Survey on consumer information tools

“Information tools include labels, voluntary standards and certifications, product declarations, ratings, marketing claims, foot printing, life-cycle assessments, and other ways of communicating with consumers on environmental and social issues connected to products” (UNEP & ITC, 2017). The focus is on tools that can help consumers make more informed choices by providing reliable product sustainability information.

The aim of this survey is to get a better overview of existing consumer information tools and identify emerging trends as well as current gaps to inform future activities from the CI-SCP and its partners as the CI-SCP aims to improve the provision of reliable product sustainability information.

The examples listed below are based on the responses from the survey and they show the diversity of existing tools. However, no assessment on the credibility of these tools was undertaken and the fact that they are listed here does not imply endorsement by the Consumer Information Programme.