Methodological challenges for ecolabels in the Global Ecolabelling Network – Evaluation and traceability of critical raw materials and determination of quantitative environmental savings potentials

The overall objective of the project was to establish type I ecolabels worldwide, in particular the Blue Angel, in order to provide the consumer with reliable information on environmental and sustainability characteristics of products, to strengthen the products- and service-providing economy as well as institutional and public purchasers, and thus to establish these labels as a key benchmark for sustainable consumption. More specifically, the main objectives of the project were as follows: analysis and description of the central challenges of type I eco-label programs in the following areas: the development of criteria to enable the path followed by commodities to be traced back along the entire supply chain, dealing with critical raw materials, inclusion of social criteria and how to provide the required evidence thereof, integration of requirements relating to the longevity and reparability of products, embedding ecolabels in consumer communication and monitoring of the respective programs. Exploring and analyzing the current situation in terms of the central challenges in five selected ecolabel programs as well as in 10 companies identification of suitable strategies to tackle the key challenges and implementation of two measures in consultation with the Federal Environment Agency reinvigorating and backstopping the discussion process between the different type I ecolabelling programs in the framework of the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) in 2017 and 2018