Introduced in 1992, the European Ecolabel is designed to promote non-food products that have a low impact on the environment. The Ecolabel today covers 20,000 products and services, including 1,500 in Belgium.
In the jungle of labels, it is never easy for a new label to establish itself, even when it has the power of the European Union behind it. The Ecolabel has established itself gradually until consumers are now generating real demand, drawing producers into a virtuous circle. In 2004, only about 30 products were available for sale in Belgium. In 2006, fourteen years after introduction of the label, this figure had scarcely doubled, reaching a total of 77. Today, there are more than 1500.
The advantage of the European Ecolabel is clear, as it promotes products (excluding foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals) that are kinder to the environment than competing products. Thus, for its specifications, the Ecolabel takes eleven types of ecological aspects into consideration: air quality, water quality, soil protection, waste reduction, energy savings, natural resource management, global warming prevention, ozone layer protection, environmental safety, noise and biodiversity. These different criteria are analysed as part of the life cycle of the product at each of its stages, beginning with the extraction of raw materials, through the manufacturing process, distribution, use and ending with the final disposal.
The members of the European Union Eco-labelling Board (EUEB) are representatives of the competent bodies of the member States, environmental NGOs, consumer associations, trade associations, trade unions, SMEs and distributors. They propose the criteria, which, after approval, are reviewed every three to five years.
