Industries activities in collaboration with the Commission

1
Industries activities in collaboration with the
Commission

• UNICE-UEAPME Eco-Label Information Day
• Guido Lena
• Responsible for Environmental Affairs at UEAPME

2
Why concentrate on Eco-Label?

• Eco-Label is one of the very few voluntary
  instruments of the EU environmental policy
• UEAPME thinks that voluntary instruments should
  be supported and increased. At the same time, the
  command and control approach should be reduced.

3
Eco-Label has potential for SMEs

• The European Eco-Label guarantees that products
  and services respect and take care of our
  environment. This is, therefore, one of the best
  official tools for businesses who want to have a
  "green" image.
• The European Eco-Label is a powerful market tool
  for SMEs operating in the Internal Market, since
  it can be used and recognised throughout the
  European Union and the European Economic Area.
• It is also open to services.

4
Lets get in and make it better!(the story)

• UEAPMEs First request to DG Environment August
  95 No!
• UEAPMEs Second request to DG Environment March
  97 Yes!
• UEAPME contributed towards the revision of the
  Eco-Label Regulation and joined informally some
  AHWGs (textiles, shoes)

5
Lets get in and make it better!(the results I.)

• At the end of the Revision of the Eco-Label
  Regulation
• UEAPME was given the task to represent SMEs and
  Craft as full member of the European Eco-Label
  scheme the European Union Eco-Labelling Board
  (EUEB) and the Consultative Forum

6
Lets get in and make it better!(the results II.)

• Specific advantages aimed at increasing SMEs'
  participation.
• A minimum and maximum application fee of 300 and
  1300 respectively were fixed. For SMEs this
  application fee is reduced by 25.
• A minimum and maximum annual fee of 500 and
  25.000 respectively per product group per
  applicant were fixed. For SMEs this annual fee is
  reduced by 25.
• The annual fee is reduced by 15 for companies
  that have an EMAS registration and/or an EN ISO
  14.000 certification.

7
Lets get in and make it better!(the results
III.)

• UEAPME was involved in the discussion on the
  first Eco-Label Working Plan
• some of the new product groups, such as shopping
  bags/plastic bags, building services, dry
  cleaners and vehicle repair services, are
  UEAPMEs proposals

8
Lets get in and make it better!(the results IV.)

• DG Environment decided to reimburse the travel
  expenses of UEAPMEs experts in the Eco-Label
  AHWGs
• UEAPME applied twice for a service contract with
  DG Environment in order to represent SMEs in the
  Eco-Label Scheme

9
UEAPMEs tasks

• Participate in the meetings of the EUEB and CF
• Submit in advance to these meetings written
  positions on the points of relevance to SMEs or
  to products manufactured by SMEs
• Nominate technical representatives for the AHWGs
  on product groups relevant to SMEs
• Promote the Eco-Label and diffuse information
  about Eco-Label to UEAPME members and SMEs

10
12 AHWGs where UEAPME was represented (I)

• All purpose and sanitary cleaners
• Bed-mattresses
• Detergents for dishwashers
• Dishwashers
• Footwear
• Furniture

11
12 AHWGs where UEAPME was represented (II)

• Hard floor coverings
• Indoor paints and varnishes
• Laundry Detergents
• Light Bulbs
• Textiles
• Tourist Accommodation

12
Overview of the results and possible improvements
(I)

• Excellent collaboration between UEAPME and the
  Eco-Label Team
• Bottlenecks of the current system
• UEAPME is only one of the many consultative
  interests groups (consumers, environmental NGOs,
  trade unions, etc)
• North-South differences among Member States
  difficult to establish common reference products

13
Overview of the results and possible improvements
(II)

• Preconditions for a better participation of SMEs
  in the Eco-Label Scheme
• More SME manufactured product/service groups
• Cut the tests cost to a minimum
• More return on investments (marketing)
• Further reduction in fees? (next revision)