Aleph Accreditation & Testing Centre Pvt Ltd.
ECO MARK
INTRODUCTION
India is the fastest developing country in the world. Environmental pollution remains a big challenge and opportunity for India. India faces numerous issues, including air pollution, water pollution, waste, and environmental contamination. The primary cause of diseases, health issues, and long-term livelihood impact in India is environmental degradation.
The degradation of the quality and quantity of natural resources is referred to as environmental pollution. The fundamental causes of environmental degradation are various types of human activities. The primary causes of environmental degradation are rapid industrialization, unplanned urbanization, deforestation, overpopulation growth, and changing consumption patterns in the race to achieve better living standards.
Pollution control authorities alone cannot restore the environment to its former glory. The consumer should also take the lead in helping manufacturers to implement clean and Eco-friendly technologies and use preventive and mitigation strategies for environmentally safe disposal of used products.
In 1991, the government of India introduced the Eco-labeling scheme known as ‘Eco Mark’ to increase consumer awareness and make it easier to identify environmentally friendly products. Consumer goods that meet the specified environmental criteria, as well as the quality requirements of Indian Standards, are given the 'Eco Mark' label. An environmentally friendly product is one that is made, used, or disposed of in a way that significantly reduces the harm it would cause the environment.
LOGO OF ECO MARK FOR ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS
An earthen pot is a logo for the Eco Mark scheme in India. As a symbol, it conveys its environmental message. Its picture has the power to reach out to people and can serve to raise awareness about the importance of environmental stewardship. The Scheme's logo denotes that the product bearing it does the least environmental damage.
OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHEME
The objectives of the Eco Mark scheme are as follow:
- To recognize companies who take serious steps to lessen their goods' negative environmental impact.
- To provide an incentive for manufacturers and importers to reduce the adverse environmental impact of products.
- To help consumers become more environmentally conscious in their daily lives by giving information that allows them to consider environmental factors when making purchases.
- To encourage citizens to buy products that are less hazardous to the environment.
- To improve environmental quality and encourage resource management in the long run.
CRITERIA OF ECO MARK
The following major environmental concerns are considered while evaluating a product:
- Products must have substantially less potential for pollution than other comparable products in production, usage, and disposal;
- Products are recycled, recyclable, made from recycled products or bio-degradable, where comparable products are not;
- When compared to comparable products, products contribute significantly to the conservation of nonrenewable resources, such as nonrenewable energy sources and natural resources;
- The product must help to reduce the negative primary criteria that have the greatest environmental impact connected with its use and which will be particularly determined for each of the product categories.
PRODUCT GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:
In addition to product safety, quality, and performance, the general product standards address concerns such as compliance with pollution control legislation, raising environmental awareness among consumers, and so on.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS
- The applicant is responsible for the payment of the fee of sample inspection and testing at an independent laboratory.
- The minimum marking fee relevant to the product and accepted by the applicant is paid in advance to the Bureau after the license is granted but before the product is marked.
- One application form is valid only for one product and one Indian Standard Specification. A separate application with the requisite fee may be submitted to the Bureau for each Indian Standard and each product.
- During the validity of a unit's license, the Bureau makes unannounced visits to the licensee's manufacturing facilities to assess the operation of the BIS Certification Mark Scheme for the product.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Following documents are required for the Eco mark scheme:
- Consent/environmental clearance certificate from the concerned State Pollution Control Board.
- Small-scale industries registration certificate
- Formal consent in writing regarding the acceptance of the Scheme of Testing and Inspection (STI).
- Product Details and catalog
- Information Obtained from the Lab
- Samples information
- Separate Applications for each product
HOW TO OBTAIN THE LICENSE TO USE ECO MARK?
The process to obtain the license to use the Eco Mark are as follow:
Application Submission: An application on the prescribed form, duly completed with a requisite fee, may be forwarded to the Bureau’s respective office for acceptance, acknowledgment, and further action.
Preliminary Inspection: Upon receipt of the completed application form, the Bureau schedules a preliminary inspection of the applicant’s unit on a mutually convenient date for preliminary inspection and assessment of the applicant’s manufacturing and quality control facilities as well as the availability of testing personnel for satisfactory operation of BIS Certification Mark Scheme for a product for which the application has been submitted to the Bureau.
Sample drawn: The Bureau's inspection officers draw samples for factory testing and independent testing to determine whether the product meets the specifications' standards, including the Eco Mark requirements.
Verification of test report: The preliminary inspection (PI) report, independent test reports of samples taken during PI, and acceptance of STI and marking fee schedule are verified at the appropriate level within the Bureau.
Grant of license: If all documents are complete and found satisfactory, a license is granted by the BIS authority allowing the unit to use the Bureau’s standard mark for a specified period. The license is initially granted for the period of one year, which is renewable for two years at a time, subsequently on the basis of the performance of the unit in the previous year.
FEES REQUIRED FOR ECO MARK
The following fees are required to be paid to the Bureau of Indian Standards for obtaining the Eco Mark:
- Non-refundable Application fee of Rs.500/= per application.
- Independent laboratories’ testing fee for the samples drawn prior to the grant of a license.
- Annual license fee at the rate of Rs.500/= per license.
- When the license is due for renewal, then a Renewal application fee of Rs.300/= per application.
- Marking fee, depending upon the volume of the annual production.
HOW TO GET A LICENSE TO USE ECO MARK?
To get a complete idea about the Eco Mark license procedure for environmentally friendly products and make the business hustle-free, contact Aleph INDIA. Aleph INDIA has been facilitating fortune 500 companies for a decade. Visit Aleph India to know more about the Eco Mark license process. You may also reach Aleph INDIA toll-free helpline at 08048036869/ +919990136656 for a quick response.