Green Label : HK Green Label -A Product Certification Scheme using Green Criteria

	Article No. :	GreenLabel-05
	Author :	Ir Nelson Law, Managing Director of N. Law and Associates Management Consultancy Ltd.
	Date :	3 Aug 2003
Functional Quality vs Environmental Quality Traditionally, many product certifications were established basing on quality in terms of functional and safety performance. In the recent years, since people are more concerned about the damage mankind has made to the environment, more focus is placed on the environmental quality of a product when determining the criteria to be used for qualifying a product for certification purpose. Green products should be able to satisfy the need for environmental quality. Examples of environmental quality of a product are recycle content, degradability and energy efficiency etc. Green product certifications, also called Green Labeling, thus focus mainly on environmental quality of a product. Nowadays, buyers are getting more and more inclined to placing preference to choosing green product during purchasing. Large buyers such as the Government has also placed attention towards green procurement or Environmental Responsible Purchasing (ERP). While expecting a product to be environmental friendly, we always emphasize that at the same time, functional and safety performance of a product is also very important and so we cannot ignore them. Good products cannot work properly if it is not of good functional quality and safe to use. Green Labeling is a voluntary environmental performance product certification scheme. It helps identify the overall performance preference including life cycle consideration. It can be used as a marketing and promotional tool to differentiate the product from other products in the market and provide more information to consumers. Overall speaking, Green Labeling is used to promote the environmental friendliness of a product through green consumerism. It also promote sustainable development by assisting consumers to select products that cause less impact to the environment. Enterprises are encouraged to design and manufacture truly green products and to lower the cost of production through a good use of resources, recycling and reduction of wastes etc. Of course, one of the main purpose is to satisfy the customer requirements, e.g. in the case of a tender where the environmental aspects of products is specified. Product Certification using green criteria : the HK Green Label Scheme The Hong Kong Green Label Scheme (HKGLS) is organized by the Green Council and co-organized by the Hong Kong Productivity Council. Green Council was formed in the year 2000 by individuals of different background such as business, industries, academic and professional fields. The Objective of the Green Council is : a) to enhance the environmental awareness of the general public b) to assist local and international enterprises in improving their environmental performance c) to help Hong Kong establish a greener image worldwide Such objectives will be achieved through the promotion of education, training, green consumerism, green management concepts, easing environmental burden, waste recycling, waste reduction, energy conservation and sustainable development. The HKGLS is the first green label scheme for the certification of the green products in Hong Kong. It is an independent and voluntary scheme and open to all local & oversea businesses and industries. Objectives of HKGLS are to provide a clear, credible and independent guide for green consumers, encourage them to purchase commodities that have lower environmental impacts, provide incentives for manufacturers and importers to reduce the environmental impact of their products and to improve the quality of the environment and encourage sustainable management of resources. HKGLS observes the principles of ISO 14020 : environmental labels and declarations – general principles. In order to further promote the international status of HKGLS, the Green Council has become the member of the Global Eco-labeling Network (GEN) in December 2001 to join the forces in promoting the use of green products. GEN is a non-profit association of environmental label organization from around the world. It helps improve, promote and develop the environmental label products. It encourages the cooperation among the environmental labeling organizations, promote green consumerism, informatioon exchange among the members and dissemination of information to the public. On a longer term, it helps in the harmonization of environmental label programs, e.g. the Common Core Criteria for Asia Countries in 2003. GEN was set up in 1994 with the Head Office in Japan and Secretariat in Canada. Members of GEN includes Canada, USA, UK, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, ROC (Taiwan), Korea, India, Greece etc. HKGLS is management is managed joining by 3 parties : a) Green Council is responsible to promulgate the policy, guidelines and regulations, organize publicity activities and grant the HKGLS label etc. b) Hong Kong Productivity Council is responsible for criteria development, product assessment, and monitoring of compliance etc. c) Advisory Committee, comprising of representatives from the academics, industries, environmental organizations and commercial sectors, is responsible