Shop with care online: 6 eco-labels you need to know
Do you know what to look for when you want to shop responsibly online? And what do the individual eco-labels actually mean? With so many different labels, it can be confusing to find out if what you add to your basket is produced responsibly. We've gathered some of the most recognized and used eco-labels in Denmark so that your shopping basket matches your values.
Ecolabels make it easier for you to spot eco-friendly products when shopping. You can often find them on the tag or back of the product. This can make it a little harder to know if you are shopping responsibly when you shop online. Fortunately, more online shops are starting to add it to the product description so you can easily check if the product meets your requirements.
If you are unsure whether a product has an eco-label, it can be a good idea to contact the online shop. Sometimes the webshop has simply forgotten to add the eco-label in the description.
Get an overview of the different eco-labels here.
GOTS - Global Organic Textile Standard
You may come across the GOTS label when buying textiles such as bedding, towels and clothing. The GOTS certification is the most recognized global certification for organic clothing and textiles. This is because GOTS sets strict requirements for environmental and social standards throughout the production process across national borders. The label is your guarantee that the product has been produced under responsible conditions.
For a product to be GOTS certified, it must meet the following requirements, among others:
- 70% of the fibers must be certified organic. If the product is called 'organic', 95% of the fibers must be organic.
- Water and energy consumption involved in production must be kept to a minimum
- All companies involved in production must meet the social criteria of the International Labor Organization (ILO). This includes respecting minimum wages, health and safety, working hours, minimum age and breaks.
- Packaging must not contain PVC
- No use of hazardous chemicals or other harmful substances that can harm the environment and health
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel may be the label you have most often come across when buying care and household products. But it actually covers several product categories such as stationery, electronics, toys and furniture.
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel sets strict climate requirements for all links in the production chain - from raw materials to production and transportation. Therefore, products with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel will be among the least environmentally harmful within their product category. At the same time, there are high requirements for substances, which ensures that the product, among other things, does not contain endocrine disruptors.
If you want to choose more responsible products, the Nordic Swan Ecolabel is a good indicator that the product meets strict environmental and health requirements. The requirements are revised every few years so that they are always in line with developments.
The EU Ecolabel
Like the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, the EU Ecolabel sets strict requirements for the entire journey of a product and aims to reduce its overall environmental impact from production and consumption. While the Nordic Swan Ecolabel is used exclusively in the Nordic countries, the EU Ecolabel is a pan-European eco-label. Both labels are Denmark's only two official eco-labels.
The EU Ecolabel can be found on a variety of products, including cleaning products, paper products and electronics.
FSC - Forest Stewardship Council
FSC is an international certification for responsible forestry. FSC is your assurance that wood and paper products come from sources that safeguard both nature and human conditions in forest areas. The label is found in particular on paper products, furniture and packaging.
Fairtrade
Products such as coffee, bananas, sugar and chocolate can carry the Fairtrade mark if they have been produced under sustainable trading conditions. It is an international labeling scheme that aims to improve working and living conditions for local producers in developing countries through fairer world trade.
By choosing products with the Fairtrade mark, you are helping to make a difference for other people and the environment.
The TCO label
The TCO label is probably a little less well known than the other labels we have described. It is used for electronics and indicates that the product meets a set of requirements for responsible production, ethical working conditions, health, chemical substances, energy efficiency, lifetime and recycling.
References:
Miljømærkning Danmark
Fairtrade
FSC
Global Organic Textile Standard
TCO Certified