On World Ecolabel Day, October 9, we join together with three leading ecolabels from GEN — the Global Ecolabeling Network, to guide consumers and organizations on how to reduce greenwash risk and make more responsible choices.

As organizations and consumers in Asia-Pacific look to reduce negative climate impact and support supply chain resilience, sourcing products and services that are more sustainable has never been more important. But how can you know what to choose and which claims to trust?

Quality ecolabels are an essential frontline tool in the battle against greenwashing. Using a robust ecolabel helps you make smarter product choices, backed up by independent verification. When you ask for a certified product, you’re not only making a good choice, but also joining a powerful market signal to advance sustainability progress among brands and manufacturers in the process.

So how can you decide which ecolabels to trust? Here’s what to look for in a credible ecolabel, so you can make choices with confidence.

  1. Look for ecolabels with criteria that cover multiple attributes. Single-issue ecolabels may highlight one positive feature, like packaging or energy, but can ignore the larger environmental impact.
  2. Make sure any ecolabel you choose includes updated criteria, independent verification and a system of accountability.
  3. Look for credible verification. Certificates should only be issued after rigorous, third-party tests and audits.

And here’s an important reminder: no product is “eco-friendly” — everything has an environmental impact. Be wary of broad, undefined claims that aren’t backed by evidence.

In addition to environmental impacts, make sure that the ecolabel you choose also consider:

  • Human health impacts — ensuring products are safe for workers and families
  • Social accountability –- addressing modern slavery and fair labour practices
  • Fitness for purpose and circularity –- proof that products are long-lasting and effective.

As members of the Global Ecolabelling Network, Eco Choice Aotearoa, Good Environmental Choice Australia, Singapore Green Labelling Scheme and TCO Certified collaborate to help organizations make more responsible, sustainable product choices. We call on institutional procurement and consumers alike to use reliable ecolabels to identify more sustainable products. Ask for us by name! It’s free, and you’ll be adding your voice to driving long-term sustainability impacts.

About the collaborators

For this article, we have partnered with the following organizations, all available for multiple product categories.

Eco Choice Aotearoa
Eco Choice Aotearoa is the New Zealand Government’s official not-for-profit ecolabel, established more than 30 years ago. It remains the country’s only environmental label that takes a rigorous, life cycle approach to certification. Currently, Eco Choice certified products and services represent more than NZD$2 billion in annual revenue – covering everything from everyday items like cleaning and paper products, to paints, furniture, textiles, construction materials, and more.

Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA)
GECA is Australia’s only not-for-profit multi-sector ecolabelling program. Starting in 2000, this social enterprise is dedicated to enabling architects, specifiers, procurement professionals, and consumers to make good choices for their clients as well as people and planet. GECA’s ecolabelling scheme was the first to be recognised by the Green Building Council of Australia’s (GBCA) Green Star rating system. Today, GECA has over over 2,000 certified products and services 25 lifecycle ecolabel standards, ranging from furniture, paint, carpets and cleaning products to waste collection services, steel and cement.

Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS)
SGLS, administered by the Singapore Environment Council, is Singapore’s leading ecolabel, certifying over 5,000 products across 56 product categories. SGLS is widely recognized in national and corporate green procurement policies. It is explicitly referenced in Singapore’s government green public procurement framework and increasingly adopted by private organizations in their sustainable sourcing and ESG strategies. Singapore Environment Council is Singapore’s first UN-accredited environmental NGO and the only local member of the Global Ecolabelling Network.

About the Global Ecolabeling Network

The Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) is the leading network of the world’s most credible and robust ecolabels. GEN is a non-profit organization that sets the global benchmark for ecolabel excellence. Purchasing a product certified by a GEN ecolabel member is a vote for the right kind of future – a future where care for people and planet is embedded into everything we make, do and consume.