Background:

The concept of ecolabelling is to encourage environmentally friendly commodities in the market. Agenda 21 recommended governments to promote environmental labelling in order to change consumption patterns and thereby conserving the environment for sustainable development (UNCED, 1992). Ecolabelling was first introduced in Germany in 1978. Now, most of the developed countries and some developing countries including India have established ecolabelling programme. European Union (EU) implemented voluntary ecolabelling programme within member countries in 1992.

Indian Eco Mark

The Ministry of Environment and Forests had launched the scheme of labelling of environment friendly products in 1991. The scheme identified 16 categories of consumer products for the purpose of development of eco-criteria and labelling. So far criteria for 14 categories of product have been finally notified by the Government. The manufacturers of these categories of products can apply to the Bureau of Indian Standards, if their products are meeting the relevant standards notified, for the award of eco-logo. Ministry has also launched publicity campaigns for providing necessary awareness among the consumers and manufacturers. The scheme could not become popular because of lack of adequate response from the manufacturers.

Criteria

The Ministry has favoured a comparatively simple system, in which the criteria for awarding any label should not forgo the quality of a products and should focus primarily on the direct impact of a product during use and disposal, along with aspects of energy efficiency, noise (as in electrical goods etc.). The criteria are transparent, ie. very clear and open to all, so that the basis of judgement will be clearly understood and appreciated.

The following primary environmental criteria for products are prescribed
• that they cause substantially less pollution than other comparable products in production, usage and disposal;
• that they are recycled and/or recyclable where comparable products are not;
• that they make a significant contribution to saving non-renewable resources or minimizing use of renewable resources compared with other comparable products;
• that they contribute to a reduction of adverse environmental health consequences;
• that their price is not extraordinarily higher than comparable products; and
• that they comply with laws, standard and regulations pertaining to the environment.

Specific criteria would be set for each product category with reference to the general criteria.

Steering Committee

The Government of India has set up a Committee in the Ministry of Environment and Forests and notified on March 6, 1991. The Ministry of Environment and Forests determines the categories of the products for coverage under the scheme and also formulate strategies for promotion by creating mass awareness, implementation, future development and improvement in working of the scheme. This Committee ensures involvement of other ministries, industries, associations non- governmental organizations and it is responsible for notifying final criteria in the Gazette of India .

Technical Committee

The Ministry set up a Technical Committee on March 6, 1991 and subcommittees for each product categories with expert in field for drafting the criteria. The Technical Committee recommends the most suitable criteria and publishes draft final criteria. The Technical sub-Committees consider the comments/ suggestions received on the draft notification, finalize the criteria and recommend to the Steering Committee for final notification.

The Committee advises and recommends product categories as well as evolves the detailed criteria for the award of the Eco Mark. The Committee consists of members having specific expertise and representatives of the industry affected, the scientific community, environmentalists consumer groups and government. The product selected and criteria defined are reviewed in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, in the light of comments from various interest groups. The Ministry then notifies the criteria for the various product categories.

Executing Agency

The Bureau of Indian Standards has been designated as the executive agency for the scheme. On receipt of application for the award of the Eco Mark, the Bureau of Indian Standards/Directorate of Marketing & Inspection/Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and storage organizes and inspection of the manufacturer’s units to make an appraisal of the control exercised during production and the facilities available for carrying out tests on raw materials and on the final product. Only after the certifying agency has satisfied itself that the manufacturer has given a license to affix the Eco Mark on the product. Every license includes a well-defined scheme for testing and Inspection (STI), which the licensee has to follow strictly.

Eco Mark and Trade

The UNCTAD adhoc working committee on trade and environment recognised that there is no positive correlation between the trade and increased environmental standards in developed countries. However, the committee agreed that the trade of developing countries may become vulnerable due to the stringent environmental measures of affluent countries. But the committee suggested that the developing countries can make use of the emerging global market of ecolabelled products (UNCTAD, 1995). However, developing countries have to attain international standards in ecolabelling for competing the emerging international market ofecolabelled products. This will create additional environmental costs and requirement of skill and technology for such products. In the international trade emphasis should be given on the mutual recognition of the eco-standards rather than harmonization so that the standards might not work as a technical barrier to trade. The report of the CTE of WTO at the Singapore Ministerial meeting in December 1996 emphasized the need to encourage the expansion of environmental labelling and other environmentally related product information programmes designed to assist consumers in making informed purchasing decisions (WTO, 1996)

Conclusion

To bring sustainability it must make sense in the business to achieve cleaner production. The sustainable corporation must transform material and provide materials which people value for the contribution to the quality of life and their protection of environment. This require cleaner production, or eco efficiency which include the delivery of competitive priced goods and services that satisfy consumers needs and bring quality of life while progressively releasing ecological impacts and resource intensity throughout the lifecycle, to enable atleast in line with the earth’s estimated capacity. The following conclusions are drawn:

1. It is one of promising tool of economic instruments.
2. The environment label would be an important element in future environment policy.
3. The environment label would prove itself a useful instrument based on cooperation and self-commitment on the part of industry.
4. The Environment Friendly Scheme would definitely help to solve the pollution in certain areas.