European Commission – DG ENV The EU ECO-LABEL in Green Public Procurement Athina Koutroumani Brussels, 29 September 2005

What is the Flower? Created in 1992 Voluntary Valid across EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein Covers goods and services (not food and drugs) Type-I environmental label: certified by independent third party, not a self-claim Transparent process: multi-stakeholder

The Flower... ... distinguishes environmentally friendly, high quality products ... helps consumers and purchasers to find green products easily ... guarantees reliable information ... offers competitive advantage to producers of eco-labelled products

Wider policy background 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg Jo’burg Plan of Implementation: “Adopt on a voluntary basis effective, transparent, verifiable, non-misleading and non-discriminatory consumer information tools to provide information relating to sustainable consumption and production”

Wider policy background 6th Environmental Action Programme “Our future, our choice” : “Encourages the uptake of eco-labels that allow consumers to compare environmental performance between products of the same type” Eco-labelling is part of the Thematic Strategy on the sustainable use of resources Relevant to waste prevention policy

Wider policy background Integrated Product Policy (IPP) Is based on Life Cycle Approach to minimise environmental impacts Requires participation of stakeholders Provides for a variety of tools to be used The eco-label is one such tool!

Links with other instruments Environmental Public Procurement: use criteria set out by the Scheme when defining performance-based or functional environmental requirements Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP): design and implementation of performance targets Eco-design of Energy-using Products: designing the implementing measures Community Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) Directive on Eco-design of Energy using products

Who is in charge? European Union Eco-labelling Board European Commission Member State level: Competent Bodies Criteria development Award Interest groups: environmental NGOs, consumers’ associations, SMEs... Industry

How does it work? Criteria development Defined for each product group Multi-criteria Participation of interested groups Based on Life Cycle Considerations Formal adoption by the European Commission (Commission Decision)

How does it work? Flower labelled Product/Service: Certified good environmental quality and guaranteed technical performance Generates less environmental impacts on air, water, soil and human health throughout its life cycle, from raw material extraction to end of life (“from cradle to grave”) Added value: usage cost generally lower than average

How does it work? Awarding process for Manufacturers Promotion / Marketing Compliance monitoring Eco-label award for one or more products Evaluation of application Submission of application

Criteria defined for 23 Product Groups Achievements Criteria defined for 23 Product Groups Household appliances (4) Detergents (4) Bed mattresses Textiles Footwear Indoor paints & varnishes Hard floor coverings Soil improvers Lubricants Personal computers Portable computers Televisions Light bulbs Tissue paper Copying paper Tourist accommodation Campsites

Achievements In the pipeline Wooden furniture Heat pumps Soaps and shampoos Printed paper

Achievements 2000 2004 2005 (to date) 15 product group criteria established 53 companies 17 million articles bearing the Flower 38 million euro ex-factory sales 2004 23 product group criteria established 226 companies Estimated 400 million articles bearing the Flower Estimated 700 million ex-factory sales 2005 (to date) 260 companies

Achievements: number of licences

Achievements: articles sold

Achievements: ex-factory sales value

Achievements: awards per Product Group Textiles 68 Paints & varnishes 45 Tourist accommodation service 28 All-purpose & sanitary cleaners 21 Soil improvers 20 Hand dishwashing detergents 14 Tissue paper 12 Laundry detergents, Footwear 10 Dishwashing detergents 7 Bed mattresses, Copying paper 6 Campsite service 5 Hard floor coverings 3 Dishwashers, Refrigerators, Light bulbs, TVs, Lubricants 1 Portable&Personal computers, Washing machines, Vacuum Cleaners 0

Achievements: awards per country Italy 61 Denmark 53 France 48 Spain 17 Sweden 15 Greece 14 The Netherlands 12 Austria 9 Germany 8 Portugal 5 Belgium, UK 4 Norway, Finland 3 Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland 1 Cyprus, Estonia, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovakia, Slovenia 0

Marketing / Promotion Targeted Marketing activities aiming at… Raising the level of awareness Encouraging businesses to apply for the EU eco-label Eco-label Campaign 2004 Phase 1: contact new potential manufacturers to apply for the EU Eco-label Phase 2: European Flower Week in October 2004 Participation in Fairs & Trade Events

Marketing / Promotion Helpdesk http://www.europa.eu.int/ecolabel/ Very thorough information E-catalogue: http://www.eco-label.com Aimed at consumers www.eco-label-tourism.com Focused on tourism Information material Leaflets Newsletter Info-kits Mouse pads, bags, T-shirts...

EU Eco-label in GPP The Public Procurement Directives (2004/17/ EC and 2004/18/EC) explicitly allow you to use the underlying specifications of eco-labels when defining performance-based or functional environmental requirements, provided that: the specifications are appropriate for defining the characteristics of the supplies or services covered by the contract;

EU Eco-label in GPP the requirements for the label are based on scientific information; the eco-labels are adopted with the participation of all stakeholders, such as government bodies, consumers, manufacturers, distributors and environmental organisations; they are accessible to all interested parties. The EU Eco-label meets all these requirements.

