Harmonisation of national criteria with European Eco-label criteria Otto Fichtl ofichtl@vki.or.at Harmonisation of national criteria with European Eco-label criteria Example „Austrian Ecolabel for Tourism“ ecolabel@vki.or.at

The Austrian Ecolabel Products (since 1992) Tourism (since 1996) Schools (since 2002) September 2004: Products: 45 product groups; appr. 270 certified products from appr. 55 enterprises Tourism: appr. 200 businesses of all kinds (accomodation, restaurants, camp sites) Schools: 19 schools

Harmonization with EU-Flower All purpose cleaners Detergents for dishwashers Hand dishwashing detergents Laundry detergents Light bulbs Refrigerators

Organisation Competent Body and Technical Work, Administration Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management  Competent Body and Technical Work, Administration Austrian Consumer Association

Politics Intention of Austrian CB to harmonize is high „harmonize where possible and useful“ Austrian „Ecolabel Advisory Board“ agreed to the suggestion of harmonization Target – to set up criteria which enable enterprises to get both ecolabels with one audit Revision of Austrian Criteria is under developement –> to be finished end of 2004 Harmonize Advisory Board consists of representatives of the industry, the provinces of Austria, the social partners, environmental experts and NGOs, Ministries etc. and is compareable to the EUEB on european level Target – makes no sense for all parties involved to run within one country two similar systems, which are slightly different; the decison for interested enterprises should not be „either or“ but „as well as“ Revision is still under construction; experts meeting (AHGW) on the 21st of October; decision on 15th of November

Harmonization fields to be covered Product group Criteria structure and areas Scoring system Criteria (accommodation and campsites) Fee system Verification process

Product group Accommodation Service private accommodation Alpine mountain huts -> Accommodation Service Camp site service Campsites Restaurants (Catering establishments) (Restaurants) (Catering establishments)

Criteria structure mandatory mandatory with transitional period (new definitions or optional criteria) optional (additional environmental actions) „self initiatives“ (integration into optional criteria)

Areas Env. Management Energy Water Chemicals Waste Other services Energy management Electrical Equipment Chemical substances Waste and Wastewater Mobility/Transport Food/Kitchen/Service Construction/Furnishing Office and Printing Air / Noise Outside Area Information/Management Env. Management Other Services - Mobility / Transport - Food / Kitchen - Paper / Print Products - Construction/Furnishing - Air quality - Outside Area

Scoring system Minimum number of points (16,5 resp. 20) has to be reached Additional points for food services leisure activtities green areas 65% of achievable*(!) points must be attained *points which cannot be met at all (e.g. for criteria on outside areas if there are none) are deducted prior to the calculation of the max. attainable points ? under developement (Trend to change to a system like the EU flower has) Target criteria are weighted according to their ecological relevance and their economic and administrative costs (see evaluation by points). This results in a maximum number of achievable points (65% of which must be attained) by each type of enterprise. Points given for criteria an enterprise cannot meet (e.g. for the design of outdoor facilities where they do not exist at all) must be deducted prior to the calculation of maximum attainable points though.

Steps of Harmonization of Criteria Analyse criteria (which are similar or same, which are not included so far etc.) Find decision which criteria can and/or should be harmonized and how Include / delete criteria Keep own criteria which are important New definitions and/or wordings for each criterion (according to EU Flower) New score for each optional criterion (according to methodology EU Flower)

Harmonization of Criteria 1. Criteria similar or same EU criterion „Urinal flushing” (M) EU requirement same as for Austrian Ecolabel => Harmonization easy =

Harmonization of Criteria 2. Criteria +/- different EU criterion „Policy setting and action program” (M) EU requirement was included in two criteria of Austrian Ecolabel, one mandatory and one optional => Proposal to adopt EU criterion completely 1M +1O => 1M =

Harmonization of Criteria 3. EU-level > Austrian EU requirement might be too high for some Austrian enterprises e.g. EU criterion „Energy efficient light bulbs” (M) => Proposal to adopt EU criterion as optional criterion for the Austrian Ecolabel M = O

Harmonization of Criteria 4. EU-level < Austrian a)Proposal to keep minimum requirement as mandatory and adopt EU criterion as optional e.g. EU criterion „Refillable bottles ” (O) 1 M + 1 O => 1 M + 1O = b)Proposal to adopt EU criterion and add more possibilities to get more points e.g. EU criterion „Organic food” (O) 1 M + 1O => 1 O +

Harmonization of Criteria 5. EU-criteria not included a) adopt EU criteria e.g. criteria on air condition, mechanical cleaning,... b) „integrate“ criteria (only for the EU eco-label) e.g. criteria „Waste water design plan“ (M) and „Information on the eco-label“ (M)

Harmonization of Criteria 6. AE-criteria not included a) keep criteria e.g. „Energy consultation”, “waste management concept“, „No use of urinal blocks“, „CFC-free coolants“, „Use of peat-free soil“,... b) delete criteria e.g. „ecological office material”, “use of fuel oil “extra-light””, “kitchen towels made from recycling paper“,...

Fee system

Verification process Target: to offer one audit for two labels application forms - „check list“ - including informations which criteria for which eco-label standardized audit report training of auditors and consultants communication of new criteria to businesses

Results so far... Draft (!) criteria for the Austrian Ecolabel product groups accommodation and campsites according to EU-flower; keep private accommodation and restaurants for AE criteria structure and areas according to EU-flower, areas with subgroups criteria Integration of all EU criteria; additional criteria for Austrian Ecolabel - new definition / scores acc. to EU ? scoring system, fee system, verification

Expected result Offer additional benefit businesses using both labels More applications for the EU-and the Austrian Eco-Label raise consumer awareness of eco-labels contribute to further sustainable developement Offer additional benefit More applications for the EU-flower businesses using both labels raise consumer awareness of eco-labels contribute to further sustainable developement

Contacts Ministry for Environment Mr Martin Buechele  +43(0)1-515 22 – 1625 martin.buechele@lebensministerium.at VKI (AustrianConsumer Association) Mr Otto Fichtl  +43(0)1-588 77 – 235 ofichtl@vki.or.at www.umweltzeichen.at info@umweltzeichen.at