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The EU Eco-label and Health 3 The EU eco-label
3.1 The purpose of the EU eco-labelThe EU eco-label came into existence because of a need for a uniform, reliable, transparent and impartial system regarding information on the environmental properties of products. The EU eco-label is directed to consumers across the boarders in the EU and it may be awarded to both products and services. The Eco-label is part of a broader EU policy regarding IPP, Integrated Product Policy, that is a key element in the EU environmental policy aiming at promoting sustainable production and consumption. The Eco-label is thus part of the 6th action programme ”Environment 2010: Our Future Our Choice”. The primary function of the EU eco-label is to stimulate the supply and demand of products and services with a documented lower environmental load than comparable products and services. As a market tool it must be operational and effective for manufacturers, suppliers and consumers in Europe. 3.2 Legislative basisThe legislative basis for the EU eco-label is ”Regulation on a revised Community eco-label award scheme” /1/. The Regulation describes the overall management of the label and requirements for products that may obtain the Eco-label. Both the Regulation and the product criteria are established by the national competent bodies in cooperation with the Commission and an EU stakeholder’s forum (EUEB). The national eco-label competent bodies handle the support and promotion of the label and are also responsible for assignment of the Eco-label to the products that meet the criteria. The Eco-label may be awarded to products and services primarily intended for consumers except for foodstuffs, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment. Criteria may be established for product groups that have a substantial trade volume in the EU causing significant environmental loads and that contain a potential for significant environmental improvements. At the time of its adoption the criteria should be achievable by part of the existing products on the market. The criteria are based on life cycle considerations and are updated every 3 to 6 years. 3.3 Methodological basisThe elaboration of proposals for new product criteria is conducted in 4 consecutive steps. The first step is a feasibility and market investigation with the purpose of establishing whether there is a market basis for an eco-label for the product type in question. Information on market structure, products, and opinions regarding the product type is collected. Primarily information related to the EU is collected, but conditions outside the EU might also be taken into consideration. In the next step, the most important environmental conditions for the product group are selected based on life cycle considerations according to internationally recognized methods[1]. The Regulation contains an indicative assessment matrix of the environmental factors to be considered. The purpose is to identify the categories of the most important environmental loads. The third step is an improvement analysis evaluating the improvement potential for the individual environmental load parameters. The technical, industrial, and economic feasibility and market changes are also evaluated and considerations are made about consumer behaviour, perceptions, and preferences that might contribute to the market penetration of the Eco-label. The final step includes the elaboration of a proposal for the criteria to be applied. The suggestion for criteria might for example contain clearly defined limits for certain ingredients as well as demands for resource consumption and reusability. The product label consists of 2 boxes. The Eco-label logo “the Flower” is placed in one box and the other contains statements on the primary reasons for awarding the Eco-label. At present, criteria for 23 different product types including two services have been developed. According to the work programme for the label, the anticipated number of product groups to be covered is between 25 and 35 by the end of 2006. 3.4 Revision of the RegulationThe Regulation has been revised once since 1992. The revision expanded the Regulation to include services. The European Union Eco-Labelling Board (EUEB) was established and it became possible for manufacturers outside the EU to apply directly for the Eco-label. The present Regulation was to be examined by the Commission no later than 24 September 2005 based on the experience gained in the intervening period. The next ordinary revision is anticipated in 2006. Fodnoter [1] The principles in EN ISO 14040 and ISO 14024 must be taken into consideration where relevant according to the Annex II of the Regulation
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