Third-party product certifications, labels or rankings on products that are plastic-free, contain low volumes of plastics, or are composed of secondary plastics, can create awareness and drive market differentiation.
TARGET USERS: Individuals, Businesses, Industry, Government
KEY CONSIDERATIONS: Consumers are more aware than ever, requesting plastic-free alternatives and greater transparency in the market.
MORE INFORMATION: https://globalecolabelling.net/what-is-eco-labelling/
THE PROBLEM
Plastic is an everlasting material. It does not decay. Instead, it fragments into smaller particles which are increasingly accumulating in nature. Plastic residue and particles have become a global environmental problem. Therefore, plastic has to be reduced in consumer goods and be banned generally as a single-use material.
Source: https://flustix.com/en/vision-and-mission/
THE SOLUTION
Eco-labelling is a voluntary method of environmental performance certification that identifies products or services proven to be environmentally preferable within a specific category. Credible labels that are certified by an impartial third-party and that which provide transparency and include life-cycle considerations can add value and drive consumer preferences. By eliminating unnecessary plastics, we reduce the volume of plastics that must be collected for recycling, and the volume that leaks indiscriminately into nature.
CASE STUDY EXAMPLES
Flustix
Flustix encourages brands to use less plastic in their product design and incorporate the reduction of synthetics in their general CSR-strategies. The Flustix plastic-free label is the first and only registered European sustainability certificate concerning plastic-use in products. Flustix tests products and packaging for their use and volume of plastics. Plastic-free as well as plastic-reduced products can be labelled with the Flustix symbol, providing a reliable guide for eco-conscious customers while facilitating CSR for brands.
The Flustix certification mark is the world’s first symbol for plastic purity, registered as a European Union Certification Mark by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the German Patent and Trade Mark Office. With this registration, Flustix can be considered both a certification mark as well as a legally protected word and figurative trademark.
Flustix labels the following categories of plastic purity:
- Complete product
- Packaging
- Content
- Content free from microbeads
- Product made from reycled plastics
By distinguishing between these categories, a variety of product components can qualify for the Flustix certification mark. Items that reduce the use of plastic are equally qualified to apply for the mark as those which are already completely plastic free. Items which are naturally free of plastics and synthetics or are prohibited from containing such materials by law, such as food and beverages, can only be classified with our green ‘plastic-free packaging’ label. Suggesting that the item itself or its content are plastic-free is not permitted. Cosmetics and sanitary products are not part of this category, however, they can be candidates for the ‘content-free-of-plastics’ label or even qualify for the ‘content-free-of-microplastics’ label.
See a list of Flustix certified products here: https://flustix.com/en/certified-plastic-free-products-copy/
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS
Public Awareness
Public awareness campaigns that engage and educate local communities on plastic waste can spur community action and affect consumer choices.
Packaging Material Fees
Packaging Material Fees require manufacturers to pay fees according to the amount of packaging material they put on the market.
