INDIAN SCENARIO

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The assessment includes all the aspects of a product from production through packing and use to disposal. Environmental friendliness would be judged on the basis of the single most important criteria of which make product most attractive for the environment the different criteria are

• Production process, including source of raw materials
• Wise use of natural resources
• Likely impact on the environment
• Energy conservation in production
• Effect and extent of waste arising from the production process
• Utilization of Waste and recycled materials.
• Suitability of recycling or packaging and
• Disposal of the product and its container
• Biodegradability

A limited assessment that means a single characteristic in the case of CFC (Chloro Fluro Carbon) in aerosols, is cause of concern, however to narrow assessment could run the risk of over looking an important aspect of giving the consumer a deceptively partial description of the impact of the product.

Ministry believes that the consumer and producers are poorly served by system that fails to reach judgments and provide guidance over a relatively short time scale, therefore, it has favored the decision making process simpler and quicker in which the criteria for awarding any label should not forgo the quality of the product and should particularly focus on the direct impact of a product during use and disposal alongwith other aspects.

The following primary environmental criteria for products are prescribed:

• that they cause substantially less pollution than other comparable products in production, usage and disposal.
• that they are recycled and/or recyclable where comparable products are not;
• that they make a significant contribution to saving non-renewable resources or minimizing use of renewable resources compared with other comparable products.
• that they contribute to a reduction of adverse environmental health consequences.