The issue of environmental
protection has brought the consumers, the industry and the government to a
common platform. The government and legislatures are using their influence to
reduce environmental and health hazards due to industrialization and to
stimulate the development of clean technologies. However the environment is
under tremendous stress from rapid industrialization, unplanned urbanization
and changing consumption patterns in the race to achieve better living
standards. It is absolutely clear that regulatory actions by pollution control
agencies alone can not restore the environment to its pristine state.
Pro-active and promotional roles should also be geared up in harmony with the
overall environmental protection strategy. The time has come for consumers to
take lead in performing manufacturers to adopt clean and eco-friendly
technologies and environmental-safe disposal of used products, along with
preventive and mitigative approaches.
Eco Mark Scheme
Eco Mark is a voluntary non binding
scheme which labels consumer products as environment friendly
based upon certain environmental as well as quality parameters. To increase consumer
awareness, the Government launched the eco-labelling
scheme known as ‘Eco Mark’ in 1991 for easy identification of
environment-friendly products. Any product which is made, used or disposed of
in way that significantly reduces the harm it would otherwise cause the
environment could be considered as Environment-Friendly Product. They have less
potential for pollution during their entire life cycle i.e. raw material,
manufacturing, use and disposal.
Twenty Eco Mark licenses to fifteen
companies have been awarded in the country under three product categories i.e.
paper, wood substitutes and finished leather and sixteen product categories
have been notified since 1992 to 2000. In case of finished leather the quality
norms were de-linked from Eco Mark
norms on the ground that the Indian
leather already meets the BIS approved quality norms. One more category—coir products has
been taken up and Eco mark criteria for it are at draft stage.
Logo
The logo of Eco Mark scheme is unique, its message has the ability to reach out to the
people and can help to promote a greater awareness of the need to be kind to
the environment. An Earthen pot which is the logo of the Eco Mark Scheme, signifying the use
of renewable resource like clay, which does not produce hazardous waste and
consumes less energy in making. Its solid and graceful form represents both the
strength and fragility, which also characterize the Eco-System. Thus as a
symbol, it puts across its environmental message.
The criteria follow a cradle-to
grave approach, i.e. from raw material extraction, to manufacturing, and to
disposal. The ‘Eco Mark’ label is awarded to consumer goods which meet the specified environmental
criteria and the quality requirements of Indian Standards. Any product with the
Eco Mark will be the right environment choice.
Objectives
There are five main objectives for
the Eco Mark Scheme. That are, to
provide an incentive for manufactures and importers to reduce adverse
environmental impact of products; to reward genuine initiatives by companies in
this regard; to assist consumers to become environmentally responsible in their
daily lives by providing information, to take account of environmental factors
in their purchase decisions; to encourage citizens to purchase products which
have less harmful environmental impacts and ultimately to improve the quality
of the environment and to encourage the sustainable management of resources.
Mechanism and Functions
A steering committee, a technical
committee and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) are involved in criteria
development for each product category and the award of the Eco Mark. Both the
Committees have been set up in the Ministry of Environment and Forests. They
consist of members from Government Organizations, Research institutes,
Industrial Associations and Non-Government Organizations. The Secretary,
Ministry of Environment and Forests heads the Steering committee and it
determines the products categories for coverage under the scheme and also
formulates strategies for promotion, implementation, future development and
improvements in the working of the scheme.
The Steering Committee has
specific functions which include section
of the logo, determine the product categories, mass awareness for promotion and
acceptance, coordination with industries to ensure their active involvement,
securing the involvement of other Ministries, Departments, Industry
Associations and other Non- Government Organizations, formulations of
strategies for future development, identify instructions in India or outside to
build consumer awareness, promoting programmes of Comparative Testing of products and
supporting any research for the formulations of Eco Mark products.
The technical committee is headed by
the Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board in the Ministry of Environment
and Forests. It
identifies specific products for classifying as environment friendly, review the existing
state of knowledge and the environmental criteria being followed in other
countries and various technologies available for determining the criteria,
recommend the most appropriate criteria and parameters to designate products as
environment friendly. It reviews from time to time, the implementation of the
scheme by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and set-up sub-Committee for each product
category including formulation of test programmes for
comparative testing of products by consumer organizations.
Functions of BIS
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) implements the Eco Mark scheme
under BIS Act, 1986. It incorporates the
criteria into Indian Standards, assess and certify the product for award of the
Eco Mark. It allows the use of the label, on payment of a fee and inspects and
takes samples for analysis to see the conformance with the Eco Mark criteria.
BIS charges for application fee, testing
of samples, annual licence fee, renewal of
application fee and marketing fee depending upon the quantum of the annual
production. The label is awarded for a minimum period of one year and the
product is re-assessed after the prescribed periods for renewal of licence. The BIS has a power to withdraw the licence at any time if they find any misleading information
or any change in criteria due to the advancement of technology or any other
valid reasons in consultation with the Technical Committee.
Eco Mark Licence
The licence
is granted for a minimum period of one year and is renewed subsequently for the
same period, after reassessment of the products. The manufacturer must ensure
that the product qualify the quality criteria as per Indian Standard before
applying to BIS for Eco Mark. A manufacturer desirous to obtain licence
for eco Mark has to apply to BIS on the prescribed form with an application fee. On
receipt of the application, BIS arranges inspection of the industry collects samples
and arranges testing of the products. A licence is
granted if, the product conforms to the relevant set criteria. On grant of a licence, the manufactures is authorized to use Eco Mark
logo on their products.
Success of Indian
Eco Mark Scheme
For satisfactory performance of the
Eco Mark scheme, awareness among consumer is required. Industries also need
incentives. Support from Government to manufacturers through purchase
preference will give impetus to the scheme. Environment which plays a minor
role in consumer’s decision to buy a product, the price is still a main factor
for consumer’s decision.
The Government initiated steps to
popularize the scheme. During the year 2006-2007, 238 Consumer Awareness Programmes and 42 Industry Awareness Programme were conducted by BIS all over the country. In addition
comparative testing of products and dissemination of its findings have
been got done by a consumer organization (Voice).
International Eco
Labelling Programmes
Blue Angel programme
of Germany is the oldest eco-label programme, which was started in 1997 and has more than
3,000 certified products in the market. Eco Mark of Japan is the second oldest eco-labelling programme after Blue
Angel, which was started in 1989 and 1,902 companies have been issued licences under which 5,673 products have been certified. Sweden and Canada also have successful eco-labelling programme and have more
than 3,000 certified products. Australia, Brazil, Hong Kong, Hungary, Israel, Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, Republic of Croatia, Taiwan, Thailand and Ukraine are other countries which have
adopted Eco Mark scheme.
RTS/VN
SS-125/SF-125/05.11.2009