Nordic Ecolabelling

Nordic Ecolabelling

Nordic Ecolabel- the SwanReliable environmental information

Presentation:

•What are Type 1-ecolabels ?

•Global spread

•Nordic Swan

•Characteristics of Type 1-ecolabels

•Position among consumers in Nordic countries

Nordic Ecolabelling

Type 1 ecolabels based on ISO 14024

Key Attributes:

•Voluntary, open, market-based tool.

•Address multiple environmental criteria across the entire product life cycle.

•Transparent, collaborative standard development process involving external stakeholders (e.g. NGOs, government, industry, academia, consumer groups).

•Rely on independent verification of products or services to the standards/criteria sets.

Nordic Ecolabelling

Global Ecolabelling Network(GEN)

• Non-profit network of Type I ecolabelling organisations, established in 1994.

• Working to improve, promote, and develop the ecolabelling of products and services on a global scale based on ISO 14024.

• Advocate on behalf of Type I ecolabels and articulate the distinctions between Type I ecolabels and other, most often less credible ‘green’ labels.

Nordic Ecolabelling

Members of the GEN

Europe

Middle East

Asia

Oceania

South America

North America

Nordic Ecolabelling

Five countries - one ecolabel

EcolabellingSweden Ecolabelling Norway Ecolabelling Denmark Ecolabelling Finland Ecolabelling Iceland

The NordicEcolabelling Board

Nordic Council of MinistersEnvironmental Affairs

Nordic Ecolabelling

The Nordic Swan

• Official Established in 1989 by theNordic Council of Ministers

• International Encompasses all Nordic countries

• Non-profitFinanced with governmental support (1/4) and fees. All earnings are used to operate the organisation and information campaigns

Nordic Ecolabelling

Ecolabelling characteristics

Aims toward a sustainable society

Stimulates consumers and producers

Can be awarded to a product or a service

Voluntary system that uses marketing forces

Selective criteria

Nordic Ecolabelling

Strict, but reachable criterias - continuously improvements

• Strict and absolute requirements

• Government regulation is basic, use of i.e. the precautionary principle

• Defined documentation and controls with site audits

• Limited validity of the licence

• Only the best products can be labelled

Nordic Ecolabelling

”The escalator””The escalator”

ver. 1

ver. 2

ver. 3

ver. 4

Level of requirement

Requirements of authorities

Time

Specific requirement in ecolabel criteria

Nordic Ecolabelling

Lifecycle approach – Communication ofenvironment directly to the consumer

Raw materialIngredients

Production User phase Waste

In November 2014: 8-9,000 ecolabelled products in 250

product groups

(60 criteria and 2,250 licenses)

Nordic Ecolabelling

Cleaning agents

Paper products

Office products

Machines and devices

Furniture and fittings

Textiles

Building materials

Car articles

Services (grocery shops, hotels, restaurants…)

Groups of Product Categories

Nordic Ecolabelling

Top of Mind (in 2013)

Nordic Ecolabelling

Trustworthiness (in 2012)

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Nordic Ecolabelling

Thank you !

www.nordic-ecolabel.org

www.globalecolabelling.net

bel@ecolabel.no

www.nordic-ecolabel.org

www.globalecolabelling.net

bel@ecolabel.no

Björn-Erik Lönn

Senior adviser, international affairs, Nordic EcolabelDirector of the Board, GEN