Why ecolabeling is not so Why ecolabeling is not so atractive in Romaniaatractive in Romania

Assc.Prof. Eugenia Țigan, PhD.Eng. Assc.Prof. Eugenia Țigan, PhD.Eng.

””Aurel Vlaicu” University of AradAurel Vlaicu” University of Arad

EcolabelingEcolabeling

is a voluntary scheme designed to encourage is a voluntary scheme designed to encourage :: traders to sell goods / services with reduced traders to sell goods / services with reduced

environmental impactenvironmental impact European consumers - including public and private European consumers - including public and private

purchasers - to use products with reduced purchasers - to use products with reduced environmental impactenvironmental impact

And the eco-label can be easily identified these And the eco-label can be easily identified these products and servicesproducts and services

Aim toa sustainable society

Voluntary system that uses market forces

Promote products with minimal impactenvironment and human healththroughout their life cycle

Stimulates Consumersand producers

Are ecolabeled

services /products

Eco-label does not applyEco-label does not apply

a)a) substances or preparations classified as very substances or preparations classified as very toxic, toxic, environmentally harmful, toxic, toxic, environmentally harmful, carcinogenic, toxic for reproduction or carcinogenic, toxic for reproduction or mutagenic, and goods manufactured by mutagenic, and goods manufactured by processes harmful to humans or the processes harmful to humans or the environment and can harm the consumer environment and can harm the consumer under normal conditions of use;under normal conditions of use;

b)b) food, beverages, pharmaceuticals;food, beverages, pharmaceuticals;c)c) medical devices intended for professional or medical devices intended for professional or

that is prescribed or used bythat is prescribed or used by

When you first heard of eco-labelWhen you first heard of eco-label

majority of those surveyed had majority of those surveyed had heard of eco-label for the first heard of eco-label for the first time 2-3 years ago they were in time 2-3 years ago they were in proportion of 41.9%proportion of 41.9%followed by those who claim to followed by those who claim to have first heard of eco-label last have first heard of eco-label last year in proportion of 32.3%year in proportion of 32.3%only 19.4% of those surveyed only 19.4% of those surveyed said they had heard of eco-label said they had heard of eco-label this year.this year.3.2% have heard from more 3.2% have heard from more than 5 yearsthan 5 yearsand 3.2% have not heard all of and 3.2% have not heard all of the eco-labelthe eco-label

How often do you meet with How often do you meet with the notion of eco-labelthe notion of eco-label

41.9% say they rarely 41.9% say they rarely met,met,same percentage 41.9% same percentage 41.9% felt that they rarely met felt that they rarely met the eco-label.the eco-label.Was frequently Was frequently encountered by 3.2% of encountered by 3.2% of respondents,respondents,and 9.7% often met eco-and 9.7% often met eco-labellabel

In what areas have met ecolabeling In what areas have met ecolabeling primarilyprimarily

Most Most respondents, respondents, 67.7% claim to 67.7% claim to have met have met ecolabeling food,ecolabeling food,and 29% say that and 29% say that the shopsthe shops

In what areas have met ecolabellingIn what areas have met ecolabelling

in this sense that the in this sense that the majority 49.1% said they majority 49.1% said they met first eco-label met first eco-label household productshousehold productsand 35.5% were found and 35.5% were found primarily in tourist primarily in tourist servicesservices

Do you Do you appreciateappreciate e ecolabelled pcolabelled products roducts asas

Of those surveyed Of those surveyed believe that a rate of believe that a rate of 63.3% 63.3% of ecolabeled of ecolabeled products are of good products are of good quality,quality,high quality 25% of high quality 25% of respondentsrespondentsand 9.7% think and 9.7% think that that ecolabeled ecolabeled products products are top quality.are top quality.

Do you cDo you consider that in the future onsider that in the future ecolabeled ecolabeled products and services will be products and services will be

appreciated?appreciated? In this regard 61.3% In this regard 61.3% believe believe that that ecolabeled ecolabeled products products and services are and services are increasingly popular increasingly popular in the future.in the future.Only a small Only a small proportion of proportion of respondents respondents considered that considered that 12.9% will be 12.9% will be neither appreciated neither appreciated nor unappreciated.nor unappreciated.

How important is it for you to drink / use How important is it for you to drink / use ecolabelled ecolabelled productsproducts??

is very important for is very important for 22.6% of consumers22.6% of consumersand for only 61.3% is and for only 61.3% is important.important.Only 12.9% believe that Only 12.9% believe that the the ecolabelled ecolabelled products products are important.are important.

How frequently consume / use How frequently consume / use ecolabeled ecolabeled productsproducts ? ?

When asked if When asked if consumed and how consumed and how frequently consume frequently consume ecolabeled ecolabeled products products majority say rarely or majority say rarely or infrequentlyinfrequentlyonly 3.2% of all only 3.2% of all respondents say that respondents say that they consume these they consume these products often.products often.

