Ecolabels provide consumers with guidance so that they can engage in sustainable and environmentally conscious consumption. However, the fact that companies can simply design and use their own labels is a problem. Companies often do this to give themselves a “greener” image – even if they have not actually taken any measures to protect the climate and environment or the measures they have taken are insufficient. This phenomenon is known as “greenwashing”.
It is combated by independent ecolabels – so-called Type I ecolabels – that test and certify products according to strict and transparent criteria. These independent labels include the Blue Angel and also many other European, state-approved environmental labels such as the Austrian Ecolabel, Nordic Swan and the Dutch labels Milieukeur and PlanetProof.
World Ecolabel Day was held on the 12 October to raise awareness for the work carried out by these independent labels and was thus a good occasion for representatives from the European ecolabels to host a parliamentary breakfast in Brussels. They used the event to explain their work to members of the EU Parliament and representatives of the EU Commission and European Consumer Organisation and explained the importance of their labels for achieving real and effective environmental and climate protection.
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The Blue Angel at the European Parliament
Representatives of the European Type I ecolabels at breakfast in Brussels.