Ecolabel

"Ecolabelling" is a voluntary method of environmental

performance certification and labelling that is
practised around the world. An ecolabel identifies
products or services proven environmentally
preferable overall, within a specific product or service
category.
Main features: Eco-labels may focus on certain environmental
aspects of the product, eg energy consumption,
water use, source of timber, etc,
focused on minimising the negative ecological
impacts of primary production or resource
extraction
Through a verification process, usually referred to as
"certification", a farm, forest, fishery, or mine can
show that it complies with a standard and earn the
right to sell its products as certified through the
supply chain, often resulting in a consumer-facing
ecolabel
Classification of eco-labels
Types of ecolabel
1 Public, multi-criteria ecolabels (Type I, ISO 14024)
A 'Type I' label is a third party assessment of a product based on a number
of criteria / issues involved in the environmental impact of a product or
material throughout its life cycle
2 Public, single-issue labels

Relate to one particular environmental issue eg energy

or carbon emissions Three types of label:

1 'Pass or fail' type label linked to a

specific issue.
The product either meets with the standard or doesn't.

Eg:• EU Energy Star labelling the energy efficiency of

office equipment: www.eu-energystar.org/en/index.html
2 'Graded' labels.
Products are graded according to their environmental
performance on the issue in question

. Eg :• EU 'Energy label' which grades white goods

according to their energy efficiency from A++ down to G:
www.energylabels.org.uk/eulabel.html
3 Statement of performance.
The label is non-judgemental but illustrates
the measure of the issue of concern.

Eg:• Carbon Reduction Label records a

products carbon footprint:
www.carbon-label.com
3 Private labels

Run by NGOs, industry groups or stakeholders.

Examples include:

• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): www.fsc-uk.org/

• British Allergy Foundation Seal of Approval :

www.allergyuk.org

• CertiPUR - foam block manufacturers' label:

www.europur.com/index.php?page=certipur
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