The number of people who think about what substances affect their body is growing every day. This is evidenced by the growing number of organic or organic food products offered by the market. But is it logical, if we selectively choose food, and at the same time allow the penetration into the body of harmful chemicals from cosmetics and household chemicals? Therefore, "green technology" has spread to this sphere. It is very important that there are no abuses in trying to play on the natural desire of consumers to use safe products. The state, interested in the well-being of its citizens, can monitor the situation.
In 2015, at the state level, additional incentive schemes are planned for producers who seek to improve the environmental performance of their products. Thus, the technical regulation on environmental marking leads to the application of marking, which speaks of the ecological advantage of the product, in accordance with the requirements of the European Union. For example, it is already impossible to place unsubstantially on the package, label or advertising statements or logos that hint at the environmental benefits of the product. That they did not happen with the same thing as with the "No GMO" badge, which most consumers now do not pay attention to, realizing that there is no guarantee for it.
To improve the environmental characteristics of the products, the enterprise should modernize its production and spend on innovation. Being interested in this, the state can partially compensate such investments at the expense of state funds and soft loans.
Environmental labeling has become one of the instruments of state environmental policy. In the EU countries this approach has been applied for a long time, in our country it is an adaptation of the European requirements to the Ukrainian realities. Thus, the state encourages the production of products with characteristics that are improved in relation to the environment and human health. However, environmental labeling should not be an end in itself. Its mission is to identify products with improved environmental characteristics and to stimulate demand for such products.
In accordance with business ethics, the display of respect for the consumer will be fair advertising, not exaggerating the properties and capabilities of the product. Of course, environmental benefits give more trump cards to marketers. Green marketing is becoming the main tool for many companies. This became a trend not only in Western Europe, but also in Asia. The combination of a strategy to reduce the impact on the environment and position yourself as a producer of an eco-product (or service) gives advantages when promoting a company on the market. Ecological and organic standards have been working for decades, which they trust.
The market of environmentally certified goods and services is actively developing in Ukraine. Manufacturers who voluntarily conducted environmental or organic certification immediately grow in the eyes of consumers. What do such certificates guarantee?
Take, for example, the organic market. In Ukraine there is one official organization that certifies organic products, Organic Standard. In its work, it relies on international standards. Its results are recognized in Europe, allowing certified products to enter the EU market and other regions.
Representatives of "Organic Standard" annually inspect the life cycle of the goods - from the field to the finished product. Naturally, it costs a lot and affects the price, but it ensures that your product will not:
- pesticides (in any case, they will be tens of times less, as some pesticides introduced many years ago, degrade very slowly and can contaminate products for years to come);
- GMOs or their derivatives;
- synthetic dyes, fragrances, preservatives.
In the vast majority of cases, organic certification concerns food products. But the "organic" cosmetics and "organic" household chemicals already appear on the Ukrainian market. Manufacturers and sellers of such funds wanted to focus attention on its organic origin.
Other manufacturers conduct environmental certification to emphasize the high quality and safety for the environment of their product or service and even the office. Environmental certification is handled by the official representative of ICEA in Ukraine - "Living Planet". If the environmental benefits of the product are confirmed in comparison with similar products, then such product has the right to place on its packaging a sign of compliance with the Green Crane standard. The right to use this icon will have to be confirmed every three years.
Like organic, environmental standards, too, strictly regulate the presence in the finished product of pesticides, GMOs and synthetic substances. In addition, they take into account the environmental aspects of production itself and even packaging - whether it is biodegradable or recyclable.
In December 2014, the company "De La Marque" received an environmental certificate for funds for washing and care of the house, confirming their safety for both the consumer and nature.
As you can see, organic and ecological certification systems do not exclude each other, but supplement. Both these systems are still superior to state standards. And the compliance of products with such high standards gives a competitive advantage in their promotion on the market. Some manufacturers for positioning themselves as an unconditional leader undergo several international certifications. Of course, this can not but affect the cost of their products. But it is up to the consumer to decide whether he is ready to pay for such security