ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Growth Service Leadership
Independent third party approved public information During the past ten years, the focus on the green credentials of products has been growing and many new initiatives to communicate their “green value” have been launched. Some are nothing more than green-washing, where no sender of the message and no information about what is behind the claim can be found. The need for correct environmental information and also information about other sustainability features is obvious. We have seen new constellations of cooperation between internationally competing producers with strong brand names creating new organisations to present new labels or claims, but where the information behind the claims is presented in general terms with no levels of performance specified.
evident and growing demand for sustainable products
We have seen this in many product groups. Everything from hotels to textiles, from sports equipment to food. And often the claims are based on self-declared performance by the manufacturer, sometimes reflecting only very limited aspects of the total impact of the product. There are still many companies that focus only on the environmental features of their packaging, not on the product itself.
are available in detail for those who wish to scrutinise them closely. Companies conforming their products to those requirements are serious about their environmental engagement. They profit not only from a more recognised green profile, but from the evident and growing demand in markets for sustainable products.
One of the most important features of GEN members is that the ecolabel on the product grants that the environmental performance is verified against public, tough requirements by an independent third party, the ecolabelling organisation or a certifying agent appointed by the ecolabel. The environmental features of the ecolabelled product show excellence in comparison with others, and the requirements
ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
Björn-Erik Lönn Chair
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GEN committed to growth, consistency, service and leadership At the annual general meeting of the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) in Kiev, Ukraine, in October 2016, delegates confirmed action plans to realise a strategy of growth, service and leadership. This was the first AGM to be held under new bylaws introducing two-year terms for board members, with a limit of three consecutive terms. Hong Kong Green Council co-founder Linda Ho was newly elected to the board of directors. Associate membership has been granted this year to Kazakhstan's International Academy of Ecology; full membership was granted to German based TĂœV Rheinland, and affiliate membership was granted to Google Inc. TCO Development, based in Sweden, attracted international media attention as it elevated the profile of social and ethical responsibility in I.T. through its standards. This evolving and diversifying membership demonstrates GEN's increasing relevance and outreach.
Over the three days, members attended workshops on communications, strategic outreach and ecolabel effectiveness measurement, and discussed a pilot mobile device app for recognising ecolabelled products, developed and presented by Ecounion, owner of the Russian Vitality Leaf programme. During 2017, GEN's participation and partnerships will continue and increase with compatible international organisations and programmes. There continues to be a visible GEN presence and input into global promotion of sustainable public procurement, the growth of which is exciting and salient to our members, and into the completion of the very relevant ISO 20400 standard which is a special focus for our Australian member, GECA.
The Ukraine Green Mind Forum was staged concurrently with the 2016 AGM, another example of GEN's presence and influence in areas outside the mainstream European and Western economies. Bjorn-Erik Lonn congratulated Ukraine's Living Planet programme on its organisation and successful hosting of the 23rd GEN annual general meeting.
GEN now has a network of members spread across more than 50 countries, organisations and territories. It is the world's proactive and pre-eminent network of ISO-defined
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ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
A demonstrable worldwide contribution The Global Ecolabelling Network is a nonprofit association of Type 1 ecolabelling organisations around the world. We believe that truly and demonstrably 'greener' products are an integral component to the broader sustainability movement and know that our members encourage environmentally better products and services through the stringent environmental criteria demanded by their published standards. Since its inception in 1994, the reach of GEN has continued to expand and gather influence and profile internationally. With membership representation from more than 50 organisations, territories and countries, GEN works tenaciously to improve, promote and develop the ecolabelling of products and services on a global scale. While GEN does not actually develop its own criteria or certify products, we support all members and their respective programmes as they undertake the development of environmental leadership standards, and the ecolabelling of products and services.
developing a methodology for quantifying the benefits of ecolabelling, a process which will see even greater harmonisation of terms and standards across our diverse network of practitioners, and that has nourished a rich and developing dialogue that also facilitates cross-border recognition, cooperation and trade. GEN promotes and lifts Type 1 ecolabels above the plethora of unsubstantiated green claims and, in doing so, we empower consumers, professional purchasers and industry to make informed green purchasing decisions, providing them with sciencebased, accurate and transparent information about the environmental attributes of a product or service.
