Eco-labels, Green ratings - know what to look for

Energy Star http://www.energystar.gov.au/  

Energy Star is an international standard for energy efficient office equipment including computers, printers and photocopiers, and home electronics such as TVs, audio products and DVD players. Labeled products reduce the amount of energy consumed by either automatically switching to a ‘sleep’ mode when not in use and/or reducing the amount of power used when in ‘standby’ mode.

Energy Rating http://www.energyrating.gov.au/

Energy labeling for major appliances in Australia was introduced in 1986. A joint Australian and State/Territory government program, the Energy Rating Label is recognised as a key initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The mandatory labeling program covers refrigerators, freezers, room air-conditioners, dishwashers, clothes washers and clothes dryers. The program requires that these household appliances display an energy star rating label (1 to 6 stars (6 best)).

Water Efficiency Labeling and Standards (WELS) Scheme http://www.waterrating.gov.au/  

WELS is Australia's Water Efficiency Labeling Scheme. It requires certain products to be registered and labeled with their water efficiency in accordance with the standard set under the national Water Efficiency Labeling and Standards Act 2005.
As of January 2008 all showers, tapware, toilets, urinals, clothes washers or dishwashers must be WELS registered and labeled to be legally supplied in Australia.

Gas Energy Rating http://www.energyrating.gov.au/

This is an Australian gas energy label similar in format to those found on electrical appliances. The gas labeling program is currently an industry voluntary scheme. A review of the scheme is under way by the Gas Industry and Governments.

Australian Window Association Window Energy Rating Scheme http://www.wers.net/  

To participate in WERS, window makers must obtain energy ratings for their products from a rating organization that is accredited by the WERS Management Committee.Rated windows carry a label which certifies their rating by the Australian Window Association. The window's cooling and heating performance is rated separately on a scale of 0 to 5 stars - the more stars, the better. These stars indicate the effect the window will have on the energy performance of the whole house.

WERS is an independent organization. WERS-rated windows must meet all relevant Australian standards.

The Marine Stewardship Council http://www.msc.org/

MSC is an independent, global, non-profit organization with offices in the UK, the USA and Australia. The MSC has developed an environmental standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries. It uses a product label to reward environmentally responsible fishery management and practices. As of September 2007 there are 857 MSC-labelled seafood products sold in 34 countries worldwide. Over 7% of the world's edible wild-capture fisheries are now engaged in the program, either as certified fisheries or in full assessment against the MSC standard for a sustainable fishery.

Green Plumbers http://www.greenplumbers.com.au/ 

GreenPlumbers® was developed by the Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia (MPMSAA). A series of workshops have been designed to enhance plumbers skills and knowledge about the environmental considerations of their work.

These training opportunities place plumbers in a better position to advise and inform consumers on topics such as: the benefits of energy efficiency; water conservation or the most appropriate and cost effective appliances to suit individual needs.

GreenSmart http://www.greensmart.com.au/  

The Housing Industry Association is Australia’s largest residential building organization. HIA GreenSmart Professionals are HIA builders, architects, building designers, land developers, manufacturer/suppliers and related trade contractors who have successfully completed the two-day HIA GreenSmart Professional Training and support the HIA GreenSmart Code of Practice.

HIA's GreenSmart recognises a variety of Display Villages, Homes and Estates across Australia which adopt the GreenSmart principles and showcase how home buyers can incorporate GreenSmart into their new home. Many projects are open to the public, giving people the chance to select an environmentally friendly house that best suits their needs or to get great ideas for their home renovation.

Green Building Council Australia http://www.gbcaus.org/

The Green Star environmental rating system for buildings was created for the property industry in order to set a standard of measurement for green buildings. It aims to promote integrated, whole-building design; identify building life-cycle impacts; and to raise awareness of green building benefits.

Green Star rating tools use stars to rate performance: 4 Star Green Star Certified Rating (score 45-59) signifies 'Best Practice'; 5 Star Green Star Certified Rating (score 60-74) signifies 'Australian Excellence'; 6 Star Green Star Certified Rating (score 75-100) signifies 'World Leadership'.

Australian Certified Organic http://www.australianorganic.com.au/

Organic labeled products refer to any fruit or vegetables, crops, plants or meat products that are raised on farms certified as organic - that is they use no artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides and no genetically modified species. Australian Certified Organic (ACO) currently certifies about 55% of the Australian organic industry and the bud logo appears on about 70% of all certified organic product in Australia.

National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA) Certified Organic http://www.nasaa.com.au/  

As with ACO above, NASAA use no artificial substances in farming. Humane care of animals, active soil care, pollution reduction, erosion control, shelter belts, efficient water usage and proper food handling are all part of the ethos of the organic producer.
The company provides certification and inspection services, which assist in facilitating market access throughout the world for NASAA certified organic products.

The Soil Association Organic http://www.soilassociation.org/

The Soil Association was founded in 1946 in the UK by a group of farmers, scientists and nutritionists who observed a direct connection between farming practice and plant, animal, human and environmental health.

