2 research outputs found
Assessment of eco-labelling criteria development from a strategic sustainability perspective
Assessment of Eco-labelling Criteria Development from a Strategic Sustainability Perspective
To turn current patterns of consumption and production in a sustainable
direction, solid and understandable market information on the socio-ecological
performance of products is needed. Eco-labelling programmes have an important
role in this communication. The aim of this study is to investigate what gaps
there may be in the current criteria development processes in relation to a
strategic sustainability perspective and develop recommendations on how such
presumptive gaps could be bridged. First a previously published generic
framework for strategic sustainable development is described and applied for
the assessment of two eco-labelling programmes. Data for the assessment is
collected from literature and in semi-structured interviews and discussions
with eco-labelling experts.
The assessment revealed that the programmes lack both an operational definition
of sustainability, and a statement of objectives to direct and drive the
criteria development processes. Consequently they also lack guidelines for how
product category criteria might gradually develop in any direction. The
selected criteria mainly reflect the current reality based on a selection of
negative impacts in ecosystems, but how this selection, or prioritization, is
made is not clearly presented. Finally, there are no guidelines to ensure that
the criteria developers represent a broad enough competence to embrace all
essential sustainability aspects.
In conclusion the results point at deficiencies in theory, process and practice
of eco-labelling, which hampers cohesiveness, transparency and comprehension.
And it hampers predictability, as producers get no support in foreseeing how
coming revisions of criteria will develop. This represents a lost opportunity
for strategic sustainable development. It is suggested that these problems
could be avoided by informing the criteria development process by a framework
for strategic sustainable development, based on backcasting from basic
sustainability principles