Green and Clean - Is the Concept Mutually Exclusive

Transcription

1 Green and Clean - Is the Concept Mutually Exclusive Shyam Ramrekha M.Sc., PMP Sustainability Analyst EcoLogo Program UL Environment CHICA Conference, Saskatoon, 18 June 2012 UL and the UL logo are trademarks of UL LLC 2012

2 Agenda Why Purchasing Matters What is happening in the market Sins of Greenwashing Ecolabel The EcoLogo Program 2

3 Agenda Why Purchasing Matters What is happening in the market Sins of Greenwashing Ecolabel The EcoLogo Program 3

4 Why Purchasing Matters Human Health Impacts Social Impacts Strong link Environmental Impacts 4

5 Why Purchasing Matters.consuming the Environment The major cause of the continued deterioration of the global environment is the unsustainable pattern of production and consumption, particularly in industrialized countries. United Nations Agenda 21 Report 5

6 NOT ALL PRODUCTS ARE MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME WAY 6

7 Benefits of Green Procurement Benefits Financial Due Diligence Image Support Cost Avoidance (e.g., less waste disposal Reduce risk of health hazards (e.g., cleaner air, water) Improved image at national and international level Stimulate market for environmentally pref. products Cost Savings (e.g., conserving Water) Reduce environmental impacts (on air., water) Adherence to Policies and Agreements Overall sustainability objectives 7

8 Agenda Why Purchasing Matters What is happening in the market Sins of Greenwashing Ecolabel The EcoLogo Program 8

9 Consumers Demand Green Concerned about impacts of your consumption? 6% Concerned. N ot concerned. Consider the environmental impacts of products? 9% 94% 34% 21% 41% Changing your consumption to reduce your impact? Changing N ot changing 36% Always Regularly Sometimes Never 59% 9 From Cone, Inc., 2008 The Green Gap Survey,

10 Professional Purchasers Buying Green We actually consider green 35% 16% 10% 39% Never Occasionally Usually Always 10 From Cone, Inc., 2008 The Green Gap Survey,

11 Demand for More Sustainable Products and Supply Chains 11 Brammer et al., Managing Sustainable Global Supply Chains, 2010

12 Green Market Evolution mainstream niche growing

13 Green is Suddenly Everywhere

14 Really Everywhere! 14

15 Growth of Green Advertising 15

16 Growth of Green Advertising Number of ads increasing Number of green products per store increasing. 16

17 Increasing Number of Green claims Eco-safe Environmentally friendly Earth friendly Earth smart Environmentally safe Environmentally preferable Essentially non-toxic Practically non-toxic Made with non-toxic ingredients Degradable Biodegradable Compostable Environmentally safe CFC-free Ozone friendly Recyclable 17 Kirsten Ritche, Gensler

18 Are they all telling the truth? or is it Greenwashing?... 18

19 Agenda Why Purchasing Matters What is happening in the market Sins of Greenwashing Ecolabel The EcoLogo Program 19

20 Greenwashing Greenwash ( green wash, wôsh): The act of misleading consumers / customers about the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service 20

21 Greenwashing Report 2010 sinsofgreenwashing.org

22 Impacts of Greenwashing Mislead and confuse consumers Increase consumers skepticism Affect genuine green claims 22

23 What is the solution to Greenwashing? 23

24 Agenda Why Purchasing Matters What is happening in the market Sins of Greenwashing Ecolabel The EcoLogo Program 24

25 An Ecolabel Information on environmental impacts from producing and/or using a particular product Programs run by governments, private companies and nongovernmental organizations Voluntary but important competitive factor 25

26 Characteristics of Good Ecolabels Communicate verifiable and accurate information on environmental standards Are not misleading Encourage the demand for environmentally-preferable products and services, thereby stimulating the potential for market-driven continuous environmental improvement 26

27 A Partial List of Labels Blue Angel CFPA CPG DfE Eco Mark EcoLogo Ecomark Eco-OK Energy Star Environmental Choice EPEAT EU Flower Fair Trade FSC GBI Good Green Buy Green Label Green Seal GREENGUARD Greenstar LEED MSC Nordic Swan Process Chlorine Free SCS SFI TCO Totally Chlorine Free USDA-Organic WaterSense 27

28 Comparing Ecolabels WARNING: NOT ALL ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS ARE CREATED EQUAL Learn to ask about: Type of standard Validity of the standard Standard setting process Verification process 28

29 Types of Ecolabels ISO established 3 Types of Labels Type I Type II Type III Seal of approval label Statement and/or symbol (e.g. recyclable & the recycling symbol) Report card Third party certification Self-declaration Third party verification Multiple attributes with lifecycle consideration Product and factory audits conducted Criteria evaluated and reviewed periodically Single-attribute Quantitative information Multiple attributes with life cycle consideration 29

30 Type I Ecolabels Europe Middle East Asia North America South America Oceania Associate Members 30

31 Agenda Why Purchasing Matters What is happening in the market Sins of Greenwashing Ecolabel The EcoLogo Program 31

32 Underwriters Laboratories Product Safety UL Environment Life and Health Knowledge Services Verification Services Certification GREENGUARD Consulting EcoLogo Program Validation Testing Corporate Sustainability 32

33 The EcoLogo Program Founded in1988 by the Government of Canada; ongoing relationship with Environment Canada Second Type I ecolabel globally > 450 clients > 9500 certified products 76 active standards 212 product types Continued annual growth Highly successful model for other labeling groups 33

34 Product Certification Use of Certification Criteria Document (CCD) or Standard Periodically revised to capture Best Available Technologies and Information E.g., CCD 146 Hard surface Cleaners Main components: (a) Human Health And Environmental Impacts E.g., asthmagen requirement included (b) Physical Properties (c) Prohibited and Restricted Compounds (d) Packaging (e) Product Performance 34

35 Some relevant EcoLogo Standards CCD 104: Hand Cleaners CCD 110: Biologically-based Cleaning and Degreasing Compounds CCD 146: Hard Surface Cleaners CCD 170: Instant Hand Antiseptic Products 35

36 EcoLogo Specifications in Procurement Some examples where EcoLogo are being specified: Government level: Federal, Provincial, Municipal & State level Universities and Colleges NGOs Private companies Associations For further details, please contact: Nathan Chan 36

37 Not all products are manufactured in the same way...some of preferable from human health, environmental and social perspectives than others 37

38 Questions?

39 THANK YOU.