In a spirit of trust, we work towards international cooperation and recognition and harmonisation of ecolabelling standards; we share knowledge, and build and sustain a global network of authoritative environmental labelling practitioners. Recently, special attention has been paid to
ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
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Empowering climate change redress through sustainable procurement With 26 full members and an increasing number of associate or affiliate members spanning the planet from Norway to New Zealand, the collective expertise of the Global Ecolabelling Network is unparalleled. The product and service standards which members develop, promote and enforce have at their heart the core issues of climate change. Their power lies in influencing the choices exercised by the increasingly ecoconscious consumer, as well as educating and equipping businesses and government to procure sustainably. In many countries, government bodies and agencies are responsible for a significant proportion of product and service consumption, and the increasing adoption of green public procurement applies a ready and existing tool to address some of the causes of climate change. 74 percent of members operate ecolabels that are recognised by green purchasing programmes (member survey 2015/16). Many members have close or formal relationships with governments, and they constantly work with industry to inform standards development, thus linking and broadening the network of environmentally benign procurement in policies and practice. On the supply end of the chain, GEN members also promote the manufacture of greener products.
GEN members mainly operate transparent “Type 1� ecolabelling programmes that rely on experts and stakeholder groups to inform the development of stringent environmental criteria, and use independent third-party auditors to determine whether a product meets these stringent criteria. You can trust that a product bearing the mark of one of our members provides genuine environmental benefits when compared with similar but untested products. GEN endeavours in 2017, and beyond, are to help government officials, retailers and consumers understand that not all environmental labels are created equal, and that it is important to understand what a standard requires, who developed the standard, what process was used to develop it, and how a product is verified as actually having met requirements. Type 1 ecolabelling programmes develop their standards in an open, public, transparent process. Criteria and product category differ among the membership, reflecting local and regional variables, but all standards address multiple environmental attributes and most have requirements for items such as toxicity, air quality, energy use, recyclability, VOCs, carcinogens and other issues of concern. Life cycle thinking is used by our members in developing standards which minimise environmental impacts across the entire life cycle of a product or service, from raw material extraction through to use and eventual disposal or breakdown.
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ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
Type 1 – the “gold standard” There are many different environmental performance labels and declarations being used today, however the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has identified three broad types of voluntary labels. The premium category is referred to as “Type 1” and it has a unique combination of strengths.
Type 1 ecolabelling programmes: Ÿ are voluntary Ÿ their standards address multiple
environmental criteria Ÿ they consider the entire life cycle of the product or service Ÿ they are transparent in their standards development process Ÿ they rely on independent verification of products to these standards An ecolabelling organisation can be verified as belonging to this top tier by the presence of its logo on the GEN website. Its ecolabelled products will be listed on its own website, and buyers should check carefully as not all brands manufacture all their products to meet this gold standard. Mobile device apps are under development by GEN members to put that power in the palm of the purchaser. Type 1 ecolabels clearly identify products representing environmental leadership, rescuing consumers from having to interpret vague and often confusing environmental claims, or compare highly scientific data, to determine environmental preferability of one product over another.
ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
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How Type 1 ecolabels help to counter greenwash Never has the importance of Type 1 ecolabelling been more obvious and relevant. Government bodies, NGOs and quasi-government agencies have all begun to pay increasing attention to green claims and symbols — and many are taking action against those that may be misleading, vague, or downright false. Outside GEN, there is no globally agreed set of principles to test an environmental claim, and as a result green-washing persists and can be treated differently from one country to the next. Type 1 ecolabels can help protect a product manufacturer from unfair scrutiny and even legal action. This is because products bearing the mark of a Type 1 ecolabel have independent, third-party proof to support the fact that their product is environmentally preferable across a variety of product attributes. Consumers can look up the particular standard that the product has been certified against to gain further insight into what environmental parameters the product had to meet before being awarded use of the label. In this respect, Type 1 ecolabels not only help to protect manufacturers from green-washing allegations, but they also enhance consumer trust, brand reputation, and possibly the legal position of the license holder. According to a recent membership survey, most programmes review greenwash specifically as part of product or service certification.
Membership While core GEN membership comprises Type 1 ecolabelling organisations, associate or affiliate status can be granted to organisations that formally support ecolabelling principles and goals, but which are not actually ecolabelling practitioners. GEN currently has seven associate or affiliate members: Kazakhstan International Academy of Ecology, The Confederation of Indian Industry, Falcão Bauer Brazil, the Vietnam Green Label, the International Green Purchasing Network, The ISEAL Alliance and Google Inc.
