unwrapping the eco-labels

There are a lot of labels on the market today that indicate various environmental or fair trade standards -- but what do all of them actually mean? A few are spelled out below:


Carbon Reduction Label
Purpose: The Carbon Reduction Label is a public commitment that the carbon footprint of a product or service has been measured and certified and the owner of the product or service has committed to reduce that footprint over the following two years. This includes a full life cycle analysis. The certification must be undertaken again after two years and prove that real reductions have been made.
Attributes: GHG emissions, carbon emissions
Products: forests, farms, fisheries, land holdings, buildings, products, services, supply chains

Fairtrade Label
Purpose: Fairtrade aims to reduce poverty by facilitating a “partnership” between producers, businesses and consumers. Fairtrade offers producers a better deal and improved terms of trade, allowing them the opportunity to improve their lives and plan for their future. Fairtrade also gives consumers a powerful way to reduce poverty through their everyday shopping. When a product carries the FAIRTRADE Certification Mark, it means the producers and traders have met Fairtrade Standards. Fairtrade Standards include social, environmental and economic criteria, as well progress requirements and terms of trade. The Standards are
designed to support the sustainable development of small-scale producers and agricultural workers in the poorest countries in the world. Participants are submit to independent 3rd party review for certification.
Attributes: social responsibility, environment, worker health and safety, biodiversity
Products: agricultural products, food and food products, drinks, textiles, raw materials

Soil Association Organic Standard label
Purpose: Over 80% of organic products in the UK carry the SOAS label. The Soil
Association standards are higher than the EU organic regulations in some areas, and also
include products not covered by EU regulations such as textiles and health & beauty.
Attributes: environment
Products: farm products, food and food products, food processing and packing, food
retail and catering, textile production, health and beauty manufacturing and imports

EU Organic Products label
Purpose: The organic product label indicates that product has been grown within sustainable cultivation systems, with emphasis on environmental protection, biodiversity and high standards of animal protection. Ideally, external resources should be limited to organic resources from other organic farms, natural or naturally obtained materials and low soluble mineral fertilisers. Chemical synthetic resources may be permitted if suitable alternatives are lacking. Conventional farmers must first undergo a conversion period of a minimum
of two years before they can begin producing agricultural goods that can be marketed as organic. If they wish to produce both conventional and organic produce, they must clearly separate these two operations throughout every stage of production. All parties are subject to inspections to ensure standard compliance. Standards are set by the European Commission.
Attributes: animal welfare, environmental
Products: food and food products, drink

EU Energy Label
Purpose: By law, the European Community Energy Label must be displayed on all new household products displayed for sale, hire or hire-purchase. Products are generally rated from ‘A’ to ’G’, with ‘A’ being the most efficient (‘A+’ and ‘A++’ for the most efficient fridges and freezers). The standards are set by the European Commission.
Attributes: provides a standard of comparison for appliances
Products: household appliances





For more information, or information on other labels, have a look at GreenerChoices or the Eco-label Index. 

-LO