Nordic Ecolabel Swan: Scandinavian co-operation

The Swan is the official Nordic ecolabel, and it “demonstrates that a product is a good environmental choice”. In 1989, the Nordic Council of Ministers decided to introduce a common, impartial, official environmental label for the Nordic region.

So, five for the price of one – very economic! The (green) Swan is a variation on the (blue Swan) logo of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The activities within Nordic Ecolabelling are coordinated by the Nordic Ecolabelling Board.

Qualidade Ambiental: Brazil’s ecologically watchful hummingbird

The Brazilian environmental quality certification scheme, Certificado do Rótulo Ecológico ABNT – Qualidade Ambiental, took wing in 1993 as a joint programme by the Brazilian Association for Technical Standards (Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas – ABNT) and the Brazilian Government. This scheme uses a life-cycle analysis.

The Korea Eco-Label – Even the government abides by it

The Korean Eco-label has been run by the Ministry of Environment (MOE) and Korea Eco-Products Institute (KOECO) since 1992, “certifying Eco Labels to qualifying eco-products for excellent quality and performance, as well as general environment-friendliness during the entire production process”.

The German Blue Angel: The first eco symbol for products and services

The Blauer Engel (Blue Angel) is the first environment-related label for products and services in the world. It was created in 1977, and the first awards made in 1978.

US Green Seal of Approval

Green Seal is an independent non-profit organisation in the US. Founded in 1989, it completed its first product certifications in 1992. It covers both products and product and service providers.

Green Seal makes a very clear statement of its scientific background and its leading involvement with international eco-labelling developments.

Indian Ecomark – Economical, even with the symbol

The Ecomark Scheme of India was launched in 1991 by the Government of India.

Of all the environmental labelling scheme logos I’ve seen yet – and there are plenty more to come – this clay pot is one of the simplest, certainly easier than most to remember or draw by hand.

The Japanese make an eloquent Eco Mark

The Japanese Eco Mark Program, founded in 1989, is operated by the Japan Environment Association (JEA).

This Eco Mark applies to products and their life cycles.

The EU Eco-label: flowering across Europe

The European Union Eco-label or Flower is

a voluntary scheme designed to encourage businesses to market products and services that are kinder to the environment and for European consumers – including public and private purchasers – to easily identify them.

I don’t recall ever seeing the Eco-label. Just how far has it spread?

EcoLogo: Canada’s leafy environmental certification mark

EcoLogo^Mis North America’s most widely recognized and respected multi-attribute environmental certification mark. By certifying the environmental leaders in over 300 categories of products, EcoLogo helps environmental marketers win customers, and helps buyers – both consumer and corporate – find and trust the world’s most sustainable products.

A cute logo with doves of peace nestling into the maple leaf, doesn’t this make business seem just ever-so friendly!