'Green’ toy label in the works
By Staff -- Playthings,07/07/2009
PHILADELPHIA—Environmental labeling group EcoLogo is developing a program for certifying the environmental friendliness of toys.
"Growing numbers of toys and children's products have been making environmental claims like 'all natural' and 'earth friendly' without consistent meanings to the terms and without providing any proof of the accuracy or relevance of the claims," says Scot Case, executive director of the EcoLogo program. "The new EcoLogo standard will define clear criteria that products must meet before they can claim environmental leadership."
EcoLogo standards will be developed in an "open, public, transparent process," the company says. The 12- to 18-month development period will begin by outlining key environmental issues and questions to be addressed by the standard, with toy manufacturers and retailers free to participate in the standards development process. After the standard is finalized, any manufacturer that demonstrates compliance with the standard will be eligible for EcoLogo certification.
The standards development process will be supported by Dr. Sally Edwards, director of the Sustainable Children's Products Initiative at the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production (University of Massachusetts, Lowell) and staff at the University of Tennessee Center for Clean Products.
EcoLogo is a third-party multi-attribute eco-labeling program approved by the Global Ecolabelling Network, an international association of eco-labeling programs, as meeting the ISO 14024 standard. It was established in 1988 by the Canadian government and today is run by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing.
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| Submitted by: | Tony Kvale 7/8/2009 8:28:16 AM PT |
| Location: | Saint Paul |
| Occupation: | JOAT |
It is healthy to question the motivation of any legislative actions, but
moreso any critical comments that result, such as posted by "Anon.". It
is incorrect to assume that this certification only harms small business.
The intention will likely be to create a third-party level of consistent
measures for companies, large or small, to be viewed by corp/end
buyers. I hope that the system is on an affordable scale for various
levels of producers.
Additionally, Anon. spun this into a matter of safety for individuals,
rather than its focus on sustainable manufacturing.
| Submitted by: | Tony Kvale 7/8/2009 8:18:25 AM PT |
| Location: | Saint Paul |
| Occupation: | JOAT |
It is healthy to question the motivation of any actions, but especially
any critical comments such as posted by "Anon.". It is incorrect to
assume that this certification only harms small business.
The intention will likely be to create a third-party level of consistent
measures for companies, large or small, to be viewed by corp/end
buyers. I hope that the system is on an affordable scale for various
levels of producers.
Additionally, Anon. spun this into a matter of safety for individuals,
rather than its focus on sustainable manufacturing.
| Submitted by: | ANON. 7/8/2009 8:04:28 AM PT |
Hooray! Another standard for retailers to insist upon and for lawmakers to get on the bandwagon behind!
So many of these unneeded standards eventually turn into law, which do not actually make toys safer or the environment better, but DO drive companies out of business and preclude smaller companies from surviving!
At this point, I think we should give kids only pieces of paper to play with (not even books, since kids cannot have a staple bound book --sharp point-- anymore) --- o wait, we shouldn't even do that, since paper has a "sharp edge" --- and who has not had a paper cut?! --- and some retailers may not buy it anyway unless it has undergone costly testing to prove it complies with this latest eco standard!
Should probably just skip giving kids toys anyway. Much better to buy them a video game. Much less dangerous and environmentally sound! Yes?
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