newsletterOctober-December 2012 Vol. 7 / No. 3 Eco Certification Eco Certification Eco mark An Indian ECOCERT- Certification Body for INDOCERT- Indian Scheme of certification Sustainable Development Organic Certification Agency The Environmental Information System acronymed as ENVIS was implemented by the Ministry of Environment & Forests by end of 6th Five Year Plan as a Plan Scheme for environmental information collection, collation, storage, retrieval and dissemination to policy planners, decision makers, scientists and environmentalists, researchers, academicians and other stakeholders. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has identified Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC), Ahmedabad, as one of the centers to collect and disseminate information on “Eco-labelling and Promotion of Eco-friendly Products”. The main objective of this ENVIS Centre is to disseminate information on Eco products, International, and National Eco labeling programs. Chairman (CERC) Dr. V. G. Patel Editorial Team Ms. Gauri Wagenaar Project Coordinator Dr. Ashoka Ghosh Design & Graphics Mr. Abhishek Dwivedi Strategies and Smiles Content Foreword 1 Eco Certification 2 Eco Mark - An Indian Scheme of certification 3 INDOCERT - Indian Organic Certification Agency 5 ECOCERT - Certification Body for Sustainable Development 7 Eco Certification Vol. 7 No. 3 I October-December 2012 Foreword How to go green and protect the environment? The eco labels play an important role in adopting Nowadays, consumer and environmental concerns more sustainable consumption patterns. Ensuing have become major issues in the marketplace. the Rio Earth Summit, Agenda 21 identified eco Environment protection and sustainable certification as a way to encourage consumers to development is an important aspect to make planet adopt more sustainable consumption patterns livable. The environment protection is an issue that through the buying of products, which have less makes every section of the society the consumer, the hazardous impact on environment. Consumers industry, and the government- to think about the easily can be fooled by deceptive claims about the planet where they live. Consumer products with eco environment and it creates consumers' distrust and labeling and different types of eco certification confusion over environmental claims of enlighten consumers that a product with eco mark is manufacturers. The “World Summit on Sustainable more environmentally friendly than other products Development Plan of Implementation to address of the same category. unsustainable consumption advocates 'developing and adopting on a voluntary basis effective, transparent, verifiable, non-misleading and non- discriminatory consumer information tools' (UNEP, 2002,p.7). An international consensus was generated during the UN Earth Summit Conference 1992 to integrate environmental issues into manufacturing procedures. The motive was to influence the consumption patterns in order to accomplish sustainable development. The “Green” living implicates to make commitment towards everyday selections, which conserve energy, reduce pollution, and minimize waste. To lead a more eco-friendly lifestyle, we have to be aware about the products with eco label that benefits the global environment. The present issue Environmental certification is a solution helping makes readers aware about importance of eco manufacturers to maintain a reliable assurance certification and organisations involved in system of products with minimum impact on certification processes. environment. The eco certified products are more environmentally friendly than their counterparts. It helps consumers to make more informed choices, understand the implications of their buying decisions and avoid being taken in by “Green” claims. The market for such eco-labelled and environment friendly products has been expanding rapidly, and more and more consumers across the world are getting aware of the importance of sustainable consumption and production practices. 1 Eco Certification Eco certification is a form of environmental The International Organization for Standardization regulation and development where a company can has developed standards for environmental choose to comply with predefined processes or labeling with the ISO 14000 family. The US based objectives set forth by the certifying agencies. Eco Green Seal is a non-profit organization that uses labeling is a voluntary method of environmental science-based programs. EcoLogo Program is p e r f o r m a n c e c e r t i f i c a t i o n . D i f f e r e n t environmental standard and certification mark organisations/certifying agencies are offering eco created by Government of Canada. Blue Angel of certification to products and services based on their Germany is the oldest voluntary eco label environmental preferences i.e. based on life cycle programme in the world, and it covers about 11,700 analysis. They provide a logo - an eco label certified products and services in 125 product categories. under their standards. Ecolabel is a voluntary label of European Union. In other European Countries-France, Croatia, the Netherlands, Austria, Scandinavia, Sweden, Indian Scenario Slovakia, Spain, Czech Republic, and Hungary also In India, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a have their own programmes. In Russia, Vitality Leaf statutory organisation, has launched the eco- Ecolabel is a voluntary ecolabelling program. labeling scheme known as `Eco Mark' in 1991. This scheme has adopted the cradle to grave approach In Brazil, the Associacao Brasileira de Normas i.e. from raw material extraction, to manufacturing, Tecnicas (ABNT) in collaboration with the Brazilian and to disposal. It has identified 16 product government has launched the eco-label in 1993 categories but it has failed to take off even more than based on life-cycle analyses. In 1991 Australia had two decades after its launch. Till date, the product developed the 'Environmental Choice' eco-label but categories paper, wood substitutes, and finished has revamped in 2001 as 'Environmental Choice leather manufacturers have applied for the Eco Australia'. The New Zealand Ministry of the Mark. Eco Mark is a voluntary non-binding scheme. Environment launched New Zealand's eco-label “Environmental Choice New Zealand” in 1990. The Green Signal is India's first comprehensive sustainability eco label. It Asian countries have also developed eco-label functions under the aegis of the programmes. The countries are People's Republic of C e n t r e f o r I n n o v a t i o n , China, India, Israel, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, I n c u b a t i o n a n d South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. Hong Kong has Entrepreneurship (CIIE) at the two programmes on eco-label. The Hong Kong Eco- Indian Institute of Management label is managed by Hong Kong Federation of Ahmedabad (IIMA). It was Environmental Protection (HKFEP) Limited and the launched in 2011 with a view to Hong Kong Green Label Scheme (HKGLS) certifying service providers and manufacturers by established in the year of 2000 is managed and examining their manufacturing processes to ensure awarded by the non-governmental organization that their processes are environmentally Green Council (GC) in association with the Hong sustainable. It is a life cycle-based certification Kong Productivity Council (HKPC). Source: http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/govt-s- International Scenario eco-mark-scheme-fails-to-gain-momentum-even-after-19-years- 110051400043_1.html, http://cpcb.nic.in/Eco_Label.php Different eco labeling programmes are available http://www.blauer- across the world. These are generally sponsored by engel.de/en/blauer_engel/whats_behind_it/national_eco- labels_worldwide.php government or managed by private sectors and are voluntary. 2 Eco mark - An Indian Scheme of certification Eco Mark is a voluntary eco-labeling scheme • That the product must contribute to a reduction of launched by the Government of India in 1991 for .. the adverse primary criteria which has the highest identification of environment friendly products. The . environmental impact associated with the use of . criterion of cradle-to- grave approach is adopted. the product, and which will be specifically set for . The 'Eco Mark' label is awarded to consumer ...each of the product categories. products that meet the specified environmental criteria and the quality requirements of Indian Apart from these key points a product is examined, Standards. Any product with the Eco Mark will be the there are general and specific requirements also. right environmental choice. Product General Requirements: The product general requirements deal Objective of the Scheme: with the issues of compliance The specific objectives of the scheme are of the pollution control acts; • To provide an incentive for manufacturers and r a i s i n g e n v i r o n m e n t a l importers to reduce adverse environmental impact awareness among consumers of products. etc., in addition to safety, • To reward genuine initiatives by companies to quality, and performance of reduce adverse environmental impact of their the products. products. • To assist consumers to become environmentally responsible in their daily lives by providing information to take account of environmental Product Specific Requirements: factors in their purchase decisions. • To encourage citizens to purchase products which • Production process including source of raw have less harmful environmental impacts. materials; • Ultimately to improve the quality of the •