Environmentally Sound Polo-Shirts Will Be Sign of the Times

Wednesday 15th of October 2008 06:41:55 PM

Environmentally Sound Polo-Shirts Will Be Sign of the Times

A study was ordered by the British Government to investigate the methods used by companies around the world to measure environmental sustainability. The study was conducted by the consulting firm Environmental Resources Management Ltd for the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The study sought to locate standards and methods that are innovative and reflect the world's best practices.

The results were four ecolabels were chosen as the top Class 1 companies. They are New Zealand's Environmental Choice, Germany's Blue Angel, Nordic Ecolabel, and the EU Flower. Class 1 companies were considered to have standards and measures that might have application in the United Kingdom and are replicable. There were winners in other categories also including health, transportation, tires, printing and others. The textile final best practices company used as an industry model is the EU Flower. The final ecolabel best practices company named was Nordic Ecolabel.

The Nordic Ecolabel licence currently appears on company products in a 66 range list of categories and more are being added all the time. The work of the company in establishing certification for disposable products, whole life cycle eco sustainability, and assessment testing and reporting has been world class. Ragner Unge is Managing Director at SIS Ecolabelling – Competent Body for the Nordic Ecolabel in Sweden. He was quoted as saying, "The ranking of our ecolabelling agency as one of the world's best practice certifiers of sustainability is of such significance that it again substantiates that the environmental work of the Nordic countries is of word's class."

In the future, ecolabelling will become more and more important including in the textile and clothing business. Some believe all clothing, including items like polo shirts and expensive fashion, will eventually carry carbon footprint analysis so consumers can choose those products which were produced with the least environmental impact.

Image by Michael Lorenzo, www.sxc.hu/