As the demand for sustainable lifestyles continues to grow, the trend of using eco-friendly products is also booming. However, a lucrative market always comes with potential downsides, such as greenwashing, which is causing concern among many consumers. To protect consumers and the environment from these downsides, ecolabels and, more specifically, GEN were established
Learn about the ecolabel
If you often search for green products, you have probably heard of ecolabels. As the name suggests, these are stickers affixed to product packaging to certify that the product is completely good for the ecosystem, has little negative impact on the environment, and ensures human health.
The ecolabel is not mandatory but a voluntary certification program, divided into three categories:
- Type I Ecolabel: Verified by an independent third-party organization and follows ISO 14024 standards that businesses must meet throughout the product’s lifecycle. This type of label is renowned for its credibility and transparency.
- Type II Ecolabel: Because it does not require verification by an independent third-party organization and is often self-declared by the company, the Type II Ecolabel is also known as a voluntary declaration. Typically, this is the type of label most prone to greenwashing.
- Type III Ecolabel: Among the three types of ecolabels, the Type III Ecolabel – Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is the most reliable and has the strictest standards. In addition to undergoing third-party verification, businesses must also publicly report data on the environmental impact of the product throughout its lifecycle.
What is GEN?
Following the emergence of ecolabels, in 1994, an international non-profit association for ecolabel organizations was quickly established, called the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN). It can be said that, to date, GEN is the largest international organization for ecolabels, with many member organizations spread across the world, including major names such as Blue Angel, EU Ecolabel, Singapore Green Labelling Scheme, etc.
Why is GEN important?
Throughout its years of operation, GEN has gradually established its position among ecolabeling organizations and consumers due to:
Global connectivity
The ecolabel network established by GEN has over 29 member organizations representing nearly 60 countries and territories, spanning from Europe and the Americas to Asia. This network facilitates easy collaboration and exchange among global organizations to jointly promote sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyles.
Building trust among organizations
To become an official member of the GEN network, ecolabel organizations must ensure that the labels they certify comply with the ISO 14024 standard. To guarantee this, GEN has developed the GENICES system, a cross-evaluation mechanism among members. This fosters trust and transparency among organizations from different countries.
Fighting against greenwashing
Today, it is easy to find eco-friendly products labeled with ecolabels, but these labels may not be clear environmental statements and might be exaggerated to deceive consumers. That is, instead of ensuring environmental protection throughout the product life cycle, these statements only target a small aspect that is beneficial to business.
For GEN, a true ecolabel certification must minimize environmental impact and limit or eliminate the use of toxic chemicals throughout the product’s entire life cycle, from raw materials to waste disposal. Carrying this idea and desire, GEN has laid the foundation to combat greenwashing environmental claims in order to protect consumers and support and promote the development of standard-compliant green products.
Mission of GEN
Not just an international non-profit association, GEN has strived to maintain and develop ecolabels and eco-friendly lifestyles. Through this, the association aims to fulfill its mission of making environmental performance throughout a product’s lifecycle a mandatory factor in product transactions.
In serving its mission, GEN also contributes to consumers and ecolabel organizations by providing in-depth expertise on ecolabels, making shopping more environmentally responsible. Because every product we give or receive has a certain impact on the ecosystem.
Conclusion
Acting as a bridge, GEN connects international ecolabel organizations and forms a large network spanning the globe. With this network, ecolabels and green products are growing more than ever, offering consumers a sustainable lifestyle that is both environmentally friendly and beneficial to health.