The features of each membership category are shown below.
BENEFITS
Affiliates
Associates Full Members
Complimentary passes to Annual General Meeting*
X
X
X
Listed on GEN website and in GEN Annual Report
X
X
X
Opportunity to provide input into GEN's position on important policy processes and initiatives affecting ecolabelling
X
X
X
Secretariat updates and alerts on initiatives, events and research on ecolabelling
X
X
X
Ability to contribute an article to the GEN News
X
X
Access to GEN badge and logo
X
X
Access to members-only section of GEN website
X
Voting rights at the Annual General Meeting
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ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
AGM The Kiev AGM presented to GEN delegates the chance to observe a country with a strong national identity, customs, fashions and history, existing within a situation where conflict and daily deaths were being reported from military action on the south-eastern Crimean peninsula. The casual but continuous presence of army personnel in the capital's public places and makeshift obituary shrines made all this impossible to ignore.
ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
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GEN is, by its essence, a network. This requires interchange and understanding of differences within the family. There is no judgement, but a need for perspicacity, inclusion and mutual support. Thus, on a chilly, sunny autumn day, before we got down to business, the hosts showed GEN members some beautiful monuments and sparsely populated tourist attractions. We witnessed the devotion of orthodox worshippers, the dogged determination of workers, the elegance of this long established European culture, a drive for modern business infrastructure, and an uplifting commitment by our GEN hosts, Living Planet, to the future of ecolabelling.
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ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
AGM
Board activities Bjorn-Erik Lonn detailed the governance work which included finalising the revised bylaws, updating operational policies, activation and fine-tuning of the redeveloped website, distillation of the long term strategic plan, a GENICES audit and a review of memoranda of understanding. Special effort was made in outreach during the year (see also the section on communication). As part of its mission to engage with, and to be recognised as a member of the planet's leading environmental influencers, GEN board members have contributed to workshops, discussions and conferences internationally.
UN Environment Programme GEN Chair Bjorn-Erik Lonn represented GEN on the UNEP multi-stakeholder advisory committee as co-lead with Thomas Lehmann from the German government international agency GIZ, contributing to the 10-year framework of programmes (10FYP) in the area of consumer information. GEN is also a partner of the 10YFP Sustainable Public Procurement Programme. GEN provided chapter leaders for exchanges involving the Americas, Africa and South-east Asia, with expertise on Type-1 ecolabelling. China's CEC was also active under the programme with pre-Christmas training on ecolabelling's role in green public procurement (GPP).
Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Osamu Uno from Ecomark, and the GEN Treasurer, has been engaging with the APO. GEN Communications advisor Michael Hooper also published a story in the APO magazine early in the year on media and the greening of productivity.
GIZ In September, several GEN representatives were invited to Thailand to the SE Asian Conference on GPP and Ecolabels. Chair Bjorn-Erik Lonn presented a keynote address, supported by Hiroyuki Kobayashi from Ecomark in Japan, Kate Harris from GECA in Australia, Francesca Lipscombe from Environmental Choice New Zealand, Xiaodan Zhang from CEC, and a representative from the Singapore Environment Council.
ISEAL Alliance The China Environmental Centre (CEC) has collaborated on project research, standards discussion and certification development as well as the UN's 10-year framework for sustainable and green public purchasing The GEN chair participated in the annual conference in Washington DC in May.
ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
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Asia Carbon Footprint Network China's CEC has represented GEN as a founding member of the network (ACFN) and takes part in annual meetings. GEN members KEITI (Korea) and Hong Kong Green Council have also been involved in the 14-nation group.
Sino-German cooperation China's CEC and Germany's GIZ have been working in partnership with the Blue Angel on a mutual recognition study which included meetings in November.
ISO The GEN Chair was appointed to convene a technical committee amending one of the main international standards under which GEN and its members operate – ISO 14024. Another relevant standard, ISO 14020, may also be revised.
The Sustainability Consortium China's CEC has carried out a feasibility study on localising the measurement and reporting of sustainability.
IISD The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is based in Winnepeg, Canada, with an office in New York near the United Nations. China's CEC has signed a letter of intent with IISD regarding green public procurement in China, in regards to quantifying economic, social and environmental benefits.
