Labelling and certification
The impact of type I ecolabelling schemes to improve the environmental performance of products
The influence of Type 1 eco-labelling schemes on detergent products
Authors:
A. Oman
Publisher:
Entwined, 2009
Policy instruments to protect the environment have evolved to include voluntary approaches such as eco-labelling, which has become one of the more high-profile market-based tools for achieving environmental objectives. Of increasing interest to policy makers are Type 1 eco-labels that compare products with others in the same product category, awarding labels to those that are environmentally preferable throughout their life cycle.
This report evaluates the impact of Type 1 eco-labelling schemes in improving a product’s environmental performance, using the detergent sector as a case study. There are three different Type 1 eco-labelling schemes (EU eco-label, good environmental Choice, Nordic Swan) that have developed eco-label criteria for the detergent sector. Interviews were carried out with six companies to ascertain how eco-label criteria impacted their products, both when joining an eco-labelling scheme and when given more stringent criteria through revisions.The report finds that:
- type I eco-labelling schemes have had a direct impact on the ingredients used in the product formulation and to a lesser extent its packaging - the largest impact has been associated with alterations in the perfumes
- nearly all companies when joining an eco-labelling scheme have taken two similar actions; substituting the surfactant LAS and removing optical brighteners
- the use of criteria revision to encourage continual improvements has not had a significant impact. It appears to have become a way of ensuring that a product fulfils old requirements rather than continually introducing new improvements.The eco-label thus becomes a safety net ensuring that a manufacturer does not alter their laundry detergent in the “wrong” direction
