EU Primes Eco-Labels for the Big Time
ecolabel 2.0

The EU is developing a proposal for extending its energy label to all manufactured goods. This would be a significant step forward in energy labelling for products.

Interestingly, the EU proposes developing common baselines around the label that would exclude the worst products from access to EU markets. They would also develop harmonized best-in-class standards that would be offered preferred access to public procurement.

Also on the agenda is a proposal for streamlining and simplifying access to the EU Eco-Flower without lowering standards.

Great news on all fronts. Full Background at EurActiv.Com.

No Comments » | Tags: europe, standards
Posted by Jacob on Monday, April 28th, 2008 | Permalink |

EU Ecolabel Stays Strict on Textiles, GMOs
The best of the best of the best.

EU Member States today rejected proposals from the European Commission to allow PVCs, GMOs and other potentially environmentally damaging substances into ecolabelled products.

Coordinators saw the move as reinforcing the role of the EU ecolabel, and perhaps of ecolabels in general, as a best-in-class indicator for consumers.

Ecolabels have come under pressure in recent months to water down their standards in response to spiking consumer demand. The EU’s message is that ecolabels need to retain credibility first and foremost.

It’s an important message and one that should resonate with ecolabels around the world.

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Posted by Jacob on Thursday, April 24th, 2008 | Permalink |

Wishful Thinking Hurts the Planet
Progess? But I like going to fancy meetings!

In a classic example of a multi-stakholder process harming the environment, it looks like plans to develop additional product lines for the EU ecolabel are being stymied by the inability of those setting the standards to agree on what they should be.

Consumer advocate Jim Murray hit the nail on the head - “a more realistic understanding of consumers as they actually are, and not as we would wish they were.”

Queue applause. Why is that so hard?

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Posted by Jacob on Thursday, February 21st, 2008 | Permalink |

A Soap Company Stands up for Standards
Should labels be as unique as soap bubbles? Not if you're selling the soap.

According to an article in talking retail Ecover, a global manufacturer of eco-friendly cleaning products, has called for common standards for ecolabels as they expand across Europe. The company has been enjoying twenty percent annual growth in dish-soap, its most popular product.

Their marketing director, Clare Allman, says the European Eco-Label just confuses the issue further: “The European Eco-Label in the UK allows phosphates but the European standard in France, Germany and Belgium doesn’t. Consumers are looking for our help, and this issue could mean they lose trust in the whole eco-sector.”

It’s an ongoing problem in the labelling industry, how do you provide baseline assurance without stifling innovation? Graded labeling is one option, but it needs to be done carefully and without throwing away baselines. Whatever happens it needs to happen quick, before a label that was meant to help an industry begins to harm it.Given that “Quick” and “European Union” tends to be an oxymoron, I’m starting to wonder of government labels are the best option for a booming industry. On the other hand I don’t exactly trust industry self-regulation and the labels it would produce either. I wonder, for example, what Ecover’s position will be at the dish soap bigwig’s get-together next February?

Public private partnerships like those advocated by ISEAL and other established labels might provide the balance of speed and credibility. The challenge is developing the right model. Perhaps some of the dish soap boys need to take a course or two before they set down to label making.

No Comments » | Tags: europe, news, standards
Posted by Jacob on Monday, November 26th, 2007 | Permalink |