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ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
AGM
Membership TĂœV Rheinland, represented by Alexander Anreev, was confirmed to full membership following successful completion of a GENICES review.
Recent GEN member, India's certification body CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) was represented by Hiran Prashanth, pictured with Living Planet event organiser Galyna Buzan.
The International Academy of Ecology in Kazakhstan, represented by Musagaly Duambekov was accepted as an associate member.
ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
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Google Inc was accepted, on popular vote, as an affiliate member of GEN. The information technology company's sustainable operations program is responsible for green procurement policies at Google offices around the globe, where they encourage the use of Type 1 ecolabelled office and sanitary products. Consistent with GEN' s broader agenda of bringing about sustainable consumption and production patterns through ecolabelling, Google believes Type 1 ecolabels are important to the sustainability movement, and is willing to support the network in its outreach. “The availability of comprehensive product selections for Type I ecolabelled janitorial and office supplies in every country is inconsistent and often non-existent, so we leveraged the GEN website for our own green product requirements,” says Lauren Riggs, Sustainable Operations Team Lead, Real Estate and Workplace Services at Google. GEN chair Bjorn-Erik Lonn welcomed the environmental commitment of Google. “Both our global organisations have a mission to make information universally accessible and useful. Collaboration is sensible and futurefocussed as we face climate change and sustainability challenges.” “The expanding membership demonstrates GEN's outreach into Asia and developing economies,” says Mr Lonn.
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ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
AGM
ANNUAL G E N M AREPORT G • 2 0 1 •6 2016
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ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
AGM
Communications At the request of the Board, a summary of communications was given by Michael Hooper of Spotlight Creative Media. Two goals had been distilled from the priorities directed following the last AGM: ● Communicate more actively with members ● Establish GEN as a credible worldwide brand Michael reported on the actions that had subsequently been taken within the budget to pursue these goals: 1) A full PR plan was prepared and the Board instructed that some elements be initiated 2) The magazine-style main vehicle has reduced in frequency, but been augmented by bite-sized articles posted to the website at least monthly, allowing greater and more frequent use of member-originated material 3) Members have been assisted in registering and updating organisation details for the new website 4) More channels have been opened to media and influential organisations, especially making use of the new website and the internet in general. Website performance has continued to increase after the relaunch, and in response to more frequently generated, strategically formatted content. Peak month visitations have increased by 24 percent and annual unique visitations have climbed. The developers reported satisfaction with the performance of the new website, and Michael provided detailed analysis for the Board and delegates.
Michael Hooper Michael also chaired a workshop on the day after the AGM, starting with a Mission Not Impossible theme, and was joined by a highpowered panel of GEN marketeers: Sören Enholm (TCO Development), Kate Harris (GECA), Nancy Holm (Nordic Swan) and Khai Sin Chong (SEC Singapore). Among their messages: ● limited resources suggest not engaging directly with social media ● at least one fulltime worker equivalent is needed for social media ● choose your webinar technical partners carefully ● Pinterest works for architects (maybe not otherwise) ● don't abandon the old tools – phone, having a coffee ● consider what you want people to do when they arrive at your website ● be visual on-line, have access to video facilities ● partner with companies that have big communications teams ● offer opinion pieces to local media ● use Linked-in but Twitter reaches politicians ● appearances at other seminars can be better value than hosting your own
ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
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l to r: Sรถrem Enholm, Kate Harris, Michael Hooper (convenor), Nancy Holm, Khai Sin Chong
Yulia Gracheva announces Ecopolka in Kiev The workshop concluded with a presentation by Yulia Gracheva (Vitality leaf, Russia) on ECOPOLKA, a smart phone application that uses GEN member data to verify the ecolabel on some 645 products (at that date). It is aimed at 18-34 year-olds who are trend followers, says Yulia, and embraces 72 different ecolabels. Partners in the project include the Nordic Council of Ministers, FSC and Samsung.
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ANNUAL REPORT โ ข 2016
AGM
Strategic plan Board member Guy Ladvocat (ABNT Brazil) briefed delegates on the current status of the long-term strategic plan. Breakout groups explored the opportunities, actions and activities under the headline objectives of leading, serving and growing. Meeting Chair, Eva Eiderstrom, commented on the commonality of the results, stating “this is the first time we have gone this far in strategic discussion”. Guy Ladvocat
Some ideas, such as a world ecolabelling day, conducting GEN webinars, and greater marketplace visibility, would depend on increased communications activity. A members' survey expressed satisfaction (83%) with the current activities of the network. The survey answers to the question of what GEN should be doing in five years' time were: a greater media presence and more marketing collateral.
