South African National Ecolabelling Scheme SANES Ms June

South African National Ecolabelling Scheme (SANES) Ms. June Josephs-Langa Indalo Yethu & Zubeida Zwavel

Presentation Outline • Introduction • Key opportunities/ lessons • Threats and challenges for action • 5 Key thematic questions/issues • Policy and governance requirements • Concluding remarks • Recommendations for Green Economy Plan

Introduction (1) • Ecolabels – aim at providing both professional and private consumers and policy makers with information on environmental characteristics of products and services. • Existing labels intention is to set national standards, to facilitate independent 3 rd party verification • The National ecolabel will not replace existing schemes and labels

Introduction … (2) • Indalo Yethu has been mandated to ensure full implementation of the South African National Ecolabelling Scheme (SANES) • Ecolabelling is a key focus area of South Africa’s Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Agenda. • It is also a key enabler for a green economy to recognize good business pactice and to facilitate consumer choice – these aspects will assist to promote SCP.

Introduction …. (3) water energy biodiversity Climate Economic and social factors change pollution Product lifecycle waste Support systems

Introduction … (4) ISO Types of labels • Series of guidance standards on ecolabelling • ISO 14020 - all Types • ISO 14021 - Type II - self declared • ISO 14024 - Type I - selective - leadership • ISO 14025 - Type III - declarations Type I = voluntary, life cycle based, multiple sector, 3 rd party verified and operated, and selective (leadership)

Examples of Type I Ecolabels

Introduction … (5) Principles of ISO 14024 Type I label • Participation is voluntary • Applicants comply with environmental and other relevant legislation • Criteria development includes a comprehensive life cycle consideration approach • Environmental criteria differentiate environmentally preferred products from others • Fitness of purpose and levels of performance (of products) taken into account

Introduction … (6) SANES vision. . . provide a single reconizable impartial brand which consumers are able to trust when purchasing an eco-friendly product or service. Objectives. . • Provide a clear, credible and independent guide to consumers • Encourage consumers to purchase products with lower environmental impacts • Provide for standards in exports markets that demand a national ecolabel certificate • Grow the pool of eco-friendly goods or services – a key enabler towards developing a green economy • Improve competitiveness in the green goods and service marke

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

Governance Requirements (1) A structure within Indalo Yethu SA National Ecolabelling Panel Accreditation Body Certification Body 1 Certification Body 2 include amongst others: • Indalo Yethu • PSA • SABS • NCPC • DTI • DEA • Industry • Consumer organizations • Experts • NGOs • Labour unions Certification Body 3 Product / Service 1 Product / Service 2 Product / Service 3 • Responsible Tourism • Eco Exhibit • Eco-Specifier

• Facilitate standards development • Accredit certification bodies • Facilitate training of certification bodies • License ecolabel • Market research • Recommend new product categories • Marketing and communications re logo • Mutual reciprocity agreements • Green procurement promotion Certification Body 1 Governance Requirements (2) SA National Ecolabelling Panel • Oversee objectives and progress of SANES • Approve new product / service categories • Approve standards developed by accreditation body Accreditation Body Certification Body 2 Certification Body 3 Product / Service 1 Product / Service 2 Product / Service 3 • Certification against standards • Verification / monitoring of companies

SANES Processes (1) • Ecolabelling processes: – Certification – Licensing – Communication and promotion

Processes (2) • Ecolabelling processes: – Accreditation. . . a third-party attestation of a certification body’s demonstrated competence to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks – Category selection. . . will be directed either by legislative requirements, the Ecolabelling Panel, or demand from industry/services sectors. – This will consider the scope for or potential to improve the environment, high ecological footprint

SANES standard development process (3)

SANES certification process (1) Applicant Certification Body Preliminary assessment Submit preliminary application for eco label Accreditation Body Register application Application fee charge Fix any outstanding issues Send info pack and conduct pre-assessment Forward application Pay certification body % of application fee

SANES certification process (2) Applicant Certification Body Certification assessment Submit application for eco label Accreditation Body Register application Review information Advise on certification fee Certification fee charge Site audit & testing Forward application Recommendation regarding certification Approval of certification Pay certification body

SANES certification process (3) Applicant Certification Body Accreditation Body Logo licensing Apply for logo license Review and send contract for logo usage Charge annual license fee based on size of company

Threats and challenges for action • Proliferation of standards developed through private schemes • Alignment of the current existing private sector standards • Ensuring awareness and brand recognition • Changing production and consumption patterns

SANES Key Opportunities (1) • Participation in GEN - further credibility to SA ecolabel and facilitating agreements of reciprocity with other international ecolabels. • International reciprocity-MRAs, Reducing certification costs and increasing access • Compliance monitoring of logo – protect integrity of the brand genuine users • Drive green procurement programmes with government, tertiary institutions, building sector & corporate

SANES Opportunities (2) • Form marketing collaborations with companies that are creating and selling environmentally preferable products • Marketing portal for endorsed products and services • Co-ordinate involvement of industry bodies, members, sector certification bodies, government, consumers, NGOs, subject experts and standards certification bodies

SANES Key Opportunities (3) • Agreed sharing of standards from organisations such as GECA and ECNZ, which can be tailored to the South African context. • Access to technical advice - linking with programmes e. g. NCPC-SA. Access to accredited and trained certifiers. Training and support of industry members • Networking events to update industry members of market changes, ecolabel scheme changes, environmental best practice etc.

SANES Key Opportunities (4) • Consumer awareness - clear, credible and independent guide to consumers – promoting environment-friendly consumption activities • Link with policy and trade developments related to growing the green economy

Closing remarks • Creating demand for green products everyone’s responsibility. • Increased demand will push prices down • system must be tiered and aspirational to allow a wider range of participants • Green procurement is key driver for the uptake of ecolabelling

Roadmap Medium term Short term • Institutional structure implementation & appointment by DEA • Marketing and information roadshows • Accreditation of certification bodies • Identification, capacitation & accreditation of laboratories Long term • Functional and sustainable SANES operations • MRAs with other international eco-labelling schemes • Sustainable revenue steam through licensing, certification, accreditation fees and sponsorships • Standard development and certification • Training of certifiers/evaluators • Marketing and branding of SANES

THANK YOU