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The Importance Of Ecolabels in Sustainable Production and Consumption:
Turkish Environmental Labelling System

must meet high environmental standards throughout their entire life cycle.
In this system; all stages are taken into account starting from the extraction
of raw materials up to the production, distribution and disposal after use.
EU Ecolabel applications encourage companies to design and manufacture
innovative products that are durable, easy to repair, and recyclable. Utilizing
EU Ecolabel, industrial manufacturers offer real and reliable environment-
friendly alternatives to traditional products and allow consumers to make
conscious choices and play an active role in the green transition.
EU Ecolabel is a voluntary eco-label reward program that aims to promote
products with reduced environmental impacts during their entire life cycle and
to provide consumers with accurate, correct, science-based information on the
environmental impacts of the products. Since it is a voluntary program, manufacturers,
importers, and retailers can choose to apply for labels for their goods and services.
In addition, the EU Ecolabel is an EN ISO 14024 Type I ecolabelling process.
EU Ecolabel applications of consumers or their preference to eco-labelled
products make a real contribution to the major environmental challenges of
today which are defined in the European Green Deal as realising the goals
such as reaching the 2050 climate-neutral target, transition to the circular
economy, and zero pollution for a non-toxic environment. All relevant
stakeholders support the path towards the Green Deal goals by participating
in the EU Ecolabel implementation plan or by being a part of the relevant
initiatives of the European Commission, such as the Sustainable Consumption
Commitment and the EU Climate Pact.
The EU Ecolabel is based on the first 5 elements given below, supporting
both sustainable production and consumption and Europe’s transition to a
circular economy (Europe, 2022).
Sustainable Materials: The purchasing process for goods and services
integrates environmental and social criteria, as a result of which the
management of resources becomes more efficient with minimal impact on
the environment.
Eco-Design: It improves the environmental impact of the product starting
from the production process until the end of its useful life.
Responsible Consumption: It encourages the buyer to choose products
according to their environmental impact.
Life Time Extension: Focusing on repairing the products encourages reuse
instead of replacement and supports second-hand markets by reusing the
functional components of a product.
Recycle: Recycling increases the product value, as its components are
considered to be useful during use and at the end of their service life (since its
parts are recycled for the creation of new materials).

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