Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 7.3
Global Ecolabelling Network.
Country/Region
Member
Australia
Good Environmental Choice Australia Ltd.
Brazil
Associacao Brasileira de Normas Tecnicas (ABNT)
China
China Environmental United Certification Center
Croatia
Ministry of Environmental Protection and Physical Planning
Czech Republic
Ministry of the Environment
EU
European Commission—DG ENVIRONMENT (G2)
Germany
Federal Environmental Agency (FEA)
Hong Kong (GC)
Green Council
Hong Kong (HKFEP)
Hong Kong Federation of Environmental Protection (HKFEP) Limited
India
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
Indonesia
Ministry of Environment
Japan
Japan Environment Association (JEA)
Korea
Korea Eco-Products Institute (KOECO)
New Zealand
Environmental Choice New Zealand
Nordic 5 Countries
Nordic Ecolabelling Board
North America (Canada)
TerraChoice Group Inc./TerraChoice Environmental Marketing Inc.
(for Environment Canada)
North America (United States)
Green Seal
Philippines
Clean & Philippine Center For Environmental Protection and
Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI)
Russia
Saint-Petersburg Ecological Union
Chinese Taipei
Environment and Development Foundation (EDF)
Singapore
Singapore Environment Council
Sweden (SSNC)
Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC)
Sweden (TCO)
TCO Development
Thailand
Thailand Environment Institute (TEI)
Ukraine
Living Planet
United Kingdom
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
From Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN), 2008.
can be presented in a written form or by using a symbol. The main problem with these claims
is that sometimes are vague, have no scientific basis, and can be misleading.
The third type of environmental labels,
report cards
, are based on the life cycle
assessment of products (Type III claim). A Type III environmental label does not evaluate
the environmental performance of a product, but instead presents objective data so buyers
can make an educated evaluation about the product (UNOPS, 2009). Type III labels include
environmental burdens typically found in life cycle assessments throughout the life of the
product from production of raw materials to manufacturing, transportation, use, and
disposal/recycling (see Chapter 4). These assessments include inputs (such as energy use,
water consumption, and materials consumption) and outputs (air emissions, wastewater
production, and solid waste).
Many organizations offer environmental labels that are achieved via a certification
process with specific criteria for each label. And, with the purpose of avoiding multiple
standards, a global network, the Global Ecolabelling Network (2008), was developed to
provide unified criteria for the member organizations and offer certifications based on the
life cycle assessment of products. Table 7.3 presents a list of countries and regions and the
name of the member organizations that are participating members of the Global
Ecolabelling Network.
