In the Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark and Finland) more than 1000 billion Euros are used for public procurement each year, and private companies´ purchases are often many times higher than this. As a professional buyer there are many valid reasons for choosing a Type 1 Ecolabel such as the Nordic Ecolabel. A Type 1 Ecolabel is a voluntary, market-oriented, life-cycle based and third party certified labeling system.
Save time and simplify the job
A Nordic Ecolabel is simple to understand and the purchasers who prefer Type 1 Ecolabelled products do not need to develop their own environmental criteria. This saves time in evaluating the environmental affect of the products they want to buy. This kind of information is often complicated to evaluate. A Type 1 Ecolabel is third-party controlled and a guarantee that the criteria to obtain this Ecolabel is fulfilled.
A Type 1 Ecolabel also makes things easier for the suppliers, who only need to show their Nordic Ecolabel licenced product, which is the proof that they have been awarded the Nordic Ecolabel and have fulfilled the criteria.
The simplest and most trustworthy way to document environmentally high performance is to offer Type 1 Ecolabelled products, such as the Nordic Ecolabel or the EU Ecolabel.
Starting a good circle
Professional buyers are having a great influence over the market place, and should use their influence to affect the production and product development in a more sustainable direction.
The suppliers often await the demand for Nordic Ecolabelled products before they apply for the label. Tenderers should therefore send a clear message to their suppliers that products fulfilling Type 1 Ecolabel criteria will be preferred.
Visibility of environmental commitment
Companies may use its procurement of Type 1 Ecolabelled products to make their environmental commitment visible. A Nordic Ecolabel on printed matter for example gives a clear signal to society that your company are working seriously with environmental issues.
Independent judgement and quality criteria
The official Nordic Ecolabel is administered by independent official non-profit organisations with no branch affiliations to producers or suppliers. The criteria are developed in cooperation between experts who represent industry, trade, environmental organisations, consumer organisations and the government. The criteria are among the most stringent in the world.
The differences between procurement in private and public organisations
If you are a purchaser in a private company you are free to use any environmental criteria in your tenders, including asking for Nordic Ecolabelled products and services (certified products).
A public purchaser may also make use of Type 1 Ecolabelled products, but are obliged to use the criteria underlying the certification as its environmental criteria (i.e not demanding a certification). But of course, a Nordic Ecolabelled or EU Ecolabelled product is the best documentation a supplier can provide.
More for public procurers
The EU Rules and Regulations Directive states that public procurers are obliged to fulfil environmental criteria in connection with tenders. Providing Type 1 Ecolabelling criteria is the simplest and most effective way to do this.
Both the EU and the Nordic countries are developing criteria for environmentally-sound "green" procurement, many of them in the paper and printed matter area. The criteria is based upon the criteria from Nordic Ecolabelling organisation.
The purpose of this is to simplify green procurement decisions with harmonized environmental criteria within the EU market and the Nordic market. EU has also put demands on all membership states to develop action plans for green procurement and these criteria are a further step in this direction.
Type 1 Ecolabelling criteria may be used as technical specifications, weighting criteria and in contract clauses. The final choice of the procurer depends on the availability of Type 1 Ecolabelled products and the priority of the environmental demands in comparison to price and quality.
Make a green choice for your organisation
Ecolabelling in Sweden and Norway have decided to initiate the Network: Buy Ecolabelled/ The Swan’s Club for purchasers. It is open for all companies and organisations who wish to improve their environmental work, regardless of branch or type of company work.
By asking for and buying Type 1 Ecolabelled products to a company’s or organisation’s own office buyers have a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of a sustainable society. The more people who buy Nordic Ecolabelled products and services and expand the market for these products and services, the greater the possibility is that even more companies will be interested in applying for a Nordic Ecolabel licence for these products.
As a member in the Network, you will have access to our helpdesk whenever you need advice on NordicEcolabelled products and services. We also give practical help with your environmental and purchasing policies. By joining our Network you will have the opportunity of showing your customers and your employees that you take environmental issues seriously, and have business opportunities in this expanding Network. You also are able to use the Network logo on your business cards, homepage, or other publications related to how you run your business.
More information about the Network
Sweden: http://www.svanen.se/Network/
Norway: http://www.ecolabel.no/innkjoper/svanens-in/
Where do I find Nordic Ecolabelled products?
Each Nordic Ecolabelling organisation has lists of Nordic Ecolabelled products.
Sweden: www.svanen.se
Norway: www.ecolabel.no
Denmark: www.ecolabel.dk
Finland: www.ecolabel.fi
Iceland: www.ust.is