Promoting sustainable consumption through eco-labeling

(Chinhphu.vn) – Eco-labels are “green passports” that help businesses expand their markets, reach responsible consumers, and provide consumers with a basis for safe and quality choices.

Representatives of state management agencies, experts, associations and enterprises directly involved in production and business discussed sustainable consumption through eco-labels - Photo: VGP/TC

On August 27, Tien Phong Newspaper in collaboration with the Department of Environment - Ministry of Agriculture and Environment organized a seminar: "Promoting sustainable production and consumption through eco-labels". The seminar was attended by representatives of state management agencies, experts, associations and businesses directly producing and trading eco-label products in the North.

Mr. Phung Cong Suong, Editor-in-Chief of Tien Phong Newspaper, said that climate change and environmental pollution are causing increasingly serious consequences such as extreme heat, unusual floods, air pollution, and widespread plastic waste.

In this context, sustainable production and consumption have become mandatory. Enterprises must innovate production, reduce emissions, and save resources; consumers need to prioritize green, environmentally friendly products. This is also a major orientation that the Party and State have affirmed to build a green, circular economy .

Eco-labels are a "green passport" that helps businesses expand their markets, reach responsible consumers, and provide consumers with a basis for safe and quality choices.

According to the definition of the Global Ecolabeling Network (GEN), an Ecolabel is a label that indicates the environmental superiority of a product or service compared to similar products or services based on a life cycle assessment. Ecolabeling or environmental labeling is a voluntary labeling activity for products and services, which has been implemented in many countries around the world .

Implementing the Law on Environmental Protection 2005 and the Law on Environmental Protection 2014, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (formerly) has piloted the Vietnam Green Label Program since 2009. Within the framework of the Vietnam Green Label Program, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (formerly) has established the Vietnam Green Label Program Advisory Council and the Vietnam Green Label Program Office.

Mr. Le Hoai Nam, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said that green labels and eco-labels are important environmental policy tools, successfully applied by many countries such as Korea, Japan, China, Thailand and European countries.

This tool helps businesses switch from polluting products to green products, while supporting consumers in accessing friendly, health-protecting goods.

Mr. Le Hoai Nam informed that in Vietnam, the legal system on green labels was formed from the Law on Environmental Protection 2005, 2014 and completed in the Law 2020. In 2009, the pilot program was implemented, focusing on two product groups: Products certified with Vietnam green label and environmentally friendly plastic bags (including biodegradable bags and recycled bags).

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has issued specific criteria for these groups, some enterprises have been certified but the number is still limited. The main reasons are the weak capacity of domestic enterprises, lack of resources for technological innovation, unclear incentive policies, many new regulations are just laws without guiding documents.

The Law on Environmental Protection 2020 has integrated regulations on eco-labels into a unified system - the Vietnam eco-label, while adding incentives for green products and services. Notably, public investment projects will prioritize environmentally friendly products when inviting bids. This is considered an important step forward, expected to encourage businesses to invest more strongly in green and sustainable production.

According to the report, green label products were deployed from 2009-2017, with 112 products certified. Since the Law on Environmental Protection in 2020, the concept of eco-label has been switched. In the 2 years 2024 - 2025, 13 products have been certified with eco-labels.

Thu Cuc

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/thuc-day-tieu-dung-ben-vung-thong-qua-nhan-sinh-thai-102250827173252453.htm