A strong plea for uniform environmental labeling
Climate change is still a hot topic, even in light of the current economic crisis and the rising expenses of feeding families. It is well known that providing customers with accurate and simple-to-understand information about how their food choices affect the environment can help spur change, but how we go about doing so is less obvious.
Currently, there are over a hundred efforts attempting to accomplish this goal, mostly in Europe but also in other areas of the world. While this is admirable, it is also concerning because various schemes with disparate labeling systems based on disparate scoring systems may arise; this will only serve to confuse everyone.
“If we fail to come together, we run the genuine danger of taking failure from the jaws of victory,” said Cliona Howie, the CEO of Charity Earth, one of the organizations pushing for front of pack sustainability labeling. We’ll fail, confuse customers, increase expenses for manufacturers and merchants, and bring about little to no change.
In addition to being the Chair of Foundation Earth’s Scientific Committee, I sincerely think that a unified, science-based approach to such labeling is desperately needed. And I will wholeheartedly support whichever plan accomplishes this.
This past week was a crucial turning point in our journey to our destination. The European Commission and the UK government received a joint letter from a coalition that demanded a uniform approach to front of package environmental labeling, organized by Foundation Earth. Upon examining the names and organizations that comprise this alliance, it is evident that a powerful “force for good” is uniting. Leading food and environmental experts from Europe, the UN organization on climate change, three significant EU-backed food and climate change programs, and senior politicians from six different countries make up the coalition.
In November in Brussels, organized by EIT Nutrition, the food innovation program of the European Union, and presided over independently by its CEO, Andy Zynga, who also happens to be the newest member of New Food’s advisory board.
The coalition has declared that the following six criteria should serve as the foundation for the ideal environmental labeling system for food and drink:
It ought to be overseen by a separate entity.
It ought to be standardized throughout the European Union.
The Product and Green Footprint of the European Union should serve as its foundation.
It ought to be predicated on the principles of life cycle evaluation.
The greatest amount of primary information should be used.
It ought to make it possible for contrasting items using reliable, solid particular products info.
A variety of experts from eco labeling programs, such as Ecoscore, Planet Rating, and the IGD, have received invitations. It is my sincere hope that they will all attend and participate in the summit in order to help achieve the much-needed harmonization. Turf fights are not appropriate at this time, and I think that if they refuse to attend the summit, that would send the wrong signals to the stakeholder groups that will ultimately determine the best course of action.
The newspaper headlines about environmental marketing that are becoming more and more common are what we all want to stay away from. Claims concerning sustainability and protecting the environment must be supported by accurate scientific evidence and openness.