FUND FOR RESEARCH INTO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, GROWTH & EQUITY

Global Review of Eco-Labels: Implications for South Africa

PHASE ONE REPORT

2. Global Review of Eco-Labelling Initiatives

A review of a number of specifically chosen eco-labelling schemes is provided within Appendix I. The aim of this review is to identify the key implications for developing a scheme in South Africa. The appendix includes a detailed review of nine national/regional eco-labelling schemes, as well as a brief tabular review of a further eleven schemes.

The countries/regions studied in the more detailed review were chosen on the basis of the following issues:

The extent to which the country/region has a well-developed eco-labelling programme that can serve as a useful basis for evaluation (with consideration to the length of time the programme has been in place, the number of products and product categories that are currently included, and the diversity of approaches that have been used)

The nature of the country's relationship as a trading partner with South Africa, noting the implications that this may have for developing a South African eco-label scheme

The extent to which the country shares similar economic conditions to South Africa.

On this basis the following eco-labelling programmes were selected:

• The EU Eco-label Award Scheme (EU region) (this scheme is also the subject of a more detailed review in Chapter Four)
• The Nordic Swan (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark)
• The Bra Miljoval (Sweden)
• The Blue Angel (Germany)
• The Stichting Milieukeur (The Netherlands)
• The Eco-Mark (India)
• The GreenLabel (Singapore)
• Environmental Choice (Australia)
• Zimbabwe's Environment 2000 initiative.

A brief comparative assessment in tabular format is provided of the following programmes:

• Brazil's "ABNT - Qualidade Ambiental"
• Canada's Environmental Choice Programme (Canada)
• China's Eco-labelling programme
• Japan's Eco-Mark (Japan)
• Malaysia's Product Certification Programme
• New Zealand's Environmental Choice
• Taiwan's Green Mark
• Thailand's Green Label Scheme
• United States' Green Seal
• Spain's AENOR Medio Ambiente Emblem
• France's NF Environnement.

Each country review outlines the basic elements involved in developing and implementing a ISO Type I eco-labelling programme, providing details on:

• The administrative structure of the programme ]
• The product selection process
• The process for developing the eco-labelling criteria
• The process involved in applying and qualifying for a licence to use the label
• The provision for stakeholder consultation
• An updated list of product categories covered by each programme with details of the number of licences awarded and a copy of the logo (Appendix I)
• Relevant contact details and web-sites.

The purpose of this brief factual description of each programme is to identify the key institutional and procedural elements associated with implementing an eco-labelling initiative, with the aim of assessing the implications of introducing such an initiative in South Africa. The actual impact of these programmes in promoting changed production and consumption patterns is examined in more detail in Chapter 3.