1.

Introduction

Eco-mark is an eco-labeling scheme to identify environment friendly products. The Eco-mark

scheme recognizes a product prepared by environment friendly process, or used and disposed
in a way that significantly reduces the harm on environment. The Eco-mark logo is depicted
as in Fig 1.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India has constituted a scheme in 1991 on
labeling of environment friendly products, even before the India participated in Rio Summit,
1992. It is administered by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which also administrates
the Indian Standards Institute (ISI) mark quality label, required for any product to gain the
Eco-mark label.

The scheme provide labeling and accreditation for domestic, household and other consumer
products that meets certain environmental criteria along with the quality requirements of
Indian standards for that product.

Figure 1: Eco-mark label

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 1.1. Concept of Eco-labeling Scheme

The concept of eco-labeling aims to encourage environment friendly commodities in the

market. Agenda 21 recommended governments to promote environmental labeling in order to
change consumption patterns and conserve the environment for sustainable development
(UNCED, 1992). Eco-labeling was first introduced in Germany in 1978. Now, most of the
developed countries and some developing countries including India have established eco-
labeling programme. European Union (EU) implemented voluntary eco-labeling programme
within member countries in 1992. The summery of eco-mark programme of different
countries is given in Table 1.

Table 1: Worldwide Implementation of Eco-mark programme

Country Name of Programme Year Started

Germany Blue angel 1978
Canada Environmental Choice 1988
Japan Ecomark 1989
Nordic Countries White Swan 1989
New Zealand Environmental Choice 1990
Sweden Good Environmental Choice 1990
United States Green Seal 1990
Austria Austrian Eco-label 1991
India Ecomark 1991
European Union European Flower 1992
France NF-Environment 1992
South Korea Ecomark 1992
Singapore Green Label 1992
The Netherlands Stichting Milieukeur 1992
Croatia Environmentally Friendly 1993
Source: www.google.com & Singh et al 2012

The specific objectives of the scheme are as follow (Eco-mark notification 1991):
i. To provide an incentive for manufacturers and importers to reduce adverse environmental
impact of products.
ii. To reward genuine initiatives by companies to reduce adverse environmental impact of
their products.
iii. To assist consumers to become environmentally responsible in their daily lives by

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 providing information to take account of environmental factors in their purchase decisions.
iv. To encourage citizens to purchase products which have less harmful environmental
impacts.
v. Ultimately to improve the quality of the environment and to encourage the sustainable
management of resources.

Eco-mark is a government operated seal of approval program for environment friendly

consumer products. The Eco-mark label aims to do welfare for consumer goods that fulfill
the specified environmental criteria as well as quality requirements of Indian Standards. The
logo of some other countries is given below (Table 2):

Table 2: The Eco-mark labels of some other countries

Country Logo Name Logo Images

Name

Germany Blauer Engel

(Eco-label "Blue Angel")

Canada Environmental Choice

Japan Eco-mark

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 United States Green Seal

Switzerland Eco (Migros)

Brazil Qualidade Ambiental (Environmental quality)

Israel Green Label

New Zealand Environmental Choice

South Korea Cleaner and Greener

Austria Umweltzeichen "Bäume" –

(eco-Label - "Trees")

France NF Environment

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 Spain Medi Ambient - (regional environmental label)

Denmark Green Cotton

1.2 Indian Eco-mark

To increase consumer awareness, Government of India had launched the eco-labeling scheme
`Eco-mark'. The scheme recognized 16 categories of consumer products for the purpose of
development of eco-criteria and labeling. So far, criteria for 14 categories of product have
been finally notified by the Government. Ministry has also launched publicity campaigns for
disseminating necessary awareness among the consumers and manufacturers. Due to lack of
the adequate response from the manufacturers, this scheme could not become popular.

1.3 Eco-mark Products

The MoEF have identified 16 product categories (Table 3) to be covered under the scheme of
Eco-mark. The products are:

Table 3: Products under Eco-mark Scheme

Soaps and detergents Paints Paper

Food items Food additives and preservatives Wood Substances

Textiles Batteries Lubricating oil

Packaging Plastics Aerosols

Cosmetics Pesticides & drugs

Vegetable Oils Electronic goods

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 Administrative and Organizational Structure or Operational Structure (Three
committees)

There are three stages for the award of "ECO-MARK": (Eco-mark notification 1991)

a) Steering Committee - A steering committee, set up by the Ministry of Environment and

Forests, to determine the product categories for coverage under the scheme and also
formulate strategies for promotion, implementation, future development and
improvements in the working of the scheme.
b) Technical Committee - A technical committee, set up by the Central Pollution Control
Board, to identify the specific product to be selected and the individual criteria to be
adopted, including, wherever possible, inter-se priority between the criteria if there are
more than one products.
c) Bureau of Indian Standards - The Bureau of Indian Standards to assess and certify the
products and draw up a contract with the manufacturers, allowing the use of the label, on
the payment of fees.