Other presentations Kanchanatetee Vasuvat delivered a presentation on behalf of Thomas Lehmann, Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) project director for GIZ Thailand. GIZ employs 17,000 staff worldwide. The Asian project is analysing procurement and sustainability to help build capacity, train stakeholder staff and support ecolabel development.
Kanchanatetee Vasuvat
ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
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Dr Ulf Jaeckel, representing Germany's Ministry for the Environment, explained the policies and work areas in which his government is engaged for advancing sustainable consumption and production (SCP). This includes the promotion of “reliable ecolabels” and a “higher political recognition of Type 1 ecolabels”. He told the conference “we want to shift sustainable consumption from niche market to mainstream. It's not easy to reach the consumer in the moment of purchasing decision, the two or three seconds in front of the shelf.” Germany's national programme for sustainable consumption, adopted in February 2016, seeks to do just that, with the help of the world's oldest ecolabelling scheme, the Blue Angel, which now certifies 13,000 products and is known to 90 percent of Germans.
Dr Ulf Jaeckel
Ongoing work by board member Chin-Yuan Chen is looking to quantify the effect of ecolabels, developing indicators that can be recognised and measured. He proposed measuring and keeping records of all GEN activities and the number of licensed products, which is currently published as an annual survey in the Annual Report. Mr Chen also suggested counting and improving the days required for the certification process, although this would vary depending on the standard and environment. Quantifying the impact of ecolabels worldwide could be advanced by calculating savings and reductions in negative impacts, he observed. The affordability of the process was a key question, according to his presentation.
Chin-Yuan Chen
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ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
AGM
Board elections This was the first election of the Board of Directors held under the revised bylaws designed to ensure a smooth and continuing rotation of board members. They state that three of the directors would be elected for a term of one year and the Chair and three (3) Directors would be elected for a term of two (2) years. Thereafter, the term of office of all Directors will be two years. This required incoming directors for this first year to comply and the following were elected: Mr. Chin-Yuan Chen, 2 years Dr. Hans-Hermann Eggers, 1 year Newest director Ms. Linda Ho
Ms. Linda Ho, 2 years Mr. Guy Ladvocat, 1 year Mr. Bjorn-Erik Lonn (Chair), 2 years Ms. Xiaodan Zhang, 2 years Ms. Eva Eiderstrom, 1 year
The next AGM will be 10-13 October 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden.
ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
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GENICES
Looking Ahead As we head into 2017, GEN is more communicative, streamlined, focussed and directed than ever. ● A Global Ecolabelling Day is planned for 2018. ● Engagement with relevant international organisations has reached a new level of active cooperation. ● Years of work defining and refining strategic goals are culminating and scheduled for adoption at the next AGM
Communications
● The goals, once set, will be formatted for the website in a new “accordion” format already devised, which will be especially viewable on mobile devices.
During 2016 the new communications strategy adopted by the Board was implemented and it quickly evolved. GEN News editions were consolidated into one fatter annual A4, digital magazine, while ongoing research, gathering and writing of succinct news “bites” has populated the website much more frequently, reflecting increased GEN member activity.
● The organisation's bylaws have been updated and a code of practice has been published. ● Members have direct control over their standards categories listed on the website.
Items are divided between the log-in “members-only” page and the public news page, depending on whether they are more apt for in-house consumption, or promote the stature and work of GEN in a global setting.
The next AGM is to be held on 12 October 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden, hosted by Good Environmental Choice, Nordic Swan Ecolabel and TCO Development. A full programme 1013 October is available to members, detailed on the GEN website (log-in required). A full day international conference begins the programme themed: “Putting words into action with independent ecolabels”.
