Eco Mark program implemented by the Japan Environment Association

Published on January 8, 2018

The Eco Mark program is intended to propose environmentally friendly lifestyles (ecological lifestyles) with a view to realizing environmentally friendly society in terms of the "selection of commodities (products or services)." It is intended to facilitate the selection of commodities by consumers who wish to lead environmentally friendly lives by providing information on products from the viewpoints of the environment through attaching the "Eco Mark" to products (goods or services) that are judged to be of help to environmental conservation. Commodities that are eligible to bear the Eco Mark must satisfy either of the following requirements. [1] The commodities shall impose less environmental load than similar commodities throughout the life cycle of such commodities from "production" to "disposal." [2] The use of such commodities shall produce a great effect that contributes to environmental conservation such as enabling reduction of environmental load arising from any other causes. The Eco Mark program is intended to facilitate selection of "better commodities in terms of environmental conservation" and even if a commodity bearing the Eco Mark is used, wasteful use of it will not be "environmentally friendly."

What is unique about Eco Mark may be that we ask companies to put "Environmental Information" related to certified products close to Eco Mark logo, and those information would be very informative for consumers. The "Environmental Information" is stipulatd by each criteria, so companies can not make it up on their own. Also, those information are based on verification documents a company submits when applying. In the Eco Mark program, from the product categories that are deemed to be "appropriate for environmental conservation," product categories that will be considered for the Eco Mark will be selected by the "Planning and Strategy Committee" comprised of people of learning and experience, relevant administrative organizations, experts in consumer issues, etc. Certification criteria for each product category will be established in the "Criteria Development Committee" comprised of businesspersons, consumers, and experts from neutral organizations and knowledgeable persons, etc. after having taken into account environmental load in all the life stages of products (collection of resources, manufacture, distribution, use and consumption, recycling, and disposal) from environmental viewpoints, and after scrutinizing and verification based on aspects from experts in the "Criteria Deliberation Committee," the documents will be established by the Eco Mark Office. Also, all the latest information on the Eco Mark as well as documents concerning procedures and certification criteria, etc. made available to the public on the websites for the Eco Mark. The newsletter "Eco Mark News" contains information on product categories that have been newly selected and certification criteria, etc. as well as important notices and situation of activities, etc. concerning the Eco Mark. There is a "Mail Magazine" which is an electronic edition and "Eco Mark News" which is a printed edition (these are sent to the persons in charge of the Eco Mark certified products and persons in charge of payment).