to oversee the operation of the HKGLS. The targer user groups of the HKGLS would those on the Product Supply Side, such as all local and overseas manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers, distributors importers and exporters. User groups can also come from the Product Demand Side such as the government departments, commercial firms, utilities, publc/private developers, construction firms and households etc. who would initiate the demand for green products. HKGLS has 9 categories comprising 37 products open for application. So far, a number of products have been awarded the Green Label. Recently, HKGLS has participated in the international efforts on green consumerism (i.e. Forum on Development of Common Core Criteria for Paints and Toner Cartridges) which was intended to serve as a groundwork for mutual recognition of different labeling schemes. Resulting from the Forum, the HKGLS’ criteria for Toner Cartridge were revised accordingly. The Cyber Green Centre has been developed by the Green Council to serve as a comprehensive one-stop on-line platform for environmental information. It also serves to display those products which have been awarded the HKGLS. Quite a number of activities have been carried out in order to foster the popularity of HKGLS. Such activities include public seminars, participation in the SME Market Day, seminars organized in universities, schools and private entities, presentatino to relevant Government departments and bureaux, promotion activities in Beijing and Guangzhou and promotion of HKGLS to GEN members etc. Compliance with ISO 14020, Environmental Labels and Declaration In order to gain more international status, HKGLS has observed the principles of ISO 14020. What then is ISO 14020 ? International Organization for standardization (ISO) has produced the following definitions for green labeling in the ISO 14020 series of standards : Type I Labeling : it applies to green products certified by third party Type II Labeling : it applies to the self-declaration claims of environmental products by the manufacturers Type III Labeling : it applies to the production of quantitative information regarding the environmental aspects of products and services based on procedures and result from a life cycle study Type I Labeling, which is in fact the only one relating to third party certification of green products, is similar to other product certification schemes. The HKGLS is a Type I Labeling Scheme. The aim is to give an independent assurance of the quality of a product but the emphasis is placed on environmental quality. In the global scene, it is a voluntary scheme run by the Government, NGO or private organizations for profit or non-profit. ISO 14020 established guiding principles for the development and use of environmental labels and declarations. It consists of Nine Principles which stipulate the system to be used for labeling and declarations. Summary of guiding principles for Environmental Labeling Principles is : a) Accuracy b) Avoiding trade barriers c) Scientific basis d) Provision of information on methodology used e) Life-cycle approach f) Allowance of innovation g) Minimal administrative burden h) Open, consensual process i) Provision of information on products 95% of the GEN’s members have complied with ISO 14020. Green Label Application Procedure The HKGLS label is designed for all industries and interested parties to apply. The prerequisites of application are: (a) The label is applicable only to product categories promulgated by HKGLS; (b) The applicant must be a legal entity (e.g., a legally registered company, sole proprietorship or individual); (c) The product in application has to satisfy the relevant product environmental criteria set by HKGLS and, if applicable, other statutory performance criteria; and (d) The product in application has to satisfy the requisite quality and safety requirements set forth in the ordinances concerned. HKGLS is open to application by local and overseas businesses and industries with the intention to enhance the market competitiveness of their products by means of the Scheme. To apply for a HKGLS label, applicants need to complete an Application form with the necessary supporting documents (e.g. certificates of other environmental labeling schemes, product testing reports/certificates issued from accredited laboratory, and appropriate declarations etc.) and send them to Green Council. Upon request from HKPC or the Advisory Committee or authorised agent, the applicant has to arrange the necessary on-site assessment and/or random sample check of the product in application. Future Development The Green Council will continue to develop more criteria for commonly-used products to enhance the coverage of the HKGLS. This will enable more customers/products can join the Scheme. Green Council will align the local standards/criteria with the regional Common Core Criteria, while keeping track of the development in the global standards. Green Council will continue to seek funding for support the various programme run by the Council. Green Council will also promote green procurement to all sectors including the Government, public sector and institutions, in the hope of inspiring the major buyers in setting green criteria as one of the requirements in the major procurement tenders.