What ever happened to Environmental Choice?

Australian Federation of Consumer Organisations

In October 1991 the Federal Government launched an environmental labelling scheme- Environmental Choice Australia (ECA). This scheme recognised that consumers wanted information that would enable them to make purchasing decisions based on environmental criteria, and because this market was being abused by some manufacturers who were making misleading claims about their products.

The consumer and environmental movements expressed serious reservations about the scheme because it was voluntary, it was based on individual claims verification and because the assessments were being carried out in a policy vacuum. There was no assessment of the environmental impact of the products and the ECA logo was misleading in giving the impression of a 'seal of approval'. New Zealand and all other eco-labelling schemes overseas offered a 'seal'.

The scheme was also criticised by industry groups and few products were put forward for endorsement. The scheme was supported by state governments who provided funding in the first year.

Collapse of ECA

In May 1993 AFCO was informed that no further meetings would be held in connection with ECA and the States, Territories and Federal Government had refused to make further financial commitments.

The Commonwealth Environment Protection Agency (CEPA) has written to all manufacturers who had applied for ECA endorsement, saying that ECA will formally wind up at the end of April, and the manufacturers should use their existing stock with ECA logos, but not prepare any new packaging.

Standards Australia

Standards Australia initiated an environmental labelling claims committee at the same time as Environmental Choice. It expanded its role in the wake of the collapse of ECA, proposing a new criteria based environmental labelling scheme, or 'seal' program.

Standards Australia consulted with the major interest groups (including government) and assessed the feasibility of developing such a scheme. The new scheme was to include life cycle assessment of products. It was to be aimed at the top 15% of the market for any product seeking to set high standards for manufacturers.

Industry support for such a scheme was very important but it was not forthcoming. Fourteen industry associations expressed their concern to State and Federal Environment ministers and to Standards Australia.

Standards Australia sought financial support from the Federal, State and Territory governments. A proposal was put to the October meeting of the Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) in 1993, but no decision was made as ANZECC required further information.

No Standards scheme

In February 1994, Standards Australia wrote to ANZECC saying they were not proceeding with the request for funding.

A subcommittee of ANZECC (chaired by Rob Joy of the Victorian EPA) has to make a recommendation to ANZECC on this matter. That recommendation may well be that ANZECC withdraw from any environmental labelling scheme.

It now appears that a federally coordinated environmental labelling scheme is an impossibility in the current climate.

Individual manufacturers will continue to make claims, and consumers will continue to have no basis for comparison.

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