Despite all the environmental advocacies, only a few RP products earn ‘green’ label

DESPITE all the talk about going green and the increasing “environmental advocacies” of companies, only 17 products in the country have earned the Philippine version of eco-labeling called the Green Choice seal.

Because of this, the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Inc. (PCEPSD), which is in charge of granting the Green Choice seal, and some lawmakers are now drafting a bill to make eco-labeling mandatory for both public agencies and private firms.

“We already have a draft. We are just tailoring it more to the Philippine setup; the bill is expected to be filed within the year,” June M. Alvarez, PCEPSD executive director, told the BusinessMirror on Wednesday at the sidelines of the “Gathering Hands: Sustainability at Work” forum organized by Cemex at the Sofitel Hotel.

Alvarez said Reps. Erico B. Aumentado of Bohol and Roilo Golez of Parañaque have already committed to sponsor the bill.

Today, or about seven years since the program started in 2003, Alvarez said only 17 products carry the Green Choice Seal.

These are the Island Portland Cement, Rizal Super Portland Cement, Cemex Palitada King, APO Pozzoland, APO Premium Cement, Surf Laundry detergent, Pride Laundry detergent, Organic Infill Material, Agip Diesel Sigma Plus Engine Oil, Agip Extra HTS Engine Oil, XTEC Fully Synthetic Engine Oil, United Pulp and Paper Co., Inc.’s test liner paper board, Mariwasa Siam Ceramics Inc.’s floor and wall ceramic tiles, Trevis Internationale Corp.’s all-in-one multipurpose solution plant extract, Monrio Industrial Corp.’s LVD Induction Lamp, Amon Marketing Corp.’s NVIRO Eco-safe Permaseal Paint, and Richo (Philippines) Inc.’s multi-function printing device.

Alvarez said in 2002, a study showed that 55 percent of Filipinos prefered to purchase green products. This was higher than the global average of 53 percent. And with all the hype on global warming, Alvarez said this percentage has certainly grown.

Surprisingly, however, aside from the low number of products that gained the Green Choice seal, only 50 companies have actually expressed interest to get the eco-label.

“I think they are afraid. It appears to them that they will be policed.  Others just expressed interest, and when we send them the requirements, they no longer go back to us,” Alvarez said.

PCEPSD, in granting the label, checks the lifecycle of a product—from the raw materials, mode of transport, production, how it is used and how it is disposed. It has a matrix where values are put to each criterion and they are added. In the bill, Alvarez said companies getting the eco-label will be granted tax breaks and other incentives.

Aside from the crafting of the bill, PCEPSD is also aggressively pushing the Green Purchasing Alliance Movement. Its aim is to convince companies to practice green procurement, since based on the experience of other countries, eco-labeling will progress faster if supported by institutions and not just by individual consumers. At present, there are close to 80 companies that are part of the green purchasing alliance. –Max V. de Leon / Reporter, Businessmirror