Sustainable products

Sustainable products are products who are either sustainability sourced, manufactured or processed that
provide environmental, social and economic benefits while protecting public health and environment over
their whole life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials until the final disposal.

Scope of definition
According to Belz, Frank-Martin.,[1] the definition of sustainable product has six characteristics:

Customer satisfaction: any products or services that do not meet customer needs will not
survive in the market in a long term.
Dual focus: compared with purely environmental products, sustainable products focus both
on ecological and social significance.
Life-cycle orientation: sustainable products are environmentally-friendly throughout their
entire life. That is, from the moment the raw materials are extracted to the moment the final
product is disposed of, there must be no permanent damage to the environment.
Significant improvements: sustainable products contribute to dealing with socio-ecological
problems on a global level, or provide measurable improvements in socio-ecological product
performance.
Continuous improvement: as the state of knowledge, technologies and societal expectation
continually develop, sustainable products should also continuously improve with regard to
social and environmental variation.
Competing offers: sustainable products may still lag behind competing offers, therefore, the
competing offers may serve as a benchmark regarding social and ecological performance.
Michael Braungart and William McDonough's book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things
[2] expands on the life-cycle part of this definition. They suggest that every material and product should be

made in a manner that when its useful life is over, all the materials of which it is made can be returned to the
Earth after composting, or endlessly recycled as raw materials.

Product information
Product information can enable, facilitate, require or support consumers or other buyers and importers to
identify sustainable products or sustainability of products. Sustainability standards and certifications are
used for this purpose:

Sustainable product standards

Sustainability standards also known as Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) are private standards that
require products to meet specific economic, social or environmental sustainability metrics. The requirements
can refer to product quality or attributes, but also to production and processing methods, as well as
transportation. VSS are mostly designed and marketed by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or
private firms and they are adopted by actors up and down the value chain, from farmers to retailers.
Certifications and labels are used to signal the successful implementation of a VSS.[3] Over the last decades,
these standards have emerged as new tools to address key sustainability challenges such as biodiversity,
climate change, and human rights.[4] They standards cover a wide range of sectors such as agriculture,
fishery, forestry, energy, textile and others. According to the ITC standards map the mostly covered
products by standards are agricultural products, followed by consumer products.[5]

Overall standards

Nordic Swan Ecolabel

The standard of Nordic Swan Ecolabel, which is distributed in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and
Iceland, mainly refers to distinguished products that have a positive effect on the environment. More likely,
however, it has climate requirements that limit the amount of CO2 emissions where it is most relevant.[6]
More than 3,000 products, predominantly household chemicals, paper products, office machinery and
building materials have been issued with this label. The criteria account environmental factors through the
product's life cycle (raw material extraction, production and distribution, use and refuse). Thus the most
important parameters are consumption of natural resources and energy, emissions into air, water and soil,
generation of waste and noise.

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

GRI frames out and disseminates global sustainability reporting guidelines for ‘voluntary use by
organizations reporting on the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of their activities, products
and services’.[7] According to GRI Guidelines, reporting bodies should take into consideration
stakeholders’ interests and use the social indicators and others that more accurately depict the social and
ecological performance of the organization.

Life Cycle Assessment

Life-cycle assessment (LCA) evaluates and discloses the environmental benefits of products over their full
life cycle, from raw materials extraction to final disposition. Since 1997 the process of conducting LCA
studies has been standardized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Product-oriented standards

Organic Food Labeling

Organic food are foods that are produced using methods involving no agricultural synthetic inputs, for
instance, synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMO), and are not
processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.[8] Currently, the United States,
European Union, Canada, Japan and many other industrialized countries require food producers to acquire
special criteria or certification to market their products as "organic". Apparently, organic food producers
emphasize sustainable conservation of the social-ecological attributes such as soil, water and the whole
ecosystem. International organizations such as the Organic
Consumers Association supervise the development of organic food.
According to the National Organic Program (NOP) in the US, a
voluntary green-and-white seal on foods’ packaging denotes that a
product is at least 95% organic.[9]

MSC Labeling
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an independent non-
profit organization established in 1997 to address the overfishing
problem. Fisheries that are assessed and meet the standard can use
the MSC blue ecolabel (https://www.msc.org/what-we-are-doing/ou The National Organic Program (run
r-approach/what-does-the-blue-msc-label-mean). The MSC mission by the USDA) is responsible for the
legal definition of organic in the
is to 'reward sustainable fishing practices’. As of the end of 2010,
United States and issue organic
more than 1,300 fisheries and companies had achieved a Marine
certification.
Stewardship Council certification.[10]

