Introduction
Labels and advertisements highlighting the preferential eco-benefits of products is nothing new. According to the authors of Walking the Talk: The Business Case for Sustainable Development, “eco-labeling, based on the use of labels or symbols to designate preferred products, is increasingly being used in the marketing of timber, foods, fish, and other products.”[1] The authors go on to say that, “certified products can lead to higher prices and expanded market share as well as to satisfy consumers’ concerns about the safety or environmental impact of such products.”[2] The first eco-label was the German Blue Angel certification. According to the Blue Angel website, the certification was “created in 1978 on the initiative of the Federal Minister of the Interior and approved by the Ministers of the Environment of the federal government and the federal states. It considers itself as a market-conform instrument of environmental policy designed to distinguish the positive environmental features of products and services on a voluntary basis.”[3]
Thailand Business Council for Sustainable Development
The Thailand Business Council for Sustainable Development (TBCSD) was established in 1993. Consisting of “representatives from 32 leading business organizations and operates as a non-profit group to promote sustainable development,”[4] Chaired by Mr. Anand Panyarachun as a TBCSD council project, the Thai Green Label Scheme was one of the first projects that the TBCSD took on.[5] According to the Thailand Environment Institute (TEI) “the Green Label is an environmental certification awarded to specific products that are shown to have minimum detrimental impact on the environment in comparison with other products serving the same function.” Additionally, the symbol “signifies environmental conservation. The flora (the leaves) and fauna (the bird) depicted are the living wonders of the world.”[6]
The Green Label scheme is intended to:- Provide reliable information and to guide customers in their choice of products
- Create an opportunity for customers to make an environmentally conscious decision, thus creating market incentives for manufacturers to develop and supply more environmentally sound products
- Reduce environmental impacts that may occur during manufacturing, use, consumption, and disposal products[7]
The Criteria for Development are as follows:
- An environmental assessment of the product using life cycle consideration, taking into account all aspects of environmental protection.
- Solving specific issues of high political priority, e.g. reduction of waste production, and minimization of energy and water consumption.
- Capability to meet proposed criteria with reasonable process modification and or improvement
- Possession of appropriate test methods.[8]
Conclusion
Entitled ‘Sustainable Consumption and Production of Thailand’, Wilasinee Poonuchaphai, from the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) made a presentation during a ‘Path of Good Governance Seminar’ held in South Korea during April 2010. Sponsored by organizations like: Green Growth, UN Project Office on Governance, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Regional Helpdesk on Sustainable Consumption and Production in Asia and the Pacific, Wilasinee Poonuchaphai asserts that, while participation in Thailand Business Council for Sustainable Development Green Label Scheme, “there are 30 companies have been awarded the Green Label certification.”[9] Since 1993 TBCSD has made notable achievements in their efforts to highlight companies and products in Thailand that are committed to making strides to provide envirinomentally-friendly alternatives for everyday products and services. More work needs to be done of course, but if the accomplishments made thus far are any indication, the future looks hopeful for continued sustainable development in Thailand.
[1] Holliday, Charles O. Jr., Stephen Schmidheiny, Philip Watts. Walking the Talk: The Business Case for Sustainable Development. UK: Greenleaf Publishing Limited, 2002. Print. Page 178. [2] Ibid. [3] http://www.blauer-engel.de/en/blauer_engel/index.php [4] Holliday, Charles O. Jr., Stephen Schmidheiny, Philip Watts. Walking the Talk: The Business Case for Sustainable Development. UK: Greenleaf Publishing Limited, 2002. Print. Page 190. [5] http://www.tei.or.th/greenlabel/about.html [6] Ibid. [7] Holliday, Charles O. Jr., Stephen Schmidheiny, Philip Watts. Walking the Talk: The Business Case for Sustainable Development. UK: Greenleaf Publishing Limited, 2002. Print. Page 190. [8] http://www.greengrowth.org/download/2010/korea/Country.experience.on.SCP.Thailand.pdf [9] http://www.greengrowth.org/download/2010/korea/Country.experience.on.SCP.Thailand.pdf
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