A short and sweet guide to sustainability certifications and plastic neutrality.
A lot of brands have various sustainability and eco-friendly labels on their products and pages but, we have to be careful and ensure that these labels are truly genuine certifications and not just greenwashed marketing.
There are a lot of sustainability certifications like carbon neutral, carbon-free, plastic-free, etc. But we will be focusing mainly on Plastic Neutrality and Sustainability certifications.
But before that, what are sustainability certifications?
Sustainability Certifications
Standards relating to environmental, social, ethical, and product safety issues are set forth by impartial, third-party groups for sustainability certifications. These organizations bear the cost and responsibility of certifying that products meet their standards, and they grant a certification seal, or logo, that demonstrates compliance. Consumers can feel more assured that the products they are buying comply with sustainability standards when they see these seals on them.
Brands want to find a way to distinguish their products in this market and show sustainability. Large retailers have made promises to stock more eco-friendly goods. One example is Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly program, which aims to assist customers in shopping for more environmentally friendly goods. To make it easier for customers to find sustainable products on Amazon, Amazon partnered with reputable third-party certification providers like UL Solutions and chose products with the ECOLOGO® Certification mark.
So, one thing is for sure: the search for partners for the certification of sustainable products is on.
Here are some of the main ecolabels in India:
- CARBON NEUTRAL CERTIFICATION
Businesses that offset their Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon footprints are given the label “carbon neutral.” A company that wants to be certified as carbon neutral should partner up with a certified carbon neutrality company and then must determine its carbon footprint first. After that, they retired carbon credits to reduce their carbon footprint. Businesses can reduce the greenhouse gases they can’t get rid of through energy efficiency by using offsets.
- EPEAT
There is a system for greener electronics called EPEAT. Customers in 43 countries can assess, compare, and choose electronics based on environmental attributes using EPEAT (“Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool”). Televisions, Imaging Equipment (printers, copiers, scanners, multifunction devices, fax machines, and mailing equipment), PCs, and Displays are the current categories in EPEAT.
A government-run certification scheme for environmentally friendly consumer goods.
The Government of India introduced the “Ecomark” eco-labeling program in 1991 to raise consumer awareness and make it simple to identify environmentally friendly products.
The criteria adopt a cradle-to-grave philosophy, starting with the extraction of raw materials and ending with the disposal. Consumer goods that satisfy the specified environmental criteria and the quality requirements of Indian Standards are given the Ecomark label.
- NATRUE LABEL
A guarantee for cosmetic products is the Natrue-Label. They want to protect and promote organic cosmetics and skincare products. Any item bearing the Natrue label is meant to be as natural as possible, made with natural and organic ingredients using gentle manufacturing techniques.
- PLASTIC NEUTRAL LABEL
Plastic neutrality is very similar to carbon neutrality. This plastic-neutral plan works based on plastic credits. Plastic credits are a way to incentivize the removal of plastic that’s in the environment and recycle it for packaging and other materials.
Various companies work to provide plastic credits and a seal of sustainability to brands like The Disposal Company, etc.
The Disposal Company subsidizes the ethical recovery & safe disposal of plastic waste which would otherwise end up in landfills, burned, or be flushed into our oceans.
TDC develops customized impact roadmaps based on the unique needs and capacities of each of our partner organizations.
Then TDC employs waste workers who collect plastic waste from landfills, incinerators, or ocean-bound vessels at the source. The waste is then transported back to the processing hubs, where it is recycled.
So, how does this help a brand?
The Seal Of Sustainability verification is a thorough certification created to offer consumers using the products of our partner brands the highest level of transparency. And The Disposal Company is aware that supporting climate action is one thing, but not when plastic enters the supply chain. It’s another thing entirely to be able to support your claims. Making sure you can trust the products you take to market is our obsession. TDC is authorized to certify recycled content claims as an Authorized Plastic Recycler. Using The Disposal Company’s Seal Of Sustainability, TDC can vouch for your brand’s plastic neutrality at any point in the supply chain.
How To Be A Conscious Consumer?
Try to buy from brands that are proud to support sustainability initiatives and have clear, workable sustainability strategies. Avoid being a victim of greenwashing. Always verify the credibility of sustainability certifications and ecolabels. Any brand that produces products with fair labor practices and less waste is worthwhile.
Visit www.thedisposal.co to learn more about plastic neutrality!
