Since the EU has been promoting environmental and human health protection for many years, there are many green products in the country that claim to have less environmental impact, and many different green label certification systems have also emerged.
According to the latest Eurobarometer on Green Products report, 48% of EU consumers are confused by the numerous green labels, the different green declarations made by manufacturers, and the wealth of environmental information.
Too many green labels not only confuse consumers but also put pressure on manufacturers. Faced with the pressure of consumer demand for green products, manufacturers are forced to apply for several different green labels. This not only consumes manpower but also puts considerable economic pressure on them, which is like adding insult to injury for small and medium-sized enterprises.
European Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potočnik pointed out that in order to promote sustainable business growth, all resource-efficient and environmentally friendly products must be clearly identifiable in the consumer market. Only when there are standardized methods for calculating and disclosing the environmental impact and related information of all products can consumers make informed choices about truly green products.
Therefore, the European Commission has proposed methods and recommendations for establishing a single green product market to rebuild the confidence of consumers, producers, investors, and all stakeholders with comparable and trustworthy environmental information.
The key recommendations for the single green product market are as follows:
1. Two methods are proposed to measure environmental performance throughout the entire life cycle: Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and Organization Environmental Footprint (OEF).
2. Recommend these manufacturers who voluntarily use the above methods to self-evaluate their products/organizations to member states, domestic and foreign manufacturers, and financial institutions.
3. During the three-year methodological evaluation and testing period.
4. Support the development and integration of international methodologies and databases.
Sources: European Commission (2013-04-09)
