What do the environmental claims mean?

FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) 
Chain-of-custody system - unbroken path taken by timber product, from the forest to the consumer, including every stage of processing, manufacturing and distribution. It provides evidence that timber products originate from certified, well managed forests and verifies that they’re not mixed with products from uncertified forests at any point in the supply chain.

Fairtrade
Products that support and improve social and ethical production standards. Typically found on food and drink.
Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. 

PEFC - Programme for Endorsement of Forestry Certifications Schemes
Chain-of-custody system - unbroken path taken by timber product, from the forest to the consumer, including every stage of processing, manufacturing and distribution. 
It provides evidence that timber products originate from certified, well managed forests and verifies that they’re not mixed with products from uncertified forests at any point in the supply chain

Rainforest Alliance Certified™
‘Green frog’ certification seal indicates that products coming from a farm, forest, or tourism enterprise has been audited to meet standards that require environmental, social, and economic sustainability.  Typically found in food and drink

Why Frogs?
Frogs are indicator species, meaning that they are a symbol of environmental health, and they are found on every continent except Antarctica.

Blue Angel
The label was introduced by the federal government of Germany in 1978. It is awarded to products and services which are of considerable benefit to the environment and meet high standards of serviceability and health and occupational protection. Factors considered include: economical use of raw materials during production and use, a long service life and a sustainable disposal. It applies to all sorts of products.

Nordic Swan
The label was introduced by the Nordic Council of Ministers in 1989, to encourage production methods that create the minimum environmental impact and contribute to sustainable consumption. It applies to all sorts of products. 

EU Eco Flower
Established in 1992, the label indicates that the item meets rigorous environmental criteria, has a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle, from the extraction of raw material through to production, use and disposal. It is considering more than just energy consumption, putting it among the best in its class. It applies to all sorts of products.

GREENGUARD 
GREENGUARD Certification is part of UL Environment, a business unit of UL (Underwriters Laboratories). GREENGUARD Certification helps manufacturers create -and helps buyers identify- interior products and materials that have low chemical emissions, improving the quality of the air in which the products are used. All GREENGUARD Certified products are listed in the UL SPOT Sustainable Product Database.

Certified Organic 
The organic logo used on products that have been certified as organic by an authorised control agency or body. This means that they have fulfilled strict conditions on how they must be produced, processed, transported and stored. The logo can only be used on products when they contain at least 95% of organic ingredients and additionally respect further strict conditions for the remaining 5%. The same ingredient cannot be present in organic and non organic form. Typically found in food and drink.

The Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Product Standard guides designers and manufacturers through a continual improvement process that looks at a product through five quality categories — material health, material reutilization, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness. It applies to all sorts of products.
A product receives an achievement level in each category - Basic, Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum - with the lowest achievement level representing the product’s overall mark.

NF Environnement Ecolabel
A voluntary certification mark issued by AFNOR Certification. To be issued the NF Environnement mark the product must comply with ecological and fitness for purpose criteria.
These criteria are the result of negotiations between representatives of manufacturers, consumer, environmental protection and distributor associations and public authorities. It can be found on cleaning products, forest products/ paper, furniture. 

Austrian Ecolabel (Österreichisches Umweltzeichen)
Awarded to products and services (tourism, education, Green Meetings, catering).
The ecolabel provides consumers with guidance in order to choose products or services with least hazardous to the environment or health. The ecolabel draws the consumers attention to aspects of environment, health and quality (fitness for use).