In Details about mentioned three committees

a. Steering Committee

The Government of India has set up a Committee in the Ministry of Environment and Forests
and notified on March 6, 1991 (Table 4). The Ministry of Environment and Forests
determines the categories of the products for coverage under the scheme and also formulate
strategies for promotion by creating mass awareness, implementation, future development
and improvement in working of the scheme. This Committee ensures involvement of other
ministries, industries, associations’ non- governmental organizations and also, responsible for
notifying final criteria in the Gazette of India.

Table 4: Members of Steering Committee

S.No. Authority Designation

1 Secretary, Deptt. of Environment & Forests Chairman

2 Secretary, Ministry of Industry (or his representative) Member

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 3 Secretary, Deptt. of Civil Supplies Member

4 Secretary, Ministry of Chemicals & Petro-Chemicals (or Member

his representative)

5 Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture (or his representative) Member

6 Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (or Member

his representative)

7 Director General of Technical Development (or his Member

representative)

8 Director General, CSIR (or his representative) Member

9 Director General, Health Services, (or his representative) Member

10 Development Commissioner, Small Scale industries (or Member

his representative)

11 Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board Member

12 Officer In-charge, 'ECOMARK' in the Ministry of Member

Environment & Forests, Secretary

Besides mentioned members, Central Government nominates not more than five non-officials
to represent the interests of industry, consumer groups or other NGOs of which at least two
will represent consumer groups.

Functions of the Steering Committee

 Identification of specific products for classifying them environment friendly

 Reviewing the existing State of knowledge and the environmental criteria

being followed in other countries

 Recommend the most appropriate criteria and parameters to designate various

products as environment friendly

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  Review various technologies available for determining criteria

 Recommend various laboratories and analysis for product assessment to the

MoEF

 Evaluation of Environmental Import of products

 To review implementation of the scheme by BIS

 Set up Sub-committee for each product category

 Setting up of expert panels to advise it for specific product

b. Technical Committee

The Ministry established Technical Committee on March 6, 1991 and subcommittees for
each product categories with expert in field for drafting the criteria. The Technical
Committee (Table 5) recommends the most suitable criteria and publishes final criteria draft.
The Technical sub-committees consider the comments/ suggestions received on the draft
notification and finalize the criteria which are then recommended to the Steering Committee
for final notification.

The Committee advises and recommends product categories as well as evolves the detailed
criteria for the award of the Eco-mark. The Committee consists of members of specific
expertise and representatives of the affected industry, the scientific community,
environmentalists, consumer groups and government. The product selected and criteria
defined are reviewed in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, in the light of comments
from various interest groups. The Ministry then notifies the criteria for the various product
categories.

Table 5: Composition of Technical Committee

S. No Authority Designation

1 Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board Chairman

2 Director General, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi. Member

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 3 Director, NEERI, Nagpur, Member

4 Director, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune Member

5 Director General, National Test House, Calcutta. Member

6 Director, Industrial Toxicology Research Institute, Lucknow Member

7 Director, National Institute of Occupational Safety Member

8 Officer In-charge, 'ECOMARK Scheme' CPCB Member

Secretary

Besides above mentioned members, the Central Government nominates not more than five
non-officials to represent the interests of industry and consumer groups.

c. (Bureau of Indian Standards) Executing Agency

The Bureau of Indian Standards has been designated as the executive agency for the scheme.
On receipt of application for the award of the Eco Mark, the Bureau of Indian Standards/
Directorate of Marketing & Inspection/ Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and
storage organizes inspection of the manufacturer’s units to make an appraisal of the control
exercised during production and the facilities available for carrying out tests on raw materials
and on the final product. Only after the certifying agency is satisfied, the manufacturer is
given license to affix the Eco-mark label on the product. Every license includes a well-
defined scheme for testing and Inspection (STI), which has to be followed strictly.

Functions of Bureau of Indian standards

 Assess the product for Eco-mark and certify the product for the award of the

Eco-mark label.

 Review, suspend or cancel license, for the use of Eco-mark.

 Inspect and monitor the industries.

Certification and Licensing

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 For certification under Eco-mark scheme the manufacture has to apply testing of products
(which fall under the notified categories) along with fees set by BIS. The testing and
certification is carried out by BIS. The label is awarded for a minimum period of one year
and rolls forward annually.

