GECA Intro BDW Presentation - 20 Oct 2015 Website/Resources...JAS-ANZ accredited. GECA certification...
Transcript of GECA Intro BDW Presentation - 20 Oct 2015 Website/Resources...JAS-ANZ accredited. GECA certification...
Materials MatterBen Waters . General Manager . Good Environmental Choice Australia
Our
Vis
ion
& M
issi
onA society in which people demand sustainable products and services
Transform the actions of business and consumers to drive a substantial increase in the sustainability of consumption
“The practice
of marking products
with a distinctive label so that
consumers know that their
manufacture conforms to recognised
environmental standards”
Oxford Dictionary
For businesses:A way to measure performance; communicate and market the environmental credentials of products.
For consumers: A guide for purchasing decisions by providing information about ‘the world’ behind the products.
For governments:Tools to encourage the behavioural change of producers and consumers towards long-term sustainability.
Ecol
abel
ling
What is ecolabelling?
Independent/ private Govt.approved/initiated Independent/ private Govt.approved/initiated
Types of labels
This image
Single / Specific Multi - issue
Greenwashing
ISO international guidelinesISO 14024 - Guiding Principles for Environmental Labelling – Type I
§ accuracy § avoiding unnecessary trade barriers § scientific basis § provision of information on methodology § life-cycle approach § allowance of innovation § minimal administrative burden § open, consensual process § provision of information on products
“ecolabel”, multi-criteria, multi-sectoral, overall environmental preference based on life-cycle considerations, third party certification (ISO 14024)
self declared environmental labels (often single attribute) (ISO 14021)
product declaration with more detail, based on full life-cycle (ISO 14025)Type
s of e
cola
bels Type 1
Type 2
Type 3
Global ecolabelling around the world
§ GEN – Global Ecolabelling Network§ Non-profit association of Type-1 ecolabelling organisations as defined by the ISO 14024
standard § 26 operating ecolabelling programs around the world.
GEN members around the world
China Quality
GECA is the only GEN member in Australia and the only Australian member with GENICES recognition from the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN).
The GECA differenceG
ood
Envi
ronm
enta
l Cho
ice A
ustra
lia
Not-for-profit & non-government
Multi-sector, Type 1 ecolabelling program
Wide range of standards
Internationally recognised through GENICES
Pathway to GBCA and ISCA recognition
Public consultation & transparency
The only ecolabel in Australia that requires third party auditors performing conformance assessments, to be JAS-ANZ accredited.
GECA certification process
REVIEW &
AUDIT
GECA promotes itslicensees and their certified products to educate the market througha mix of marketing strategies. Licensees can also use the GECA logo on their products.
Submit a quote request form to GECA. If there is a GECA standard that your product or service can satisfy, your application will be assessed against this criteria.
Obtain a quote from our conformity assessment bodies for auditing
costs. An independent conformance assessment
body will work through the audit process with you to assess your conformance to the GECA standard.
If your audit is successful, you will be awarded a
GECA licence certificate and receive the benefits of
being associated with the GECA ecolabel.
TWO
THR
EEO
NE
FOU
R MARKETING GET LICENSED
APPLY
Measureable benchmarksVoluntary product standards which seek to define best practice using measureable benchmarks.
Product life cycle impactsImpacts occur at every stage of the product life cycle:
– Directly (through an organisation’s own activities)– Indirectly (across an organisation’s supply and distribution chain)– Controlling direct impacts alone can lead to ‘burden shifting’ and may be counter-productive – Packaging of the product is also a consideration– Need to take a holistic view
DIRECTINDIRECT
Standards development process
Standards Proposal
§ Need for standard revision or development identified and approved.
Research &Literature Review
§ Background research, investigation of best practice, product life cycle, product function characteristics, other standards and testing methodologies.
Consultation
§ Technical Advisory Groups (TAG) consultation period: Discussion on appropriate criteria, acceptable limits and realistic nature of achieving conformance.
Public Comment
§ Standard released (on website) for public comment.
Release
§ Standards Committee and Board of Directors authorise release of standard.
§ Standard released (published on GECA website).
GECA Standards – what are they?Standards by product category
Adhesives, Fillers & Sealants
Carpets Cleaning Products
Cleaning Services
Floor Coverings
Furniture, Fittings & Foam (A)
Furniture & Fittings (B) Hard Surfacing
International Ecolabelled
Products
Machine Dishwashing Detergents
Paints & Coatings Panel Boards
Paper & Stationery Products
Personal Care Products
Printers & Printed Matter
Recycled Products
Refrigerants Sanitary Paper Products
Textiles & Leather
Thermal Building
Insulations Materials
GECA licenseesGECA has over 2000 individual products certified across our standards. Here are just a few of our licensees.
Standard example: Floor Coverings
What are the potential impacts?
v Depletion of non-renewable resourcev Habitat destruction / disturbancev Where does the material come from?
v Emissions of Greenhouse gasesv Discharge to surface and groundwaterv Harmful substances
(e.g. heavy metals, fungicides)v Waste production.
v Depletion of non-renewable resourcesv Emissions of greenhouse gases.
v Formaldehyde / VOC emissionsv Hazardous Materials in product
Landfill and impacts from landfill
Criteria in GECA Floor Coverings standard
☐ Fitness for Purpose: Quality Standards and Warranty☐ Material Requirements:
o Fibre material (Timber, Bamboo)o Polymers, Plastic, Foamo Rubber
☐ Emission of product – VOCs and Formaldehyde
Wood from sustainably
managed forests (FSC, PEFC)
Limits on VOC’cand
Formaldehyde. Ozone depleting
substances banned
☐ Hazardous Materials – treatments (e.g. fungicides), carcinogenic, mutagenic compounds
☐ Material efficiency, waste minimisation☐ Recyclability, design for disassembly, product stewardship☐ Product information and packaging☐ Environmental Claims☐ Social and Legal Compliance – Environmental Legislation, Fair Pay,
Workplace Safety
Ban or limit on certain substances
e.g. heavy metals to reduce toxic waste
to landfill. Safe and fair working
conditions. Claims must be substantiated.
Certified Floor Coverings example: Regupol
§ No virgin material – materials from post-consumer waste (car tyres); Reducing landfill
§ Environmental and Quality Management Systems (ISO 14001, ISO 9001)§ Product stewardship program
GECA – 2015 communicationsG
ECA
–M
arke
ting
& A
dvoc
acy
GECA – advocacyASBEC Member, Sustainable Housing Task Group
The Green Building Council of Australia GreenStar recognition
Office of Environment and Heritage Collaborative Sustainable Housing Initiative, sustainable building products website.
Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia Member, recognised environmental labelling body
Liveability.com.au Supporting partner and content provider
Banksia Awards Judging lead ‘product sustainability’ category
Standards Australia Committee member on ISO standard - Sustainable Procurement and Environmental Labelling
CRC for Low Carbon Living Energy efficient housing research
Swinburne Institute of Technology Research on role of sustainability culture in ecolabelling
International
ISEAL Alliance 2015 Global Sustainability Standards
GENICES Mutual international recognition