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6.0
Ecomark Scheme of Government of India :
In order to
increase consumer awareness about the environment, the Government of India (Ministry of Environment and Forests)
launched the 'Ecomark' Scheme in 1991 for identification of
environment-friendly products. The scheme intends to
encourage manufacture and use of products which are less
harmful or have minimum adverse impact on the environment and
ultimately, to improve the quality of environment by
encouraging sustainable management of resources. The 'Ecomark'
will be administered by the Bureau of Indian Standard for
products covered by its scope of work under the BIS Act, 1986
and Rules and Regulations made therunder. The label
known as 'Ecomark' is awarded to cinsumer goods which meet the
specified environmental criteria and the quality requirements
of relevant Indian Standards.
6.1 'Ecomark' Logo and the Standard Mark of the Bureau of Indian
Standards :
The
standard Mark of the Bureau of India Standards under the 'Ecomark'
schemes would be a combination of ISI Mark and 'ECO' logo as
given below :
An earthen pot has been chosen as the logo for the Ecomark.
The familiar earthen pot uses a renewable resources like
earth, does not produce hazardous waste and consumes little
energy in making. Its solid and graceful form represents
both strength and fragility, which also characterises the eco-system.
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6.2
Product Coverage :
The
Ecomark scheme is primarily a movement of consumers.
Therefore, the ecolabelling scheme is confined to consumer
products. The Ecomark Steering is confined to consumer
products. The Ecomark Steering Committee, set up in the
Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) recommended to
take up the following product categories for the development
of Ecomark criteria, in the first phase :
i) Soaps & detergents;
ii) paper;
iii) food items;
iv) lubricating oils;
v) packaging materials/packages
vi) architectural paints and powder coatings;
vii) batteris;
viii) electrical/ electronic goods;
ix) food additives;
x) wood substitutes;
xi) cosmetics;
xii) aerosol propellants;
xiii) plastic products;
xiv) textiles;
xv) pesticides; and
xvi) drugs
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6.3
Criteria for Ecomark :
The
criteria are based on the cradle-to-grave approach, i.e. from
raw material extraction to manufacturing and to
disposal. The basic criteria cover broad environmental
levels and aspects (Products general requirements), but are
specific at the product level (Product specific
requirements). A product level is examined in terms of
the following main environmental impacts :
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that
they have substantially less potential for pollution than
other comparable products in production, usage and
disposal;
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that
they are recycled, recyclable, made from recycled products
or are biodegradable, where comparable products are not;
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that
they make significant contribution to saving non-renewable
resources, including non-renewable energy sources and
natural resources compared with comparable products; and
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that
they product must contribute to a reduction of the adverse
primary criteria which has the highest environment impact
associated with the use of the product and which will be
specifically set for each of the product categories.
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