FSC Labeling
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international non-profit organization established in 1993 to
‘promote forest management that is environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically
viable’.[11] Its main responsibilities for achieving the goal are standard framing, independent certification
issuing and labeling. FSC directly or indirectly addresses issues such as illegal logging, deforestation and
global warming and has positive effects on economic development, environmental conservation, poverty
alleviation and social and political empowerment.[12][13]

Fair Trade Labeling

Although there is no universally accepted definition of fair trade,
Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International (FLO) most
commonly refer to a definition developed by FINE, an informal
association of four international fair trade networks (Fair trade
Labeling Organizations International, World Fair Trade
Organization - formerly International Fair Trade Association,
Network of European Worldshops and European Fair Trade
Association): fair trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue,
transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international
trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better
trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized
producers and workers – especially in the South. Fair trade EKOenergy is an ecolabel for energy
in Europe
organizations, backed by consumers, are engaged actively in
supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for
changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade.[14]

U. S. Green Building Council LEED Rating System

The LEED Green Building Rating System evaluates environmental performance of all buildings over their
life, providing the definitive standard for what constitutes a "green" building, persuading the consumer and
building industry to develop products that are more environmentally and economically viable.[15]

EKOenergy label
EKOenergy is an ecolabel originating in Finland. It is becoming the continent-wide ecolabel for energy,
which is supported by number European NGOs. It evaluates sustainability of electricity products on open
energy markets.[16]

Green Seal
Green Seal is a North American non-profit ecolabel organization established in 1989. It generates life cycle-
based sustainability standards for products, services and companies in addition to offering third party
independent test organization certification for those meeting its standards. Green Seal was the first non-
profit environmental certification program established in the United States. It currently has certified nearly
4,000 products and services within 400 categories.[17]

Sustainable product policies

International
Since 1998, the branch of the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) has undertaken several national programs or
action plans on sustainable consumption and production.[18]
Moreover, the United Nations is responsible for administering the
Marrakech Process[19] and developing the ten-year Sustainable
Consumption and Production Framework through Regional
Marrakech Process Consultations, whose goal is to accelerate the
shift towards sustainable consumption and production (SCP).
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD)’s Environmental Directorate has also done comprehensive
work on the environmental impacts of sustainable consumption and
production. One of current OECD projects is reviewing measures
for sustainable manufacturing production.[20]
There was widespread support for
reducing the price of sustainable
In 2015, the United Nations established 17 Sustainable
products by respondents to the 2020-
Development Goals (SDG) and SDG 12 refers to "responsible
21 European Investment Bank
consumption and production". Specifically, Target 12.1 has a single Climate Survey.
indicator to “Implement the 10‑Year Framework of Programmes on
Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, all countries
taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and
capabilities of developing countries".[21]

Regions and countries

On 16 July 2008 the European Commission presented the Sustainable Consumption and Production and
Sustainable Industrial Policy (SCP/SIP) Action Plan[22] which clarifies the United Nations’ Marrakech
Process on Sustainable Consumption and Production and global ten-year Sustainable Consumption and
Production Framework and was adopted by the council on 4 December 2008 and is updated regularly. It
includes a series of proposals on sustainable consumption and production to target EU goals for
environmental sustainability, economic growth and public welfare, which are as follows:

A proposal to extend mandatory labeling requirements which is relevant to the energy

efficiency of products according to the 1992 Energy Labeling Directive.
A proposal to widen the covering fields of voluntary EU Ecolabel of products (e.g., including
food and beverage products) and streamline the system.[23]

A proposal for an independent communication on green

public procurement. This communication identifies
economic priority sectors, establishes common
environmental criteria and guides to implement green
public procurement by Member States.[24]
A proposal for the revision of the EU Eco-Management
and Audit Scheme (EMAS) to enlarge the number of
companies involved, including companies outside the
EU, and decrease the administrative costs for Small and
Mediums Sized Enterprises (SMEs).[25]
Proposals on sustainable consumption and production
that will contribute to improve the environmental
efficiency of products and increase the demand for more
pro-environmental goods and production technologies.
In 2020–2021, the EU discussed the possible implementation of the
Sustainable Product Policy Initiative, which may include, amongst
others, the inclusion of a Digital Product Passport.[26] [27] The EU
sustainable product policy was renewed in function of the European
Green Deal and the new Circular Economy Action Plan.[28] and
revises the Ecodesign Directive.[29]

