Lifecycle analysis - Eco-label applications

Faced with the development of "green marketing", and the growing number of references to studies presented as scientific, using "ecobalances", the public authorities decided between 1990 and 1992 to introduce eco-labels in several European countries – France, Nordic countries, Netherlands – and at European Community level.

The French eco-label NF-Environnement is managed by AFNOR, which has also been designated as the competent body for the EU label. It is assisted by the French Eco-labels Committee, which includes a balanced representation of interested parties: ministries, producers, distributors, consumer associations and environmental protection associations.

In all countries, representatives of the various interest groups concerned are involved by the public authorities in drawing up the conditions for awarding these labels. France is the only country where associations take part in decisions and studies, from the choice of product groups to the adoption of specifications.

The European Regulation spells out the objectives, the definition of product categories and the way in which ecological criteria are defined.

Objectives (article 1) :

• promote the design, production, marketing and use of products that have a reduced impact on the environment throughout their life cycle;

• better inform consumers about the impact of products on the environment without compromising product and worker safety, or significantly influencing the qualities that make the product fit for use.

Product categories and ecological criteria (article 5)

Each product category is defined in such a way as to ensure that all competing products, intended for the same use and capable of being used in an equivalent way, are grouped together in the same category...

The specific ecological criteria applicable to each product group are defined by an overall approach based on the objectives set out in article 1 ^er ... and the parameters of the indicative assessment matrix.

The notion of a global approach is defined in article 4: taking into account the life cycle of a product from manufacture, including the choice of raw materials, distribution, consumption and use, right through to disposal after use.

These definitions led to the inclusion of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology in the criteria development process. In 1991, none of those involved in ecolabels had any concrete experience of the LCA method, which was then in its early stages of development in Europe. Since then, they have assimilated...