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Enhanced eco-verification

The Enhanced Eco-verification initiative aims to improve information about standards and certifications relating to reduced environmental impacts of products and firms, facilitate tools to help businesses meet those standards, and enhance systems to verify that the standards have been met.

The Government is developing a set of actions to:

  • accelerate uptake by businesses and government agencies of internationally recognised eco-verification indicators such as ISO 14001, product standards, and ISO 140024 ecolabels
  • position New Zealand as a global leader in research and development in product life-cycle analysis and application of eco-verification support structures;
  • work with stakeholders to position New Zealand as a leader in carbon-footprint measurement and management – and in areas that will make the greatest contribution to sustainability and economic transformation; and
  • work with primary-sector stakeholders to develop a greenhouse-gas footprint response, including scoping opportunities for co-ordination of research, eco-verification, promotion, market development and international trade.

The Government has developed an online database www.med.govt.nz/ecolabels to provide guidance on the eco-labels and eco-standards that are in use in New Zealand. This will help businesses that want to trade on sustainability to know what to look for before they commit to any commercially available eco-label or sustainability programme, and will assist buyers in comparing products on sustainability grounds.

For more information, see our Eco-labels and branding webpage.

The programme is closely aligned with the Government’s Business Partnerships for Sustainability and Sustainable Government Procurement programmes.

The Ministry of Economic Development is leading the programme in partnership with the Ministry for the Environment. Budget 2007 includes $7.4 million over four years for this and the sustainable government procurement programme.

Contact the Ministry of Economic Development for more information about this programme.