1. Harmonisation of national criteria with European Eco-label criteria
Otto Fichtl
Harmonisation of national criteria with European Eco-label criteria
Example „Austrian Ecolabel for Tourism“

2. 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

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

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

5. 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

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

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

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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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)

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

13. 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 =

14. 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

15. 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 +

16. 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)

17. 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“,...

18. Fee system

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. Contacts Ministry for Environment Mr Martin Buechele
 +43(0) – 1625
VKI (AustrianConsumer Association) Mr Otto Fichtl
 +43(0) – 235