The Forest Stewardship Council http://www.fsc.org/

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an international organization, is a stakeholder owned system for promoting responsible management of the world’s forests.  Through consultative processes, it sets international standards for responsible forest management. It accredits independent third party organizations who can certify forest managers and forest product producers to FSC standards. Its trademark provides international recognition to organizations that support the growth of responsible forest management. Over the past 13 years, over 90 million hectares in more than 70 countries have been certified according to FSC standards while several thousand products are produced using FSC-certified wood and carrying the FSC trademark. FSC operates through its network of National Initiatives in 45 countries.

PEFC Council (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) http://www.pefc.org/  

The PEFC is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization, founded in 1999 which promotes sustainably managed forests through independent third party certification. The PEFC provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products that they are promoting the sustainable management of forests.

Fair Trade http://www.fairtrade.net/

Products carrying the Fair Trade Certification Label are those that have been produced and sold ensuring that the third world produces, workers and communities, normally disadvantaged through current international trade rules, get a fair return for their products and labour. It aims to continuously improve working conditions, increase sustainability and to invest in organizational development for workers and small farms. Smallholders are arranged in democratically run organizations, ban the most toxic pesticides and implement integrated crop management.  The Label is most commonly found on commodity products such as coffee and tea. An increasing number of cafes, retail outlets and supermarkets are selling Fair Trade products in Australia.

Fair Wear Foundation is an independent non-profit foundation supporting and promoting good labour conditions in garment production. FWF was set up by various interested parties and stakeholders from the fashion industry. Members of FWF work towards improving the labour conditions in factories that produce garments, throughout the world. A Code of Labour Practices have been developed which include among other things: no child labour, no forced labour, no discrimination, payment of a living wage and a safe and healthy workplace. FWF verifies whether companies comply with the Code of Labour Practices via an independent inspection.

SKAL EKO quality symbol http://skal.com/

Skal is the inspection body for the organic production in theNetherlands. Skal surveys the organic production by means of inspection and certification. Inspections consist of visits to farms, processing and importing units, but also examination of soil, crop or tissue samples and administrative assessments.
When the production process fully meets the requirements, certification can take place. The inspection of Skal occurs in accordance with certain regulations that have been approved by the Dutch ministry of agriculture and the Council for Accreditation.

Rainforest Alliance http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/

The aim of the Rainforest Alliance is to integrate productive agriculture, biodiversity conservation and human development. Farmers are required to operate sustainable farm management; integrated pest management; worker welfare; community relations; and biodiversity conservation through maintenance of shade cover or protection and restoration of native forest reserves. All of the Rainforest Alliance certification standards were developed in partnership with local non-governmental organizations, scientists and government representatives.

Utz Kapeh http://www.utzcertified.org/

UTZ CERTIFIED is a worldwide certification program for responsible coffee production and sourcing. UTZ means "good" in a Maya language. UTZ CERTIFIED offers assurance of social and environmental quality in coffee production. It includes a commitment to local communities through training for workers; ensuring all children living on UTZ certified farms and cooperatives have access to education; healthcare; and water and housing. All certified producers and cooperatives must also comply with national labour laws regarding age, working hours, conditions and safety.

In terms environmental commitments, the focus is on minimizing water and energy use and to use sustainable energy sources where possible. The use of fertilizers and pesticides is minimized and coffee growers use native tree species as coffee shade trees and are also required to reduce and prevent soil erosion.

Nature and Ecotourism Accreditation Program (NEAP) http://www.ecotourism.org.au/  

This eco certification program is aimed at identifying genuine ecotourism and nature tourism operators in Australia. Assessment is based on economic, social and environmental sustainability. All applications for the eco-tourism certificate are considered by the Assessment Panel to determine the applicable level of certification. The certified operations are subject to audits and the criteria is reviewed and updated every three years to reflect emerging best practice.

Green Globe ec3global  

Green Globe is the global benchmarking, certification and improvement system for sustainable travel and tourism. Tourism businesses with this label are required to consider the environmental impact of their business in the areas of energy, water, waste, biodiversity and noise and work to improve it.

Blue Flag http://www.blueflag.org/  

Owned and run by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) http://www.fee-international.org/ the Blue Flag works toward sustainable development at beaches and marinas through strict water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, safety and other services.

European Tourism Ecolabels

There are a number of European tourism eco labels which are linked through the Voluntary Initiative for Sustainability In Tourism network (VISIT) http://www.visit21.net/  These include the (now) international eco-label for tourism products The Green Key www.green-key.org, The Green Tourism Business Scheme (UK) http://www.green-business.co.uk/,  Legambiente Tourismo (Italy) http://www.legambienteturismo.it/ , Ö Plus (Switzerland) http://www.oe-plus.ch/ and the Latvian ecolabel http://www.eco.celotajs.lv/.

Mobius Loop

The internationally recognised recycling symbol is the 3 chasing arrows icon. Each arrow represents an aspect of a successful recycling programme: collection, remanufacturing/reprocessing, and finally purchase. The mobius loop on its own indicates whether the product can be recycled. The mobius loop with a percentage inside indicates what proportionof the product is made from recycled materials.