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ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
GENICES
The Global Ecolabelling Network Internationally Coordinated Ecolabelling System
GENICES was launched in 2005 as a peer review and knowledge sharing initiative to foster mutual trust and cooperation among GEN members. It serves as a mechanism to: ● enhance multilateral cooperation ● facilitate collaboration in development and review of criteria for product certification ● enable GEN member organisations' customers to have easier access to other GEN members' programs ● survey and assure the quality and fidelity of members' organisational performance to GEN principles and the ISO 14024 guidelines. GENICES involves submission of an application form and supporting documents, as well as an on-site audit to review the ways and means in which the audited organisation conducts ecolabelling in line with the principles of ISO14020 and ISO 14024. The process can inspire member employees around a shared goal and also encourages mutual learning for continual improvement from both the GENICES candidate and the auditors. GENICES participation is voluntary and open to full GEN members, almost all of whom have elected to take part. GEN recommends reassessment for members every 5 years. ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
Understanding the GENICES Process GEN recognises that the operation of a Type 1 ecolabelling programme often varies from country to country to reflect regional differences such as the level of government involvement in the programme, the strength of government green procurement in the region, the size of the local market and other factors. The purpose of GENICES is not to instruct members how to operate their programme, but to understand how they are managing it. For an initial audit, auditors visit the applicant office for two days to review operations and interview key staff. They then prepare a draft site audit report and the applicant is given the opportunity to respond with comments or suggested corrective actions and recommendations. Upon receiving this feedback, the auditors finalise the report. Any suggested corrective actions are identified and the applicant is awarded a GENICES certificate at the next Annual General Meeting. GEN also offers members ways to facilitate cross-organisational collaboration and harmonisation – key to the organisation's goals. Associate members must undertake the GENICES process if they seek to transition to full membership. 21
BOARD
HANS-HERMANN EGGERS GUY LADVOCAT
XIAODAN ZHANG
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel
The Blue Angel (Germany)
ABNT Brazil
Bjorn-Erik is senior adviser, International Affairs, for The Nordic Swan Ecolabel. He holds an M.Sc. from the University of Helsinki in fish toxicology. He was previously the general secretary for a sports fishermen's Association in Finland and then senior engineer at Norway's biggest sewage treatment plant near Oslo. He joined the Nordic Swan Ecolabel in 1993 as general manager.
Hans-Hermann is a chemist by profession and completed his thesis at Humboldt University of Berlin 1984. In 1991 he began his career as a scientist at the Federal Environment Agency in Germany and has since been working in product assessment. Since 2005 he has been head of the section Ecodesign, Ecolabelling and Green Public Procurement at the German Federal Environment Agency which runs the Blue Angel ecolabel.
Guy is systems certification manager of ABNT Brazil, where he also coordinates a greenhouse gas management project for small and medium companies. With a degree in mechanical engineering, he has 27 years experience in quality management and auditing, and for five years was project manager of the Brazilian Institute of Nuclear Quality.
China Environmental United Certification Centre
BJORN-ERIK LONN
Chair
OSAMU UNO CHEN CHIN-YUAN Mr Chen has been involved with the Green Mark ecolabelling programme in Taiwan since 1995. Starting as an auditor, he has been the project manager of the Green Mark program for almost ten years. He has a Masters degree in Environmental Engineering, and a BS in Marine Environment.
Treasurer
Ecomark (Japan Environment Association)
LINDA HO
Osamu currently serves as secretary general of the Japanese EcoMark office and managing director of the Japan Environment Association. He graduated from the University of Tokyo Faculty of Law in March 1970. He was previously employed by Mitsubishi estate company. He has served on the advisory board of the International Green Purchasing Network, a steering committee for the Biomass mark and a commission regarding ecolabelling guidelines in Japan.
Hong Kong Green Council Linda is CEO of the Green Council which she co-founded in 2000 and has steered since. She drives local and international promotional initiatives along with training and certification schemes.
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Ms Xiaodan ZHANG is general manager of the China Environmental United Certification Center (CEC), and Chief Expert of the Environmental Development Center of MEP. She graduated from Wuhan University of Technology in 1982 and since 1991 she has been working in the field of environmental protection, engaging in policy research and implementation of Environmental Management Systems, the China Environmental Labelling Program, Green Public Procurement, Green Supply Chain, and Clean Development Mechanism. She is deputy Secretary-General of the China Green Purchasing Network (CGPN), and has been an advisory board member of the International Green Procurement Network (IGPN) since 2015.
EVA EIDERSTROM Swedish Society for Nature Conservation Eva is currently head of the department at “Shop and Act Green – Good Environmental Choice Ecolabel” in Sweden.
ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
26 members* Country
Program Name
Valid Standards
Certified Products
Australia
Environmental Choice Australia
22
2,000
Brazil
ABNT- Environmental Quality
35
751
Brazil
Falcao Bauer Ecolabel Brasil
5
14
China (CEC)
China Environmental Labelling
98
178,895
China (CQC)
China Environmentally Friendly Certification
34
2000
Green Mark Program
150
5048
EU Ecolabel
35
43,160
Germany
The Blue Angel
120
12,000
Germany
TÜV Rheinland
10
400
Hong Kong (GC)
Hong Kong Green Label Scheme
60
83
India
Confederation of Indian Industry
ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Chinese Taipei
EU
ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Indonesia
Ekolabel Indonesia
Israel
Israeli Green Label
85
450
Japan
Eco Mark Program
62
5,597
Kazakhstan
International Academy of Ecology
ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Product definitions vary among members. Survey 2015-16 excludes new member statistics. ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
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50 territories Country
Program Name
Valid Standards
Certified Products
Korea
Korea Eco-Labelling Program
162
17,324
Malaysia
SIRIM Eco-Labelling Scheme
51
353
New Zealand
Environmental Choice New Zealand
37
1600
Nordic Countries
Nordic Swan Ecolabel
58
12,000
UL ECOLOGO
60
7,000
National Ecolabelling Program - Green Choice Pilippines
39
48
Vitality Leaf
23
129
Singapore Green Labelling Scheme
73
3,300
Sweden
TCO Certified
8
900
Sweden
Good Environmental Choice
10
669
Thailand
Thai Green Label Scheme
117
481
Ukraine
Living Planet
54
312
Green Seal
31
4,400
Vietnam Green Label
14
53
North America
Philippines
Russia
Singapore
United States
Vietnam ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Product definitions vary among members. Survey 2015-16 excludes new member statistics. 24
ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
2016 Financial Report For the year ended December 31, 2016
Revenues (in USD)
2016
2015
2014
Contributions (Membership Fees) Donations Other income
161,978 16,939 2,795
158,635 19,671 2,866
151,374 14,498 722
181,172
181,172
166,594
62,000 9,583 6,521 4,365 12,308 53,345 0 15,000
62,000 11,940 5,233 4,464 2,439 45,303 4,964 13,500
59,500 15,068 4,091 4,214 11,823 29,648 1,913 -
163,122
149,843
126,257
3,500
17,117
-
Increase in fund balance Fund balance at beginning of year
15,090 271,961
14,212 257,749
40,337 217,412
Fund balance at end of year
287,051
271,961
257,749
Financial Position
2016
2015
2014
Total current assets (in USD)
320,100
300,927
308,207
315,100
294,427
291,207
Total current liabilities (in USD) Total fund balance at end of year (in USD)
33,049 287,051
28,966 271,961
50,458 257,749
Total current liabilities and fund balance (in USD)
320,100
300,927
308,207
Expenses (in USD) Personnel (incl. secretariat services) Board Travel & Meeting Expenses Audit & Legal Fees (inclusive of By-law update fees in 2015) Bank Charges and Miscellaneous Travel Communication work (Web Site Work, GENews and Annual report) Other Project Work (e.g. technical assistance, etc.) GEN's Support to Host Country of AGM
Prior period adjustment
Incl. Cash
ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
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Our
Mission GEN exists to educate and cause government, industry and consumers to recognise the unique and important value afforded by Type 1 ecolabelling programmes.
Strategic decisions are guided by following the mission objectives:
Serve our members, other ecolabelling programmes and the public by promoting and developing the ecolabelling of products and services.
Facilitate access to information about ecolabelling standards globally.
Foster cooperation, information exchange, and harmonisation among our members' ecolabelling programmes.
Participate in international organisations to promote ecolabelling.
Encourage demand for, and supply of, more environmentally preferable products and services.
The Global Ecolabelling Network | www.globalecolabelling.net
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ANNUAL REPORT • 2016
The Global Ecolabelling Network would like to thank its members, associates and partners involved in promoting the ecolabelling of products and services around the world. GEN is always open to working on collaborative initiatives of mutual interest. To discuss potential opportunities or learn more, please contact your nearest country board member, or follow this link to contact the Secretariat: https://www.globalecolabelling.net/about/gen-structure
CREDITS Editorial direction: Michael Hooper | Spotlight Creative Media Design: John Newcombe
adroit-design.com
Cover image: Skulptur Britt Smelvaer. Photo Oddleiv Apneseth/Norden.org