Eco-friendly Labeling

North America: In the United States, environmental marketing claims require caution. Ambiguous titles such as environmentally friendly can be confusing without a specific definition; some regulators are providing guidance. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has deemed this language useless in determining whether a product is truly "green".

In Canada, one label is that of the Environmental Choice Program. Created in 1988, only products approved by the program are allowed to display the label.

Eco label is a labeling system for consumer products (excluding foods and medicine) that are made in a fashion that avoids detrimental effects on the environment. Usually both the precautionary principle and the substitution principle are used when defining the rules for what products can be eco-labeled.

Many eco-friendly labels are not directly connected to the firms that manufacture or sell the eco labeled products. Just as for the quality assurance labeling systems it is of imperative importance that the labeling entity is clearly divided from and independent of the manufacturers. All eco-labeling is voluntary, meaning that they are not mandatory by law.

Eco labeling systems exist for both food and consumer products. Both systems were started by NGOs but nowadays the European Union have legislation for the rules of eco-labelling and also have their own eco-labels, one for food and one for consumer products. At least for the food the eco-label is nearly identical with the common NGO definition of the rules for eco-labelling.

Many of the food eco-labels follow the recommendations from the International Federation of Organic AgricultureMovements, that started in the 1970s.

The European Union Eco-label makes it easier for consumers to choose green products. It is a voluntary program designed to encourage businesses to market products and services that are kinder to the environment and for European consumers - including public and private purchasers - to easily identify eco-friendly practices.

The program came into operation in late 1992 and was designed to identify products which are less harmful to the environment than equivalent brands. For example, eco-friendly labels will be awarded to products that do not contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which damage the ozone layer, to those products that can be, or are, recycled, and to those that are energy efficient. The labels are awarded on environmental criteria set by the European Union.

These cover the whole life cycle of a product, from the extraction of raw materials, through manufacture, distribution, use and disposal of the product. The first products to carry the EU ecolabel were washing machines, paper towels, writing paper, light bulbs and hairsprays.

Ecolabelled products are indicated by the "Ecolabel Flower" on the product. Consideration is being given to revising the system, and a public consultation was carried out.

From Eco-friendly labeling, to making your own eco-friendly cleaners, here . . .

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