Australian Government Greenhouse Friendly   

The Greenhouse Friendly™ initiative was launched in 2001 and now forms part of the Australian Government's Greenhouse Challenge Plus program. Greenhouse Friendly™. This label means that a product or service’s greenhouse gas emissions have been offset through approved greenhouse gas reduction projects. These abatement projects must occur in Australia, and must generate additional, permanent and verifiable greenhouse gas emissions reductions or sequestration.

NoCO2 http://www.noco2.com.au/

NoCO2 is an Australian company which assists businesses to attain carbon neutral. Businesses must have accounted for their total operational emissions as well as the emissions embodied in the products they sell and use. NoCO2 certified organizations can offer their customers ‘Pre Green’ products which identifies to the consumer that the product is carbon neutral.

The detail used to account for product emissions and services is similar to the Greenhouse Friendly™  certification, but requires less 3rd party verification.

The Gold Standard http://www.cdmgoldstandard.org/

This is a label used by carbon offset providers. The Gold Standard works three ways: as a foundation, a project development method, and a credit label. The Gold Standard is a non-profit foundation, based in Basel Switzerland.

The Gold Standard carbon credit label is awarded after third party validation and verification of an offset project. Gold Standard credits are in high demand due to rising awareness about the need for rigor and transparency in the carbon market. All Gold Standard projects are tested for environmental quality by registered third parties.

GreenPower http://www.greenpower.gov.au/  

GreenPower provides an accreditation for a renewable energy product endorsed by a collection of State governments.

For a renewable energy product to gain endorsement from the GreenPower program, it must be generated from eligible renewable energy sources that meet strict environmental standards. It must also be a new facility built since January 1997 (other renewable energy exists, but it may not be accredited because it was built before 1997, and was already contributing energy to the electricity grid).
Accreditation ensures that energy companies are producing renewable energy of the same standard, making it easier for customers to choose between different renewable energy products - as simple as comparing apples with apples.

The Banksia Environmental Foundation http://www.banksiafdn.com/

The foundation, established in 1989, is a national not-for-profit organization that promotes environmental excellence and sustainability through its awards program and other associated events.  The Banksia Environmental Awards are regarded as the most prestigious environmental awards in Australia.  The Banksia Environmental Foundation also organises the Prime Minister's Environmentalist of the Year Award and is in partnership with other Environmental and Sustainability Awards.

Good Environmental Choice Australia http://www.geca.org.au/

The Good Environmental Choice Label commenced in 2001 as a national program. It is a Type 1 label and aims to provide an independent environmental labeling scheme in Australia that is non-government or industry affiliated and meets the needs of small producers as well as large. GECA reviews the impact of a product against standards for environmental performance and a life cycle assessment methodology is employed where possible. Following verification of the claims a license is issued which provides the rights to use the GECA logo on the product and associated literature.

Environmental Choice New Zealand http://www.enviro-choice.org.nz/

This Environmental Choice eco-labelling programme is run independently from the government, but the label is government owned and endorsed. This  voluntary scheme has a range of specifications for particular products, which sets out the environmental criteria to be met, based on an overview level life cycle assessment.   

Canada’s Environmental Choice Logo http://www.ecologo.org/  

Canada's "Environmental Choice" Eco-Logo was established in 1988 by the Canadian federal government. The program compares products or services with others in the same category and awards the EcoLogo to those that are environmentally preferable throughout their entire life.
Environmental Choice guidelines are based on the best information available at the time and are upgraded as new information and technology make higher standards possible. Guidelines are developed in consultation with industry, environmental groups, universities and independent technical and scientific advisors.

Germany’s Blue Angel http://www.blauer-engel.de/

The Blue Angel is the first and oldest environment-related label in the world for products and services. It was created 1977 and now approximately 3,600 products and services in Germany and abroad are entitled to bear the Blue Angel.

European Eco Label http://www.ec.europa.eu/

The "Flower" has become a European-wide symbol for products, providing simple and accurate guidance to consumers. The EU Eco-label scheme is open to any product or service, except food, drink, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. There are currently twenty-three product categories which can receive this award, ranging from tourist accommodation service, home appliances, cleaning materials, and mattresses to office supplies, gardening and Do It Yourself products.

Croatia Environmentally Friendly Label http://www.mzopu.hr/

The decision on the award of the “Environmentally friendly” label is passed by the Commission for the award. The Commission is appointed by the Minister of Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction and its members include representatives of state administration bodies, manufacturers and non-governmental organizations.

Carbon Reduction Label http://www.carbon-label.co.uk/ 

The carbon trust has been working with manufacturers in the UK to calculate the carbon emissions of particular products and to develop a carbon reduction label that demonstrates a commitment from companies to reduce the carbon footprint of their products. (e.g Walkers crisps http://www.walkerscarbonfootprint.co.uk/ , and Innocent smoothie drinks http://www.innocentdrinks.co.uk/ ) Knowing the amount of carbon in everything we buy is considered a key step in reducing CO2 emissions. This label identifies the emissions of CO2 per item and displays the results on the packaging.