are now expanding into manufactured goods> These are the products; Coffee,> Tea, > Rice, > Fresh fruit, > Juices, > Cocoa,> Sugar > Honey,> Sport balls FLO is constantly expanding and should soon include other fresh fruit, wines, nuts and oils Trading in many countries under Transfair- eg in USA www.fairtrade.net/sites/contact/usa.htm In the UK, the site is www.fairtrade.org.uk/ |
| Energy saving labels | |
| EPA Energy Star - | The Energy Star Office Equipment Program is a self-certification programme dedicated to reducing energy consumption which was developed in 1992 by the USA Environmental Protection Agency to reduce energy wasted during idle periods by office equipment such as computers, printers, fax machines, copiers and scanners. Machines with this logo power down after a period of not being used, (see www.epa.gov/epahome/hi-energystar.htm) |
| The European Union (EU) Energy Label | The European Union (EU) Energy Label rates appliances from A (the most efficient) to G (the least efficient) and provides additional information such as the capacity of the fridge or freezer and the wash and spin performance of washing machines. The label must, by law, be shown on all fridges, freezers, fridge freezers, washing machines, tumble dryers, washer dryers, dishwashers and light bulb packaging - so if you can't see it, ask the retailer. For more information see: www.defra.gov.uk/environment . |
| The Energy Efficiency Recommended | The Energy Efficiency Recommended logo helps you identify and buy energy efficient products. The logo makes the most efficient products instantly recognisable -and complements the EU Energy label on white goods and light bulbs, making it even easier for you to buy energy efficient products. Only products that meet or exceed energy efficiency criteria set by the Energy Saving Trust and backed by government can use the Energy Efficiency Recommended logo. The logo appears on a wide (and continually growing) range of products including energy saving light bulbs and light fittings, refrigeration, laundry and dishwashing appliances, gas boilers, heating controls, insulation materials and certain brown goods. For an up to date list of Energy Efficiency Recommended products and the criteria they have to meet visit: www.saveenergy.co. uk |
| Toner cartridge recycling | |
| UKCRA (United Kingdom Cartridge Recyclers Association) | UKCRA provides environmental alternatives to imported toner cartridges, by establishing standards for toner cartridge recycling and supplying details of companies that conform to those standards. If a remanufactured/recycled product contains the UKCRA symbol, they can be 100% sure it is produced by a member company of UKCRA and the guarantee that symbol supports. For more information see: www.ukcra.com |
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