The findingsThe findings The analysis made on the importance of The analysis made on the importance of ecolabeling ecolabeling

for for consumer consumer ,, that most of them learned about eco- that most of them learned about eco-label 2-3 years ago but the concept of eco-label label 2-3 years ago but the concept of eco-label encountering rare or rare.encountering rare or rare.

A contradictory aspect is that, for respondents, it is A contradictory aspect is that, for respondents, it is important and very important to consume important and very important to consume ecolabeled ecolabeled products , however they rarely or seldom purchaseproducts , however they rarely or seldom purchase themthem..

It should be noted that almost 40% of respondents It should be noted that almost 40% of respondents have higher education, the others having finished high have higher education, the others having finished high school, and most are aged between 24-30 years, school, and most are aged between 24-30 years, although questionnaire responders people aged 18-58 although questionnaire responders people aged 18-58 years.years.

The findingsThe findings

There is also balanced in terms of gender There is also balanced in terms of gender distribution of respondentsdistribution of respondents

Family income in the last month analyzing and Family income in the last month analyzing and assessing the respondents to these revenues, assessing the respondents to these revenues, the income level is medium, appreciated the the income level is medium, appreciated the fact that the majority believes that they only are fact that the majority believes that they only are these essential income.these essential income.

Which may explain to some extent the interest Which may explain to some extent the interest of other products and not the organic label.of other products and not the organic label.

Application fee in 66/2010 Application fee in 66/2010 Reg.UE confirmedReg.UE confirmed

Minimum 200 euroMinimum 200 euro Maximum 1200 euro for SMEs can not exceed 600 euro, Maximum 1200 euro for SMEs can not exceed 600 euro,

micro not exceed 350 euromicro not exceed 350 euro Discounts 20% for SMEs and applicants from developing Discounts 20% for SMEs and applicants from developing

countries or those who apply managenet system or countries or those who apply managenet system or apply ISO14001 environmentalapply ISO14001 environmentalannual feeannual fee

Maximum 1,500 euro per product group appliedMaximum 1,500 euro per product group appliedNot exceed 750 euros for SMEs and applicants from Not exceed 750 euros for SMEs and applicants from developing countriesdeveloping countries

Not exceed 350 euros for microNot exceed 350 euros for microIn GD 661/2011 confirmed in Romania is not an annual In GD 661/2011 confirmed in Romania is not an annual fee, only the application fee of 200 eurofee, only the application fee of 200 euro

Why is not attractive eco-label in Why is not attractive eco-label in Romania? - Suggestions and Romania? - Suggestions and recommendationsrecommendations

It can notIt can not be attractive be attractive what we do nott what we do nott know !know ! It can It can not not be attractive which cost be attractive which cost are are too too highhigh until the until the

entry into force of the new GD 661/2011entry into force of the new GD 661/2011 Illustrate the benefits of eco-label application need Illustrate the benefits of eco-label application need forfor

producers of goods and services.producers of goods and services. Promoting the advantages of eco-labeled Promoting the advantages of eco-labeled for for productsproducts

consumer consumer Awareness of the need to have a reduced Awareness of the need to have a reduced

environmental impact as through our lifestyleenvironmental impact as through our lifestyle

COUNTRYCOUNTRY LICENCESLICENCES

BULGARIABULGARIA 00

ICELANDICELAND 00

LIECHTENSTEINLIECHTENSTEIN 00

LITHUANIALITHUANIA 00

LUXEMBOURGLUXEMBOURG 00

CYPRUSCYPRUS 11

ESTONIAESTONIA 11

MALTAMALTA 11

SLOVAKIASLOVAKIA 11

LATVIALATVIA 33

ROMANIAROMANIA 33

SLOVENIASLOVENIA 33

HUNGARYHUNGARY 44

NORWAYNORWAY 77

FINLANDFINLAND 88

POLANDPOLAND 88

BELGIUMBELGIUM 99

PORTUGALPORTUGAL 1313

CZECH REPUBLICCZECH REPUBLIC 1414

NETHERLANDSNETHERLANDS 1616

IRELANDIRELAND 1717

SWEDENSWEDEN 2121

UNITED KINGDOMUNITED KINGDOM 2222

GREECEGREECE 2323

SPAINSPAIN 4545

AUSTRIAAUSTRIA 5555

GERMANYGERMANY 6666

DENMARKDENMARK 7272

FRANCEFRANCE 148148

ITALYITALY 266266

No. certificates awarded by each No. certificates awarded by each Member State data in 2010Member State data in 2010

Hotel Saturn and Hotel Saturn and Company MaguayCompany Maguay

Links:Links:

European Union Eco-label - European Union Eco-label - http://ec.europa.eu Ministry of Environment Ministry of Environment - http://www.mmediu.ro- http://www.mmediu.ro Ministry of Environment Ministry of Environment - - http://www.eco-label.com Ministry of Environment Ministry of Environment - -

http://www.etichetaecologica.ro For more information For more information ::Eugenia TiganEugenia Tigan eugeniatigan@gmail.com etigan@yahoo.com

Thank you!