Green Labels – Not a DIY Project
Canon is creating its own green label, “Generation Green”. On the one hand, Canon should be applauded for its environmental efforts: making printers with biodegradable and recyclable parts, decreasing product packaging and cutting down on the use of toxic materials. On the other hand, why are companies increasingly introducing their own, non-regulated green labels into the market?
There are several problems with manufacturer-generated ecolabels. First, manufacturers do not have to set specific criteria and stick to them. They can decide on a case by case basis whether a product should be labeled green, giving consumers no indication of the range that an ecolabel might encompass. Second, there is no independent auditing. That’s like getting to grade your own SAT exam. Third, a company-specific ecolabel doesn’t give consumers an effective way to compare products since no company other than its creator is going to use the label.
Interestingly, Canon has several EcoLogo-certified products, which, in conjunction with the Generation Green label , does provide credibility for the company’s environmental claims.