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