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Status Self-declared labels could be regarded as a business marketing approach to
inform on the environmental qualities of their products by self-declaration.
According to the ISO 14021 standard such labels do not require an independent
third-party registration. The number of such labels has grown continuously. The
perception and “reputation” of the labels depend on some strong parameters, like
credibility of the creator, product group, market competition, etc. In general, especially NGOs suspect self-declared environmental labels and do not support them.
3.3 Quantitative Declarations
3.3.1 Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)
Addressed Issues In line with the ISO standard 14025, Environmental Product
Declarations (EPD) provide quantifi ed environmental data for a product with pre- set
categories of parameters (product category rules, PCR). The data should be based
on LCA tools and calculations and consider supply chains. They might be also highlight and restricted to some (or one single) environmental challenges − single- issue
EPDs. EPD intend to compare a product of the information provider with other
products of the specifi c product group.
Institutional Issues The product category rules have to be elaborated in a participatory consultation process involving stakeholders like business, NGOs etc.
Companies presenting EPDs of their products have to verify the data according to
the rules of the ISO 14040 series. The verifi cation of data has to be carried out by
independent verifi ers.
Target Groups Mainly business (commercial procurers, public procurers,
retailers).
Status In 1998, the Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry
(JEMAI), with the support by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
(MITI), started an experimental program for Type III environmental declarations
which resulted in the EcoLeaf’s offi cial launch in 1999. A global network of EPDorganizations and practitioners pushes the development of EPD’s (see http://gednet.
org/ ). Recently, climate-related EPD’s focusing on climate relevant data came up.
Examples Japanese “Eco-Leaf”, “International EPD® System”.
3.3.2 Product Footprint
Addressed Issues The addressed issues depend on the objective of the footprint
concept. An encompassing footprint refers to different environmental challenges,
whereas the water footprint, for example, is restricted to water-related challenges.
Institutional Issues The institutional issues are still under development.
6 Life Cycle Management: Labelling, Declarations and Certifi cations…
Status Self-declared labels could be regarded as a business marketing approach to
inform on the environmental qualities of their products by self-declaration.
According to the ISO 14021 standard such labels do not require an independent
third-party registration. The number of such labels has grown continuously. The
perception and “reputation” of the labels depend on some strong parameters, like
credibility of the creator, product group, market competition, etc. In general, especially NGOs suspect self-declared environmental labels and do not support them.
3.3 Quantitative Declarations
3.3.1 Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)
Addressed Issues In line with the ISO standard 14025, Environmental Product
Declarations (EPD) provide quantifi ed environmental data for a product with pre- set
categories of parameters (product category rules, PCR). The data should be based
on LCA tools and calculations and consider supply chains. They might be also highlight and restricted to some (or one single) environmental challenges − single- issue
EPDs. EPD intend to compare a product of the information provider with other
products of the specifi c product group.
Institutional Issues The product category rules have to be elaborated in a participatory consultation process involving stakeholders like business, NGOs etc.
Companies presenting EPDs of their products have to verify the data according to
the rules of the ISO 14040 series. The verifi cation of data has to be carried out by
independent verifi ers.
Target Groups Mainly business (commercial procurers, public procurers,
retailers).
Status In 1998, the Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry
(JEMAI), with the support by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
(MITI), started an experimental program for Type III environmental declarations
which resulted in the EcoLeaf’s offi cial launch in 1999. A global network of EPDorganizations and practitioners pushes the development of EPD’s (see http://gednet.
org/ ). Recently, climate-related EPD’s focusing on climate relevant data came up.
Examples Japanese “Eco-Leaf”, “International EPD® System”.
3.3.2 Product Footprint
Addressed Issues The addressed issues depend on the objective of the footprint
concept. An encompassing footprint refers to different environmental challenges,
whereas the water footprint, for example, is restricted to water-related challenges.
Institutional Issues The institutional issues are still under development.
6 Life Cycle Management: Labelling, Declarations and Certifi cations…