"Ecolabelling" is a voluntary method of environmental performance
certification and labelling that is practised around the world. An
ecolabel identifies products or services proven environmentally
preferable overall, within a specific product or service category.
The roots of ecolabelling are found in the growing global concern for
environmental protection on the part of governments, businesses and the
public. As businesses have come to recognize that environmental concerns
may be translated into a market advantage for certain products and
services, various environmental declarations, claims and labels have
emerged, such as natural, recyclable, eco-friendly, low energy, recycled
content, etc. These have attracted consumers looking for ways to reduce
environmental impacts through their purchasing choices, but they have
also led to some confusion and scepticism.
The issue of environmental protection has brought the consumers, the
industry, and the government to a common platform where each has to play
its own role. The government and legislatures are using their influence
to reduce environmental and health hazards due to industrialisation and
to stimulate the development of clean(er) technologies. However, the
environment is under tremendous stress from rapid industrialisation,
unplanned urbanisation and changing consumption patterns in the race to
achieve better living standards. It is amply clear that regulatory
actions by pollution control agencies alone can not restore the
environment to its pristine state. Pro-active and promotional roles
should also be geared up in harmony with the overall environmental
protection strategy. The time has come for consumers to take the lead in
prompting manufacturers to adopt clean and eco-friendly technologies
and environmentally-safe disposal of used products, along with
preventive and mitigative approaches.
To increase consumer awareness, the Government of
India launched the eco-labelling scheme known as `Ecomark' in 1991 for
easy identification of environment-friendly products. Any product which
is made, used or disposed of in a way that significantly reduces the
harm it would otherwise cause the environment could be considered as
Environment-Friendly Product.
The
criteria follows a cradle-to-grave approach, i.e. from raw material
extraction, to manufacturing, and to disposal. The 'Ecomark' label is
awarded to consumer goods which meet the specified environmental
criteria and the quality requirements of Indian Standards. Any product
with the Ecomark will be the right environmental choice.
The specific objectives of the scheme are as follow :
To provide an incentive for manufacturers and importers to reduce adverse environmental impact of products.
To reward genuine initiatives by companies to reduce adverse environmental impact of their products.
To assist consumers to become environmentally
responsible in their daily lives by providing information to take
account of environmental factors in their purchase decisions.
To encourage citizens to purchase products which have less harmful environmental impacts.
Ultimately to improve the quality of the environment and to encourage the sustainable management of resources.
