1. EU Ecolabelling Board June 2015 Cross-cutting Issues
Jiannis Kougoulis, Silvia Ferratini,
Nicholas Dodd,
Ecolabel Team – European Commission
Eco-innovation and circular economy, DG Environment,
& Sustainable production and consumption Unit , DG Joint Research Centre

2. Cross cutting issues – June 2015
in Ecolabel
Cross cutting issues – June 2015
1. Hazardous Substances criterion – follow-up
a. Criteria text with a standard structure and wording
Comments received: same structure per product families but not workable one structure for all. Practical guidance to CB and applicants for implementation of this criterion
b. Handling reclassification of substances and application to articles
Scope of
The work:
measuring
sustainability
with
life
cycle
approach
Life
indicators
assess
the
environmental
impact of
European
production,
consumpyion
and
waste
management
2. Criteria on energy supply
Comments received: Work towards a standardized criterion on renewable/ sustainable / bioabased energy production. Criteria on green electricity for use across different product groups EU Ecolabel criteria?

3. Cross cutting issues in Ecolabel
3. Requirements on Packaging in Ecolabel
Guidelines on when to address packaging criteria in Ecolabel and harmonisation across product groups
4. Ecolabel for Circular materials economy: Recycled content and recyclability
Comments received to focus on verification, traceability and better understanding of the potential constraints posed by hazardous substances that may be present.
Scope of
The work:
measuring
sustainability
with
life
cycle
approach
Life
indicators
assess
the
environmental
impact of
European
production,
consumpyion
and
waste
management
5. Guidelines on determining the appropriate type of testing or verification
Comments received : Guidelines on what kind of testing really is needed and consider the overall price of testing, availability of number of testing laboratories in Europe

4. Cross cutting issues in Ecolabel Criteria on repairability of products
Technical basis and work on Ecodesign and emerging focus expected in the new Circular Economy package
7. Criteria on the use of nanomaterials and harmonisation across product groups
8. Harmonisation on criteria addressing "sustainable forestry" -suggestion to work on a standard wording
9. Harmonisation on criteria on social requirements
Scope of
The work:
measuring
sustainability
with
life
cycle
approach
Life
indicators
assess
the
environmental
impact of
European
production,
consumpyion
and
waste
management

5. Issue 1: Hazardous substances Follow-up to Horizontal Task Force
Aim:
To address on a ‘task and finish’ basis a number of defined improvements and challenges identified in relation to Article 6(6)/(7) implementation
Proposal:
Establish a sub-group which during a defined timescale will address the following issues:
How to apply the hazardous substance criterion to articles
How to address CLP reclassifications
Possibilities to simplify the criterion text
Harmonisation of the criterion text

6. Issue 2: Criteria on energy supply. Development of common criterion
Aim:
To develop a common criterion promoting low/zero carbon energy supplies and on-site generation for production sites.
Proposal:
Define scope of different types of ‘green’ energy sources and forms e.g. electricity, heat, biofuels
Identify options for how these could be promoted by such a criterion
Present/circulate draft criterion and background paper for comment and EUEB support/comment

7. Development of a common approach
Issue 3: Packaging
Development of a common approach
Aim:
To develop common ‘rules’ to inform decision making as to whether packaging should be included in criteria sets.
Proposal:
Develop a decision making tool which can be used during the criteria revision/development process:
Create a matrix of products groups comparing their packaging e.g. high turnover products, material complexity, recycling market
Issue/present a working paper with a draft set of ‘rules’ and a ‘decision tree’
Integrate comments in order to develop final ‘rules’ document presented and seek EUEB support/adoption

8. Thank you for your attention
More information
DG ENV:
DG JRC: 8 8