Brussels, 9 April – In order to boost the sale of green products in the EU, the European Commission has proposed a common methodology on environmental labelling in the single market. The methodology is to provide reliable and comparable labelling that will increase consumer confidence in the green credentials of companies and organisations.
Brussels, 9 April – In order to boost the sale of green products in the EU, the European Commission has proposed a common methodology on environmental labelling in the single market. The methodology is to provide reliable and comparable labelling that will increase consumer confidence in the green credentials of companies and organisations.
The Communication, ‘Building a single market for green products’, and accompanying ‘Recommendation on common methods to measure life cycle performance‘, cover both products and organisations.
It is hoped that the new methodology will replace the patchwork of systems in the EU that make it difficult for companies to sell green products in the single market. At present, member states have individual standards and methodologies, entailing a costly process of assessments in order to secure green labelling in different states.
Although the Commission has not proposed a common label, using a common methodology would allow for mutual recognition between states. The methodology is more complex than the ones used by many states, so is hoped to raise standards across the continent.
A three year testing period will take place, with the Commission soon to issue an open call for volunteer companies and industrial organisations to help develop product and sector specific rules. The calls will be published on the dedicated Product Environmental Footprint and Organisation Environmental Footprint sites.
Click to learn more about the Single Market for Green Products Initiative.