Helping you to reduce your environmental impact and make a more sustainable choice

The internationally recognised recycling symbol is the 3 chasing arrows icon. Each arrow represents an aspect of a successful recycling programme: collection, remanufacturing/reprocessing into a new product, and finally purchase by the consumer.

This scheme was launched to avoid proliferation of separate national schemes. Award of the label signals that the item meets ‘rigorous environmental criteria and proper fitness of use’, but it does not necessarily mean that a product contains any recycled content. Products featuring the Eco-label should become more widespread as manufacturers apply to be allowed to use the label on products that comply with the appropriate criteria, which are based on detailed life cycle analysis.

https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/circular-economy/eu-ecolabel_en

This Product Standard is a multi-attribute, continuous improvement methodology that provides a path to manufacturing healthy and sustainable products for the world we live in.

The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute is a non-profit organisation created to bring about a large-scale transformation in the way products are made.

For further information, please visit https://c2ccertified.org/

The Nordic Council of Ministers introduced this label in 1989, to encourage production methods that create the minimum environmental impact. It covers fine papers and soft tissue grades, but does not necessarily imply that the product contains any recycled fibre.

https://www.nordic-swan-ecolabel.org/

The Forest Stewardship Council evaluates, accredits and monitors certification organisations which inspect forest operations and grant labels certifying that timber has been produced from well-managed forests. Once certified, timber and timber-based products originating from that forest or woodland are eligible to carry the FSC Trademark.

http://www.fsc.org/

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) promotes Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) through independent third-party certification. It works throughout the forest supply chain to promote good practice and to ensure products are sourced with respect for the highest social and ethical standards.

For a product to qualify for certification, all entities along the supply chain must possess PEFC CoC certification. Only then are the companies eligible to use the PEFC label on products and in product marketing to highlight their responsible sourcing of the raw material.

http://www.pefc.co.uk

Since 1996, the Leaping Bunny Program, operated by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics in the US and Canada, has been connecting compassionate consumers to cruelty-free companies under its Corporate Standard of Compassion for Animals.

Companies must pledge to end animal testing at all stages of product development in addition to recommitting to the program annually and being open to third party audits.

https://www.leapingbunny.org/

Trusted vegan labelling by the Vegan Trademark.

The Vegan Trademark is an internationally recognised vegan product certification, established in 1990 by The Vegan Society, and has been helping make vegan products more accessible ever since.

Registration with the trademark gives brands the confidence to shout about their vegan credentials. Look out for the Vegan Trademark on over 70,000 certified vegan products across the world, including cosmetics, clothing, food, drink, household items, and many more!

Product is also available in a refil.

Made in Britain brings together the British manufacturing community, united with the use of the official, registered trademarks. The suite of trademarks is protected and must only be used by members of Made in Britain to identify their business and the products they make in Great Britain or Northern Ireland.

https://www.madeinbritain.org/

This scheme is administered by the German Quality Control Institute, and has been established since 1979. It covers a wide range of consumer products from wallpaper to tyres. Currently, over 4,000 products from various manufacturers carry this widely recognised label. For recycled paper to qualify for the mark, it must be made of 100% waste paper (tolerance 5%), and contain at least 51% low grade or medium grade scrap and wastes.

https://www.blauer-engel.de/en/our-label-environment

The Energy Star® Office Equipment Program is a self-certification program dedicated to reducing energy consumption. It was developed in 1992 by the US Environmental Protection Agency to reduce energy wasted during idle periods by personal computers, printers, fax machines, copiers and scanners. Machines with this logo should power down after a period of not being used, and then power up when used again.

http://www.energystar.gov/

The Green Dot is a registered trademark. It means that a financial contribution has been paid to an authorised packaging recovery scheme (The UK is not a participating Green Dot system country).

http://www.pro-e.org

Evans Vanodine have developed an innovative system for classifying each of their products according to their overall environmental impact. The system scores products based on eight different criteria. The criteria selected are used to create a holistic life cycle view of the processes and product and also align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Every product in the Evans range is analysed using the GreenTick system. The lower the overall product score, the lower the impact on the environment. Products which achieve a low impact rating are identified with a GreenTick logo on the label.

www.evansvanodine.co.uk/greentick

A supplier operating an environmental management system may seek certification to ISO 14001. This standard specifies the requirements for an environmental management system in terms of an organisation’s environmental commitment to a policy, compliance with applicable legislation and regulations and to continual improvement in its overall performance.

https://www.dnv.com/services/iso-14001-environmental-management-3360/

B Corps are certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

Today, there is a growing community of more than 600 Certified B Corps from 15 countries and 60 industries working together toward 1 unifying goal: to redefine success in business.

