The green cleaning market is gaining ground in Hungary, driven by consumers' growing environmental awareness. In the midst of this boom, the role of eco-certification has also been enhanced. However, it is vital that people take into account the issue of greenwashing and examine whether individual labels really meet their environmentally conscious consumer needs.
CYCLE has conducted a survey on the purchasing habits of the domestic population regarding cleaning products and their knowledge of the ingredients. It showed that consumers want to know more about ingredients and green certification. In response, CYCLE is launching a new series of articles on the most popular eco-certificates in order toto help consumers make informed choices for a greener and healthier future.
Eco-certificates against greenwashing
In an era when greenwashing is a growing concern, people need a handhold on which they can rely to make informed choices. Labels such as Ecolabel, Green Brands or Leaping Bunny offer consumers options that can match their unique values. And this CYCLE series will showcase just what these are.
As the market for green cleaning products continues to grow, the issue of greenwashing cannot be ignored. And in this fight, informed consumers will certainly play a key role in promoting sustainability by demanding transparency and supporting products that are in line with their environmental values.
In the first part of this series, CYCLE staff will look at the EU Ecolabel.
EU Ecolabel
The Ecolabel is a prominent green label, as it is backed by EU law and independent of private organisations. This independence also ensures strict environmental standards, making it an attractive choice for consumers who prefer environmentally friendly options. In addition, the certification places a strong emphasis on product performance, dispelling the misconception that green products perform less well than their conventional counterparts.
A closer look at the EU Ecolabel
While Ecolabel boasts many benefits, it is essential that people recognise that other certifications have equally stringent criteria for environmental impact.The benefits of Ecolabel:
- The Ecolabel takes into account the effectiveness of the product, which is certainly to be supported.
- Tighter controls on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contribute to a healthier indoor environment.
- The continued focus of certification on environmental impacts underlines the commitment to sustainability.
The disadvantages of Ecolabel:
- The petrochemical ingredients absence of exclusion of agis a cause for concern for some environmentally conscious consumers.
- Missing specific requirements for animal welfare, non-animal testing.
- The use of non-organic coconut oil does not necessarily meet certain environmental values.
- Strict guidelines for raw material processing and provisions for vegan-friendly products are conspicuously absent.
The advantages and disadvantages shown in the list will help guide consumers as to whether this certification meets their needs, which will be used to make greenwashing-free, environmentally conscious decisions.
Watch the blog every week for more in the series!
