|
A growing number of consumers are trying to do the right
thing by passing up mass manufactured, chemical-laden products for ones
kind to the planet.
Their willingness to spend a little extra for eco-friendly wares is
attracting impostors, with the Office of State Minister of the
Environment warning consumers Friday to be vigilant for uncertified
products carrying the labeling.
"It has become a new trend now. I suppose there are about 100 products
in our market using the eco-friendly claim," the Office's head of the
environmental management division, Euis Ekawati, told The Jakarta Post.
"Consumer goods producers also have launched a massive number of TV ads
with celebrities endorsing eco-friendly products."
The ISO 14022 on International Standard Environmental and Declarations
Type I Eco-labeling specifies the requirements for self-declared
environmental claims, including commercial statements, symbols and
graphics regarding products.
The regulation also describes selected terms commonly used in
environmental claims and gives qualifications for their use.
Euis said products that only met one environmental aspect, such as the
use of recycled raw materials or energy-saving products, were not
permitted to carry the labeling without further testing.
"It must be tested through a comprehensive study on environmental
aspect, ranging from its raw materials, the manufacturing and its after
use, without degrading the quality of the products."
The Indonesian Consumers Foundation welcomed the government's warning
because it said many companies were using the labeling as a selling
point.
"We have held regular surveys on the claims, and we have also sent
letters to producers asking them to explain their claims, but many of
them cannot prove them," consumer advocate Sudaryatmo told the Post.
He said labeling was even used on some products that were clearly
harmful to the environment.
"It doesn't make sense to claim that a detergent is an eco-friendly
product, whatever the reasons. It's clearly public deception. We are
forced to use the detergent because there is no alternative."
He recommended the government establish an institution to monitor and
verify the claims.
The ministry is currently devising a system to help producers test
their products, Euis said.
"We can issue an eco-friendly certificate to products that have met our
criteria already set by experts from various backgrounds."
Criteria would include the sources of raw materials, chemical
composition and coloring, the use of electricity and water as well as
other aspects of the manufacturing process.
The ministry has already established criteria governing eco-friendly
certification for printing paper, textiles, leather products, shoes and
tissue paper.
"We hope to issue criteria for at least seven more products next year,"
she said.
|
