Context:
Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified the new Ecomark Rules 2024, replacing the previous Ecomark scheme of 1991.
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- This initiative aligns with India’s commitment to promoting sustainable consumption and eco-friendly production under the LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) Mission.
- The new Ecomark Scheme will be implemented by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
- The scheme aims to establish strict environmental criteria for products, ensuring minimal ecological impact while promoting sustainable consumption patterns among consumers.
About Ecomark
The Ecomark Scheme is a voluntary and non-binding scheme which promotes labelling and certification of household and consumer products that meet specific environmental standards while ensuring compliance with Indian quality norms.
Ecomark label for products:
- An Ecomark is granted to a product that has a licence or a certificate of conformity with Indian Standards granted under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 and/or a mandate of the Quality Control Orders and that fulfils the criteria as prescribed in the rules.
Criteria to obtain an Ecomark label includes –
- products must demonstrate environmental responsibility by reducing pollution, eliminating waste generation, and avoiding materials harmful to the environment
- product is recyclable or is made from recycled material or both,
- reduces the use of non-renewable resources,
- reducing the use of polluted energy sources and
- reducing the use of environmentally harmful materials
- After this notification, all the products manufactured products including skin powder, tooth powder, shampoo, soap, shaving creams, and lipsticks must comply with BIS Indian Standards for safety, quality, and performance.”
- Manufacturers must ensure their cosmetics are labelled as environment-friendly and are produced without using carcinogenic or harmful ingredients.”
Key Features of the Scheme
- Environmental Standards: The scheme mandates specific environmental criteria for product certification, focusing on reducing ecological footprint across the manufacturing process.
- Consumer Awareness: Emphasizes accurate product labelling and information dissemination to help consumers make environmentally conscious purchasing decisions.
- Resource Efficiency: Promotes lower energy consumption and optimal resource utilization, supporting the principles of circular economy.
- Quality Assurance: Partnership with BIS ensures strict quality control and compliance with environmental standards.
Benefits of the Scheme
- Encourages sustainable practices in manufacturing: By rewarding eco-friendly standards, certifications promote responsible manufacturing processes across various industries.
- Supports national environmental goals: These certifications align consumer behaviour with India’s sustainability initiatives, aiding in broader environmental conservation efforts.
- Fosters global collaboration on sustainability: Eco-labels facilitate international efforts against climate change by promoting sustainable practices and cooperation among nations.
- Drives innovation in green technologies: The demand for certified products motivates companies to develop innovative solutions that meet eco-friendly standards.
- Incentivizes responsible business practices: Eco-certifications enhance marketability for businesses, leading to increased consumer trust and loyalty in the green market.
- Reduces carbon footprints of products: By guiding consumers toward lower-impact options, eco-certifications significantly contribute to minimizing the overall carbon footprint.