http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/09/28/proliferation-of-400-green-seals-detracts-from-message/ Environmental Leader Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:25:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/09/28/proliferation-of-400-green-seals-detracts-from-message/comment-page-1/#comment-150997 Tim Cole Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:24:43 +0000 http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=21647#comment-150997 Right now there is money in certifications and labels, which is why the number is increasing daily. Certifications can cost a supplier thousands of dollars with hopes that it will be the tipping point for your purchasing decision. Yes, all this does is add to market confusion because some of the certifications are for just one impact. That's fine if you are purchasing something with that one impact in mind. However, if your goal is to purchase a sustainable product, or one that is environmentally preferable then the certification must be looking at multi - impacts, the environmental footprint of the product in its entire life cycle. To make a long story short, know what you want from a label and push for laws that won't allow misrepresentation. Stakeholder demand is the most powerful tool and we are all stakeholders. Right now there is money in certifications and labels, which is why the number is increasing daily. Certifications can cost a supplier thousands of dollars with hopes that it will be the tipping point for your purchasing decision. Yes, all this does is add to market confusion because some of the certifications are for just one impact. That’s fine if you are purchasing something with that one impact in mind. However, if your goal is to purchase a sustainable product, or one that is environmentally preferable then the certification must be looking at multi – impacts, the environmental footprint of the product in its entire life cycle. To make a long story short, know what you want from a label and push for laws that won’t allow misrepresentation. Stakeholder demand is the most powerful tool and we are all stakeholders.

]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/09/28/proliferation-of-400-green-seals-detracts-from-message/comment-page-1/#comment-150816 Kirsten@Nexyoo Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:18:28 +0000 http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=21647#comment-150816 This is an interesting problem. It does seem like labels & seals begin to lose meaning when there are so many, and just become confusing. It's hard to tell which are truly accurate. I wonder how much impact Walmart's planned labels will have in other retail stores. This is an interesting problem. It does seem like labels & seals begin to lose meaning when there are so many, and just become confusing. It’s hard to tell which are truly accurate. I wonder how much impact Walmart’s planned labels will have in other retail stores.

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