As some major Asian economies settle comfortably in their polluted air and water and argue why their industries cannot be so eco-friendly, Europe has pulled ahead with initiative after initiative.
Few in Malaysia would have heard of the EU Eco-label, the flower logo above that is affixed to products that have been verified by independent bodies as complying with strict ecological and performance criteria.
Their website lists 11 product categories under this system - Bedding, Gardening, Electronic equipment, Footwear, Household Appliances, Textiles, DIY, Cleaning, Paper, Services and Lubricants.
For example, the compliance requirements for bedding manufacturers look like this:
This is not just a commercial branding stunt but a carefully administered plan by the European Eco-labelling Board (EUEB) and receives the support of the European Commission, all Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA).
According to their website, the Eco-labelling Board includes representatives such as industry, environment protection groups and consumer organisations.
Read their FAQ here about the whats and whys of the EU eco-label. The EUROPA website also has a good backgrounder on this.
My question is with Asia's notoriously booming population, will their governments have the will to adopt anything like this soon? How about anytime this century?
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