ECO

Introduction | Systems | Certificates | Links | Did you know that...

Introduction

Another group of certificates informs consumers about the attitudes of producers towards protecting the environment and natural resources. These logos label such products that are - during their whole life cycle from production to sale - less harmful to the environment and to the health of consumers. Environmental labels are administered only to consumer goods, and never to foods - although it is possible to find such logos on food. In this case, information pertains only to the characteristics or origin of product packaging, not to the product itself. Information regarding the product is provided by certificates from other groups. Certificates within the Eco group are also an example of logos administered to the services. For instance, services of some accommodation facilities that comply with the stricter standards regarding the environment can be labelled by such certificates.

Systems

Both EU and national logos can be found within the Eco group of certificates. “Environmentally Friendly Product” is the national logo in the Czech Republic.

the Czech national eco label

the EU eco label

Certificates are registered by the international Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) that ensures uniform assessment of certain criteria and implementation of given standards.

the GEN membership logo

The above-mentioned logos are a part of so called environmental labelling – type I. However, producers and service providers can label their products and services also with the type II labelling (in Czech VET) – the sentences informing of particular characteristics of products (100 % compostable), or type III labelling. This includes criteria for power consumption and water, waste management, climate change, ozone layer effects, eutrophication etc. All types of labelling are administered according to special standards. More information can be found below or at www.cenia.cz.

The Blaue Engel logo can be found on some products, too. This is the first environmental certificate that has been administered to both products and services for more than 30 years. The logo is administered according to special standards that are set for 80 particular categories of products and services.

Der Blaue Engel logo

Some of the certificates can also inform about the origin of wood. An FSC certificate guarantees that the wood used in a product comes from environmentally and socially friendly forest management.

the FSC logo

Certifikates

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Links

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Did you know that...

• more than 90 % rivers are polluted, 12 % of which being polluted seriously?
• 62 % of birds and 91 % of amphibians are considered as endangered species in the Czech Republic?
• the area of 13 million hectares which is approximately the size of Greece is deforested every year?
• according to the studies, 15 – 40 % of plants might become extinct in next 100 years?

Resources: cenia.cz; fao.org; unep.org