The United States government does not have a standardized

national policy or strategy for sustainable consumption and
production. However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) develops extensive sustainability programs on water,
Sample EU energy efficiency label
agriculture, energy, and ecosystem, etc. At the same time, the U.S.
Department of State’s Sustainable Development Partnerships web
page provides considerable information about the U.S. government's sustainable development initiatives to
help other countries set up and implement their own development strategies in social and ecological
terms.[30]

United Kingdom government considers Sustainable Consumption and Production is one of the four priority
sectors identified in the 2005 UK Sustainable Development Strategy. The UK government is carrying out a
series of actions[31] to achieve goals of sustainable consumption and production in public and private areas
respectively.
Norwegian Ministry of the Environment founded Norway’s Green in Practice (GRIP), which is a public-
private foundation established in 1996 to promote sustainable consumption and production. At the same
time, Norway’s Ministry of Finance has primary responsibility to fund the strategy of sustainable
development.[32]

Australian government requires that certain electrical products for sale should contain mandatory energy-
efficiency labeling to provide consumers with information that helps reduce energy use and green house gas
emissions.[33]

Sustainable product design

Conventionally, environmental management systems have always addressed the impacts of products on
local surroundings. ISO 14001 (ISO 14001:3) provides a formalized framework for managing significant
environmental aspects and improving environmental performance through a ‘‘Plan, Do, Check, Review’’
continual improvement cycle.[34] During the phase of product planning, consumer demands and market
opportunities are evaluated. At this time a product description and execution plans for a successful program
launch are developed and product requirements are defined. During the phase of product development,
specific design specifications are finalized, models are built, and designs are reviewed and released for
manufacture planning. Once manufacturing begins, the product is commercially launched for general
availability and volume deployed to the marketplace. Once a prototype is available, LCA is used as a
fundamental standard to identify significant social and environmental aspects and quantify environmental
impact. Once a product is launched into market and becomes commercialized, it enters the maturity phase,
which means that the sales and the profits both reach the peak. The maturity phase contains two stages:
during the first stage of maturity, the customer is utilizing the product. Modifications may still be made to
the product to enhance or change it. The product enters the second stage of maturity when it approaches
near to the decline phase. Where applicable, end-of-life products are taken back and subsequently reused or
recycled efficiently. While being a legal requirement in the EU, the take back of end-of-life products offers
the chance to review the final life cycle stage of a product through direct contact with recyclers. This
knowledge can then be applied to future designs and product improvement.

Scientific analysis to assess sustainability and alternatives of

products
A 2021 study reviewed 217 analyses of on-the-market products and services, analyzed existing alternatives
to mainstream food, holidays, and furnishings, and concludes that total greenhouse gas emissions by
Swedes could be lowered by to date up to 36–38% if consumers – without a decrease in total estimated
expenditure or considerations of self-interest rationale – instead were to obtain those they, using available
datasets, could assess to be more sustainable.[35]

Criticism
Efforts toward “greener” products are supported in the sustainability community; however, these are often
viewed only as incremental steps and not as an end. Some people foresee a true sustainable steady state
economy that may be very different from today's: greatly reduced consumerism, reduced energy usage,
minimal ecological footprint, fewer consumer packaged goods, local purchasing with short food supply
chains, little processed foods, etc.[36][37][38] Less products and packaging would be needed in a sustainable
carbon neutral economy, which means that fewer options would exist and simpler and more durable forms
may be necessary.[39]

See also
Circular economy
Cradle to Cradle Design
Design life
Downcycling
Durability
Green brands
Greenwashing
Maintainability
Product life
Upcycling
Life cycle assessment
Index of sustainability articles
Environmentally friendly
Sustainable consumption
Sustainable living
Sustainable product development
Zero waste

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Bibcode:2021JInEc..25.1602C (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021JInEc..25.1602C).
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36. Kunstler, James Howard (2012). Too Much Magic; Wishful Thinking, Technology, and the
Fate of the Nation. Atlantic Monthly Press. ISBN 978-0-8021-9438-1.
37. McKibben, D, ed. (2010). The Post Carbon Reader: Managing the 21st Century
Sustainability Crisis. Watershed Media. ISBN 978-0-9709500-6-2.
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Crisis. Watershed Media. ISBN 978-0-9709500-6-2.
Sustainable Product: Definition and Examples (https://on-tic.com/consumption/what-is-a-sustainable-produc
t/)

External links
Sustainability of Products, Processes and Supply Chains: Theory and Applications (https://w
ww.elsevier.com/books/sustainability-of-products-processes-and-supply-chains/you/978-0-4
44-63472-6). (2015) Elsevier. ISBN 9780444634726.

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