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What do the environmental claims mean?

Environmental claims Third Party

Meaning

Recycled
Contains postconsumer and/or pre-consumer recycled content. Contains 30% or more recycled content (by weight).
For wood pulp based products, virgin material must come from a known and verified legal origin.
Recycled percentages below 30% will be considered on a case by case basis if the claim is market leading in the product category.

Could apply to any type of product, except liquids and foods.

Remanufactured or Refilled
Made with quality components from previously used
products and products that replace one-time use disposable items (for instance, ink cartridges).
Contains 30% or more material recovered from previously used products (by weight).
Does not apply to products whose only claim is that the producing company is STMC (Standardised Test Methods Committee) compliant. Example: Cartridges (ink, toner and fax), technology.

Environmental claims Third Party	Meaning
	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.
	UTZ Certified UTZ certification shows you that products have been sourced, from farm to shop shelf, in a sustainable manner. To become certified, all UTZ suppliers have to follow the Code of Conduct, which offers expert guidance on better farming methods, working conditions and care for nature. This in turn leads to better production, a better environment and a better life for everyone.
	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 (EU Green Leaf Logo plus national level certification scheme labels such as Soil Association, BioSiegel etc.) Euro Green Leaf logo is used on foods which are legally organic, that is they conform to the regulations established by the European Union for organic farming, 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. Next to the logo is also a code representing the number of the control body that certified the product at member state level. Soil association, Bio Siegel are just few examples. Logo of the national scheme, certification body often accompanies EU green leaf logo.
	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).
	Carbon Neutral (various recognised third party schemes/labels) A carbon neutral product is one where the sum of the unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions (CO2e) created during production is offset via a recognized, certified carbon offset project.
	Certified Compostable (various schemes recognised third party schemes/labels) Compostable means that a product is capable of disintegrating into natural elements in a compost environment, leaving no toxicity in the soil.
	Leaping Bunny Certified (animal cruelty free) Internationally, over 1,000 brands are proud to be part of the Leaping Bunny family. Many display the Leaping Bunny logo on packaging to help consumers choose to shop cruelty free. The Leaping Bunny is the regarded as the global gold standard for cruelty free cosmetics, personal care and household products. Products that are Leaping Bunny Certified have not been tested on animals.