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Friday, May 16, 2003

Eco-label Flower helps EU consumers opt for environmentally-friendly holidays

From 1 May 2003, companies selling tourist accommodation throughout Europe can apply for the EU Eco-label to show just how highly they score on environmental performance. The trend towards more environmentally friendly tourism services has steadily increased in recent years, with consumers becoming more and more demanding in their quest for greener holidays. Satisfying this demand is increasingly seen by the tourism industry as a key to success. One recent survey showed that 42% of tourists prefer to opt for environmentally friendly accommodation. Around 46% want their holiday destination to actively promote environmental protection, and almost 60% find the problems of outdoor waste and pollution off-putting. In another survey, almost half those surveyed said that environmental performance was a crucial criterion when choosing their holiday destination.

Any tourism operator - from a large hotel chain to a small farmhouse - can apply for the European Eco-label. But first it must meet strict minimum standards with regard to environmental performance and health standards. These should include the use of renewable energy sources, an overall reduction in energy and water consumption, measures to reduce waste, environmental policy setting and the provision of non-smoking areas .

Getting the Flower demands a little extra effort but, significantly, it also provides added value. It helps operators to identify and focus upon their ecological and economic weaknesses. By reducing energy and water consumption they can be more profitable while at the same time promoting the environment.

The EU Eco-label scheme was established in 1992 to promote products (and services ) with a reduced environmental impact, by allowing manufacturers that have been awarded the Eco-label to display the "Flower" logo on their products. Eco-label products have been checked by independent bodies to ensure that they comply with strict environmental performance criteria. So, not only are they more environmentally friendly but they will also perform at least as well as, if not better, than conventional products.

Each EU Member State has a competent authority, which provides information on how to apply, checks compliance, and helps companies that want to earn the right to get the Eco-label Flower. Applicant companies receive an application pack, which contains a verification form and a user manual designed to help the applicant go step-by-step through the application process. Applicants must provide a detailed dossier showing how the technical criteria have been met.

There are currently 21 different product groups, including textiles and footwear, detergents, household appliances, paper products, paints and many others. Criteria for furniture will be available shortly. Work on other product groups, such as printed paper and campsites, is ongoing.

More than 135 licences have been awarded so far, covering several hundred different products. In the last two years, sales of eco-labelled items have risen by more than 300%. The highest "flowering" rates so far have been achieved in French, Danish, Italian, Greek and Spanish soil.

The "Flower" logo plays an important role in making consumption more sustainable. It is one of the key instruments of an integrated product policy (IPP) that provides a strategic approach to reducing the environmental impacts during the lifecycle of products and to enhancing the market for green products.

An extensive Europe-wide marketing campaign is planned for the year 2004 to bring the "Flower" closer to the consumer.

Source  The European Ecolabel

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