A list of Eco-labels to know about
One of the first steps to become an eco-conscious consumer is to know how sustainability, environmental and social criteria are reflected in the products and services we buy. Manufacturers started using eco-labels to market and show the efforts they put to contribute to the sustainability movements. They use eco-labels to communicate one attribute or multiples that their products have. Attributes that they managed to work on in order to reduce the environmental impact of their products.
For example, one of the very old attributes in this field is CFC-free. CFCs are manufactured chemicals known to damage the ozon layer of the earth. Companies that managed to avoid using CFCs in their products, like air-conditioners and refrigerators, would be proud to show it to their customers through an eco-label. However, CFCs have been banned since 1996, so if you see a product that has this label, you should question the company’s sustainability effort, as this label is irrelevant nowadays and should be classified as “ greenwashing “.
This post will be a growing post of the main and common eco-labels along with their meanings to help us as a community become more aware.
Types of eco-labels
Before starting the list, let’s briefly go over the three types of eco-labels available now for businesses. The International Organization for Standardization, aka ISO, took care of developing guidelines to implement environmental labeling. Under ISO 14020 series, there are three types of labels.
- Type I label ( based on ISO 14024 ), is a multiple-criteria based and third party certified environmental label.
- Type II label ( based on ISO 14021 ), is a self-declaration claim usually focusing on one environmental criteria.
- Type III label ( based on ISO 14025 ), is a third party declaration that is based on life cycle analysis and thus provides a more in depth and quantified data of the environmental impact of the product ( more of a profile not just one claim ).
What is greenwashing ?
Unfortunately, there is always a room for manipulation. Claiming things that are not true, irrelevant or vague. Such claims and strategies are called greenwashing.
A conscious consumer should be educated and aware of such claims. As we mentioned at the beginning, a CFCs-free claim should be irrelevant as these chemicals have been banned globally. Just like if you see a gluten free label on a fruit or meat, then you should know that the label is useless as fruits and meat don’t contain gluten to start with, and you should expect the label on something like bread which usually has gluten.
Another example, a recyclable claim does not mean that the product/package gets actually recycled (it means the materials are recyclable only – which is still good for sure), as that would depend on what the region does with its waste. However there are companies that have a program to take back its packaging and they handle recycling it. a good example is LUSH.
What are some of the common Eco-labels?
USDA ORGANIC – Organic food generally means the absence of the use of man-made pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, and growth hormones, in addition to genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In the United States, the National Organic Program sets the standards for processing and handling food. There are three main categories for the organic label. 1) 100% Organic: as it says, all ingredients must be organic. 2) Organic: must contain no less than 95% of organic ingredients. And 3) “Made with” Organic: contains at least 70% organic ingredients.
CANADA ORGANIC – It is similar to the USDA one but difference in having only one category. An organic logo is allowed on products that have 95% or more of organic ingredients and is certified by the Canada Organic Regime.
FAIRTRADE – Many stories in the developing countries show the bad, unsafe and inhumane work environment that some people work under. Fairtrade aims to help achieve a more sustainable and equitable trade relation. As it is quoted on their website “Fairtrade changes the way trade works through better prices, decent working conditions and a fairer deal for farmers and workers in developing countries.”
ROHS – It stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive. E-waste is one the big issues to the environment and health. ROHS is a European directive which ensures that electrical and electronics equipment contain less amounts of the usually found dangerous substances in electronics. The list currently has 10 substances which are: Lead, Hexavalent Chromium, Cadmium, Mercury, PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP. These substances have been proven to have high health risks. We have created a course on how to become compliant with ROHS.
Check out the current directory of businesses founded by Muslims that strive to be sustainable in at least one area.