How to use the EU Eco-label in GPP The online catalogue Green Store You can easily locate all eco-labelled products per country per category on the Online catalogue Green Store www.eco-label.com Currently available in 11 languages of EU-15 250,000 hits per month Thus, you can directly know the size of the market of potential suppliers.

Search engine

Example of a product page

Example of a completed retailers list

How to use the EU Eco-label in GPP In the elaboration of the technical specifications In order to define the characteristics of the products or service considered, you can directly cut and paste the relevant EU Eco-label criteria into the technical specifications The EU Eco-label will be allowed as a way of proving compliance with the specifications. Remark: Contracting authorities cannot require tenderers to be registered under a certain eco-label scheme. When issuing a call for tenders for products covered by the EU Eco-label scheme,

How to use the EU Eco-label in GPP Example: call for tenders of all-purpose cleaners Go to the all-purpose cleaners page of the Eco-label web site: www.europa.eu.int/ecolabel

How to use the EU Eco-label in GPP A summary of the criteria can be found in the general description of the product group The complete criteria are available in all the EU languages

How to use the EU Eco-label in GPP The EU Eco-label can also be used as a benchmark against which to assess offers at the award stage. Example: call for tenders of light bulbs The EU eco-label criteria for light bulbs require that they should have an average life-span of 10 000 hours. When reflecting this in a call for tender for light bulbs, 10 000 hours could be set as the technical specification for the minimum life span, and a bonus point could be given in the award criteria for every 1 000 hours over and above 10 000. Provided they give an economic advantage (usually related to the product, not its production). e e.g. Yes for energy consumption related criteria No for emissions related criteria

Success Stories The city of Dunkerque, France (Group of 18 municipalities, 12 241 inhabitants, Number of employees : 1 319 agents): procurement of ecological detergents. Political act: adoption of a commitment relative to sustainable development in public procurement General approach: The city of Dunkerque, France, recently worked on procurement of ecological detergents. Before issuing the call for tenders, the city studied the environmental criteria of the EU Eco-label for all-purpose cleaners and made a research on the availability of potential suppliers of products complying with some or all the criteria. The 8 suppliers identified were asked to provide samples of their products, so that employees could test them. Employees were very enthusiastic about the direct benefits linked to the use of these products, including the especially lack of respiratory and skin irritations. Results were also very positive regarding the efficiency of the products. Following these positive results, the city issued its call for tenders, including several Eco-label criteria in the technical specifications.

Success Stories Reasons for choosing this product category: Test tender (all purpose cleaners, window cleaners…) Existence of ecological criteria Identified environmental issues Limitation of water pollution Characteristics inserted in the technical specifications: High biodegradability rate Natural substances Limitation of the use of hazardous substances for the environment and health (based on the DID-list) The city of Dunkerque, France, recently worked on procurement of ecological detergents. Before issuing the call for tenders, the city studied the environmental criteria of the EU Eco-label for all-purpose cleaners and made a research on the availability of potential suppliers of products complying with some or all the criteria. The 8 suppliers identified were asked to provide samples of their products, so that employees could test them. Employees were very enthusiastic about the direct benefits linked to the use of these products, including the especially lack of respiratory and skin irritations. Results were also very positive regarding the efficiency of the products. Following these positive results, the city issued its call for tenders, including several Eco-label criteria in the technical specifications.

Success Stories Used reference European Eco-label (some criteria) Demand of samples to test the efficiency of the products Results Necessity to divide the tender into lots, to ensure SMEs will answer No over-cost Very positive feedback from employees: efficiency and lack of respiratory and skin irritations The city of Dunkerque, France, recently worked on procurement of ecological detergents. Before issuing the call for tenders, the city studied the environmental criteria of the EU Eco-label for all-purpose cleaners and made a research on the availability of potential suppliers of products complying with some or all the criteria. The 8 suppliers identified were asked to provide samples of their products, so that employees could test them. Employees were very enthusiastic about the direct benefits linked to the use of these products, including the especially lack of respiratory and skin irritations. Results were also very positive regarding the efficiency of the products. Following these positive results, the city issued its call for tenders, including several Eco-label criteria in the technical specifications.

EU Eco-label activities in GPP Production of leaflets about the use of the EU Eco-label in GPP Guidelines on EU Eco-label in GPP (under development). Presentation/training material on EU Eco-label in GPP (under development). Establish contact with networks like Sustainable Cities, Eurocities, ACRR and CEMR, ICLEI, UK National Audit Office and other GPP networks Case studies on the implementation of GPP on a local level (e.g. city of Angers) ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability ACRR (Association of Cities and Regions for Recycling) CEMR (Council of European Municipalities and Regions) Local institutions having implemented an Agenda 21 programme

Other Type-I Eco-label Schemes Other national eco-label schemes in the EU: Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway run the "Nordic Swan" The German Eco-label -"Der Blaue Engel" The Austrian Eco-label - "Umweltzeichen" The Hungarian Eco-label The Czech Republic Eco-label… At a Global level.... .... the Global Eco-labelling Network - GEN - is a non-profit making association, founded in 1994 to improve and develop the eco-labelling of products. The Flower is in co-operation with the national eco-labels

For more information http://europa.eu.int/ecolabel www.eco-label.com www.eco-label-tourism.com www.gen.gr.jp

Thank you for your attention! Any questions?