Get to know “eco-labels” – labels that help eco-conscious consumers make sustainable purchasing choices.
The world’s population is increasing continuously from the past. When the world’s population increases, consumption will certainly increase as well. Therefore, the production of goods increases to meet the consumption of the world’s population. This has led to environmental problems such as “global warming” today.
Currently, there are many campaigns and educational activities about the environment to create awareness for people to help solve environmental problems together. One way to solve environmental problems is to use resources efficiently, reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions, which are the main causes of global warming. To solve these problems, producers and consumers must work together to solve the problems. Consumers can adjust their consumption behavior to be more environmentally friendly and save the world. There are many choices for environmentally friendly consumption. One of the recommended choices is the “Eco-Label”.
“Eco-labelling” is a mechanism to communicate and indicate the environmental friendliness of products to consumers. This eco-labelling is given to products that have quality and have less environmental impact than products that perform the same function. It indicates that this product or product has environmental value. Consumers can choose to buy products and services that reduce environmental impact. In addition, manufacturers will benefit in terms of profit from reducing costs resulting from reducing resources, energy and waste in the production of products and services. The eco-labelling is a combination of the “Global Eco-labelling Network” or GEN in 1994 or 1994 with the aim of protecting the environment by using eco-labelling. Currently, GEN has member organizations and partners in 47 countries, one of which is Thailand, which has the Thai Environment Institute as the agency that certifies the “Green Label”. The eco-labelling is divided into 3 types according to ISO standards as follows:
1. Type 1 Environmental Label (ISO 14024) This is a label that shows environmental friendliness, certified by an independent organization that has no stake or third party. In Thailand, there is a type 1 label, which is the “Green Label”.
2. Type 2 Environmental Label is a label that manufacturers, distributors or exporters will indicate the environmental friendliness or show the environmental value of their own products without a central organization to take care of them.
3. Type 3 Environmental Label (ISO14025) is a label that shows the environmental impact of the product. There is an independent agency or central organization to verify the accuracy of the information before announcing it on that product.
In addition to the 3 types of labels mentioned above, there are other types of environmental labels that are developed with specific purposes. To express the intention to communicate or motivate consumers to see the importance of choosing to use that product or service, such as the familiar Energy Saving Label 5, Carbon Footprint Label and Green Leaf Hotel, etc.
If a product or product has an “Environmental Label”, in addition to helping to guarantee that it is environmentally friendly, consumers can also be confident that the product is safe. Since it has been carefully and thoroughly checked, let’s help the world by purchasing products or goods with “eco-labels” together.
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