Box 3. Ecolabels (other than forest certification systems)

A company may want to inform consumers about the environmental claims of a specific product or service through the use of ecolabels. Ecolabeling is a voluntary certification and verification process.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) classifies three broad types of ecolabels (Global Ecolabeling Network, 2007):

• Type I: a voluntary, multiple-criteria-based third-party program that authorizes the use of environmental labels on products indicating overall preference of a product within a particular category based on life cycle considerations. Examples include the EU Flower and the Canadian Environmental Choice Program.
• Type II: a program involving self-declared environmental claims by parties likely to benefit from such claims. These programs often involve single attributes. An example is the Paper Profile.
• Type III: a program involving a declaration that provides quantified environmental life cycle product information provided by the supplier, based on independent verification, and systematic data presented as a set of categories of a parameter.

There are many ecolabels in the world. In addition to FSC and PEFC, other important ecolabels for wood and paper-based products include:

• Blue Angel– the oldest environmental ecolabel; initiated by the German Ministry of the Interior, it is now administered by the Federal Environmental Agency. Wood and paper-based products covered include building materials, different types of paper and cardboard, packaging materials, and furniture.
• Bra Miljöval (Good Environmental Choice) – the ecolabel from the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation started in 1988. Wood-based products covered include various types of paper.
• Environmental Choice Program – owned by the Canadian government and administered by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing. Wood and paper-based materials covered include building raw materials, flooring, office furniture and various types of paper.
• Eco Mark – administered by the Japan Environment Association, it covers various types of paper, board wood, and furniture and packaging materials.
• Environmental Choice – a voluntary, multiple specifications labeling program endorsed by the New Zealand government and managed by the New Zealand Ecolabelling Trust. Wood-based products covered include various types of paper, furniture and flooring products.
• EU Flower – started in 1992 under the European Union Eco-labeling board. The EU Flower is active throughout the European Union and also in Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. Wood-based products covered include various types of paper and building materials.
• Green Seal – developed by Green Seal Inc., an independent non-profit organization. Wood-based products covered include various types of paper, furniture, particleboard and fiberboard, and food packaging materials.
• Greenguard – products certified meet requirements of the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Green Building Council, and Germany’s Blue Angel ecolabel.
• Good Environmental Choice Australia – designed by Good Environmental Choice Australia Ltd. Wood and paper-based products covered include various types of paper, flooring products, packaging materials, furniture and recycled and reclaimed timber.
• The Swan – the official Nordic ecolabel introduced by the Nordic Council of Ministers. Certifies some paper products. It also certifies that durable wood products do not incorporate heavy metals or biocides and are produced from sustainably managed forests.

There may be products bearing ecolabels that do not actually meet the label’s environmental standards. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and other institutions provide guidance on general labeling standards to help in selecting ecolabels:

• International Organization for Standardization – Standards 14020 through 14025 provide guidelines for ecolabels for first and third party verification.
• US Federal Trade Commission – provides guidance on the use of ecolabels and the use of environmental marketing claims.
• Consumer Reports Eco-labels – provides guidance, scorecards and comparisons of ecolabels in the US.
• The Global Ecolabeling Network - provides background information, links to national members, and so on.
• The UK Government’s Green Claims Code – provides guidance on statements, symbols, descriptions and verification.

Sources: Global Ecolabeling Network, 2007.