CEPI’s Letter to the European Commission Regarding EU Ecolabel Discontinuation Concerns

 

CEPI (Brussles, Belgium) Open Letter to the European Commission President Juncker and First VP Timmermans:

 

"Concerns on the potential discontinuation of EU Ecolabel product groups.

"We, European paper manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers, consumer organizations and environmental NGOs, are writing to share our concerns about the possible removal of a number of EU Ecolabel product groups which we understand the Commission is considering. In our view, such a unilateral and unexpected consideration would be premature, given the ongoing Fitness Check of the EU Ecolabel Regulation, and we urge the commission to reconsider the possible discontinuation of these product groups.

"The Commission has recognized the EU Ecolabel as an "incentive scheme in favor of the market" which can benefit consumers and boost job creation. This voluntary, market-based instrument is also consistent with, and complementary to, other EU policies concerning the circular economy and sustainable development.

"The commission has suggested discontinuing some product groups that include two relatively successful EU Ecolabel paper-related products (tissue and newsprint). Such a discontinuation would have the following consequences:

"1. Environmental benefits would be reduced: Narrowing the scope and the uptake of the scheme will reduce its positive effects as a sign-post for product sustainability in areas ranging from biodiversity to water and energy efficiency or chemicals and raw materials management.

"2. A proliferation of labels could lead to additional confusion among consumers: The Ecolabel is designed to help EU citizens make sustainable purchases, with a range of almost 40,000 environmentally more friendly products and services, of which one quarter are paper-related. Consumers already face a wide variety of labels, and a credible EU Ecolabel allows them to buy with more confidence. Having no EU Ecolabel for paper may result in a further proliferation of private or national schemes. Such schemes are likely to use slightly differing criteria and contain protectionist national features, hampering the functioning of the EU single market.

"3. Business would face significant costs: Both the tissue and newsprint EU Ecolabels have generated several billions of euros in sales every year. Companies have invested significantly to be able to use the EU Ecolabel on their products which has helped companies market these products across the EU and access green public procurement with fewer administrative burdens. Such market uptake takes time and perseverance. Dropping these labels would lead to extra costs for such companies, as for example existing packaging materials of EU Ecolabeled products would need to be modified, and would create market uncertainty.

"The Commission’s suggestion to prematurely remove specific product groups in isolation raises questions not only over the evidence used, but also on the process, governance, and stakeholder consultation as set under the EU Ecolabel Regulation. This also seems to us incompatible with the commission’s Better Regulation guidelines issued last year.

We therefore urge the Commission to:

• Reconsider any suggested discontinuation of specific product groups at this point in time;
• Underpin with clear evidence, such as produced by the Fitness check, any decision on the fate of the ecolabels for specific product groups and the future of the scheme;
• Make the consultation process transparent, involving the EU Ecolabeling Board and stakeholders from manufacturing, retail and consumer organisations.