Gobar Times Magazine (Environment for Kids Monthly) - Centre for Science and Environment

Gobar times: Environment for Beginners

C O V E R S T O R Y
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While labels were evolving, a case was also being made to issue warning stickers for those products

that were harmful to the environment. The idea was to introduce checks and balances for the
manufacturing industry, forcing it to quantify the resources it uses, and to measure the mark it leaves on the environment. In Germany, thirteen experts from various disciplines—environmental studies, consumer protection, media and the church got together to form a small jury in 1978. They decided to inspect products and started awarding the better ones with their logo- Blue Angel- the first eco-label to enter the market.

Brand Rio

Then came the historic Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992, where heads of nations congregated to hammer out the future of the planet’s environment. The feasibility of introducing eco-labelling was discussed at length here. The United Nations agreed to scrutinise the processes of production and to try reducing those which were hazardous to environment. Following this, the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) developed a series of guidelines for certification. These are today widely known as the 14000 series. Lets take a quick look at what they say:

Code 14000

ISO 14001: Gives a framework of an Environmental Management System( EMS). To get a certificate (even from a third party), a company has to fit in this framework. This is the key framework in the series. The rest actually to help a company achieve the level of ISO 14001.

ISO 14004: General guidelines on how to develop EMS.

ISO 14010: General principles of environmental auditing (now superseded by ISO 19011)

ISO 14011: Specific guidance on audit an EMS (now superseded by ISO 19011)

ISO 14012: Qualification criteria for environmental auditors and lead auditors (now superseded by ISO 19011)

ISO 14013/5: Details of audit program and how to carry out assessment.

ISO 14020 to 14025: Concept of an Eco Label. All details like what must the label say, how to get the label, and the benefits of getting a label that declares a product eco-friendly.

ISO 14031: Monitoring and evaluating performance within the EMS.

ISO 14040 to 14049: Mandates Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). It’s a way of analysing the whole life of a product from before it is born- the manufacturing stage, covering the period it is being used- the consuming stage, to when it is no more in use- the disposing stage. Through the LCA one can assess the environmental impact of the product at each stage. For example, leather products have an adverse effect on ecology in the manufacturing stage, while a car has a gigantic carbon footprint in the consuming stage and the computer leaves a lasting impresssion in the disposing stage. The last page of Gobar Times presents the LCA (also called cradle to grave) of a common item of everyday use, in each issue. Watch out for this page to get a clearer picture.

With the standards in place, the next step is implementing them. Did I hear you say ‘that’s what is most difficult!’ Well yes it is, but a beginning has already been

European Eco Label Association (symbolised by a flower) says, ‘the flower is blooming’.

ISO 14050: Provides important terms and definitions.

ISO 14062: Discusses scope of further improving the specifications of environmental impact towards sustainable practices.

ISO 14063: Discusses strategies of environmental communication with guidelines and examples.

ISO 19011: is an advanced version of auditing practices and supersedes some in the 14000 series.

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