For further information, please visit http://www.bcorporation.net/

What do EcoVadis Medals and Badges mean?

EcoVadis Medals and Badges recognize eligible companies that have completed the EcoVadis assessment process and demonstrated a relatively strong management system that addresses sustainability criteria, as outlined in the EcoVadis methodology. An EcoVadis medal or badge is an acknowledgement of achievement relative to other assessed companies across the EcoVadis database.

https://resources.ecovadis.com/ecovadis-solution-materials/ecovadis-medals-and-badges

Carbon offsetting with Carbon Neutral Britain is a way to reduce your carbon footprint by investing in projects that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Carbon offsetting is a way to balance out your emissions and become carbon neutral. It's a proactive approach to environmental action

https://carbonneutralbritain.org/

PlanetMark empower businesses to reduce carbon emissions and achieve their net zero targets, inspiring them to take meaningful action and generate long-term business value.

https://www.planetmark.com/

The FAIRTRADE Mark is a widely recognised label awarded to products that meet international Fairtrade standards. The Fairtrade Foundation operates under the Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) to license the use of the FAIRTRADE Mark in the UK. FAIRTRADE is not just about ensuring producers get a fair price for their products. While the standards do relate to the welfare of their employees, producers now have two new Generic Environmental Standards that they will be expected to work to. They will apply from July 2005.

https://www.fairtrade.net/

The MSC has developed an international environmental standard for fisheries management through an extensive two-year stakeholder consultation. This standard is based on the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. The MSC rewards good fishing practice with an eco-label. This recognises responsible fishery management practices and provides consumers with the opportunity to make purchasing choices in support of sustainable fisheries.

www.msc.org

The Soil Association Organic Symbol is the UK's most recognisable trademark for organic produce. When used on food packaging, it tells the consumer that product is certified to the highest organic standards and provides reassurance of organic authenticity. Farmers, growers, processors and retailers value the Organic Symbol as it embodies high professional standards of production, handling, storage and sale.

www.soilassociation.org

The Energy Efficiency logo has been introduced by the Energy Savings Trust, an independent government-funded body, to identify products and services, which save or use less energy. This label is used to promote energy saving appliances.

https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/

By law, the EC Energy Label must be displayed on all white goods such as fridges, freezers and washing machines. The label also provides an assessment of the product's energy efficiency, as well as giving an estimate of electricity and water consumption on standard settings, performance, noise levels and whether the product has gained an ecolabel. The label identifies the most energy efficient models on a scale of A-G, A being the most efficient.

http://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-efficient-products

On 1st November 2012, the EU regulation on labelling of tyres came into force.

The label provides information on fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise through clear pictograms. The label will allow consumers to make informed choices when buying tyres, ranked on a scale from A (best) to G (bad).

For further information, please visit http://ec.europa.eu/energy/efficiency/tyres/labelling_en.htm

The Charter for Sustainable Cleaning is a voluntary initiative of the European soaps, detergents and maintenance products industry.

The Charter is a lifecycle analysis-based framework. It promotes & facilitates a common industry approach to sustainability practice & reporting. It covers human and environmental safety of chemicals, to eco-efficiency, occupational health and safety, resource use and consumer information.

The logo will certify that the product meets the specific 'Advanced Sustainability Profile' for its category.

https://cleanright.eu/en/sustainable-use.html

UKCRA (United Kingdom Cartridge Recyclers Association) provide environmental alternatives to imported toner cartridges, by establishing standards for toner cartridge recycling and supplying details of companies that conform to those standards. If a remanufactured/recycled product contains the UKCRA symbol, they can be 100% sure it is produced by a member company of UKCRA and the guarantee that symbol supports.

www.ukcra.com