EU to encourage 'green consumption' with new eco-labelling

The European Commission unveiled on Wednesday (16 July) a slew of proposals aimed at convincing consumers to buy ‘green'.

Whether the consumer is a dad buying cans of pop or a new shower-head, or a local authority making a decision on what paper to buy for its photo-copiers, the commission wants to make it easier to know which products are better for the environment and which ones are worse.

Currently, all products that use energy - such as TVs or washing machines - are already governed by a set of compulsory minimum requirements under the ‘Eco-Design directive' - although companies can voluntarily go even greener.

However, products that do not consume energy directly but have a big impact on energy use - like water-saving taps or shower-heads - remain outside the directive's scope.

Under the first of the commission's proposals, the Eco-Design directive would be extended to just these sorts of devices. They too would now have to meet a series of minimum standards.

"In terms of our impact on the planet, we are living far beyond our means," environment commissioner Stavros Dimas said upon the announcement of the proposals. "Our actions as consumers and producers worldwide are major forces behind climate change and the destruction of nature.

"The time has come for us to change the type of products we buy," he added.

Beyond standards for products, to help consumers know what they are buying, the EU has a voluntary ‘Eco-Label' scheme, which was first set up in 1992. Products and services that are kinder to the environment are awarded the Eco-Label, a logo that makes it easier for consumers - whether households, companies or governments - to identify them.

There are currently 26 types of products covered by the Eco-Label scheme. From soaps and shampoos to paints and varnishes - and even hotels and campsites. Under the second of the commission's proposals announced on Wednesday, the scheme would be broadened to encompass some 40-50 product groups by 2015, in particular food and drinks.

Furthermore, manufacturers of everyday appliances such as washing machines and ovens are currently required to display their energy consumption. The commission has also proposed that this mandatory labelling be extended to other products. Labels showing the insulation capacity of windows, for example, would aid someone deciding which ones to buy when renovating their home.

Homeowners however are not the only consumers. Public authorities spend some 16 percent of EU GDP when they buy goods and services. At the moment, there are a range of different standards in different member states for green purchases - or procurement - by governments.

With so many different ‘green public procurement' standards, it is hard for the development of economies of scale for eco-friendly products that are sold to authorities.

So the EU's executive also hopes to co-ordinate a voluntary process for public authorities to develop a common set of green public procurement criteria across the 27-nation bloc.

Finally, the commission wants to boost the uptake of its environmental audit scheme amongst small and medium-sized businesses. The Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, or EMAS, came into effect in 1995 and recognises organisations that go beyond existing environmental standards with the EMAS logo.

Initially limited to industrial firms, in 2001 its scope was widened to include public sector bodies. The commission is now to lower the cost of participation in the scheme in order to attract the neighbourhood butcher's or florist's as well.