2. Criteria for Eco-mark

Primary criteria i.e. parameters to be considered for determining product for Eco-mark is as
follows:

 Production process including source of raw material

 Case of natural resources

 Likely impact on the environment

 Energy conservation in the production of product

 Effect and extent of waste arising from the production process

 Disposal of the product and its containers

 Utilization as waste and recycled materials

 Suitability for recycling or packaging

 Biodegradability

2.1 Evaluation criteria

I Less potential of pollution than other comparable products in production, usages and
disposal.

II Recycled, recyclable, made from recycled products or biodegradable.

III. Make significant contribution in saving non-renewable resources, including non-

renewable energy sources and natural resources, compared with comparable products.

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 IV. Product must contribute to the reduction of the adverse primary criteria, which has the
highest environmental impact associated with the use of products and which will be
specially set for each of the product categories.

V. Period of Award:

The label is awarded for a minimum period of one year and rolled forward annually. The
Bureau of Indian Standards has the powers to withdraw the license at any time if they find
any misleading information. The award may also be withdrawn in case of any change in
criteria due to the advancement of technology or any other valid reasons, in consultation with
the technical committee. The time period of the award may be reviewed from time to time.

VI. The Logo:

The Logo for the 'ECOMARK" is notified by the Central Government. The earthen pot
(Figure 1) has been chosen as the logo for the Eco-mark scheme in India. The familiar
earthen pot uses renewable resources like earth, does not produce hazardous waste and
consumes little energy in making. It’s solid and graceful form represents both strength and
fragility, which also characterizes our eco-system. The logo for the Eco-mark scheme, signify
that the product which carries it does least damage to the environment.

VII. Consumer Awareness:

The Ministry of Environment & Forests has taken appropriate measures to launch a country
wide mass awareness campaign, including encouraging consumer groups. Assistance is given
to consumer organizations for comparative testing of products and dissemination of
information to the public.

2.2 Benefits of Eco-Mark

I Informing consumer choice

Eco-mark is an effective & easy way of informing customers regarding the environmental
impacts of selected products. It helps people to differentiate products which are harmful to
the environment and empowers to choose compatible products wich fulfill environmental
needs. The customer awareness should be increased and be informed more about the benefits

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 of available products in market. It also promotes energy efficiency, waste minimization and
product stewardship.

II Encourage economic growth

Eco-mark promotes economic efficiency by helping to educate consumers and manufacturers

to formulate environmentally supportive decisions to cause minimum harm to environment.
This is beneficial for both government and industries.

III Encouraging market growth

The selection of eco-labeled products directly impact on supply and demand of eco-labeled
products, which guides the market towards greater environmental awareness.

IV Encouraging continuous improvement

Eco-labeled products promote the corporate promises towards environmental improvement

continuously. Consumers may expect to understand the environmental impacts of products,
and its decline over time.

V Encouraging certification

The environmental certification program is an approval that a product meets a certain eco-
label standard and full fill the required objectives. It provides observable evidences of the
product characteristics from an environmental perspective to consumers. Therefore,
certification has an educational role for customers and promotes competition among
manufacturers. Certified products have a prominent logo, which help to inform customer
choices. Eco-labeled logo may encourage manufacturers to reform or re-engineer products to
cause less harm to the environment.

VI Assisting in monitoring

The environmental claims by the manufactures can be more easily monitored from the
official eco-labeling program. Competitors and customers are in a better position to judge the
validity of a claimed product.

2.3 The Reasons of failure of Eco-mark Scheme in India

(https://ecosafesibm.wordpress.com)

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  Lack of Efforts

 The long time period was spent to make product criteria and no efforts were expended
for promoting the awareness.

 Improper Marketing strategies

 Most of Indian consumers are not aware about the concept of an eco-label or even any
existence of an eco-label in India

 The Government already attempted to create awareness about Eco-Mark by

publishing a magazine entitled “Wista Eco-mark” in 1999-2000. But, it was
inadequate and failed to spread the desired awareness.

 Lack of Political efforts

 The scheme was set up in 1991, under the regime of well-known environmental
activist Maneka Gandhi (Minister of Environments and Forests). But after that, no
political party and person had shown clear cut agenda regarding Eco-Mark scheme.

 Complexity

 The Eco-Mark scheme has made cocktail between environmental criteria and Bureau
of Indian Standards. The dual set of criteria led to more complexity of the evaluation
process.

CAG request to Government regarding review of Eco-mark scheme (CAG Report on

Eco-mark, 2017)

Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) have asked the government to review the Eco-mark
scheme (http://www.business-standard.com). The CAG has recommended inclusion of more
products and issue of licenses. Now, “the environment ministry should also carry out
environmental impact studies of such products,” said the CAG in its recent report titled,
“Waste Management in India.” Till now, only 16 product categories are under Eco-mark
scheme in India.

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