ISO standards on environmental labels and declarations and its implications on the market

Economic instruments such as extended producer responsibility (EPR) and green purchasing network (GPN) are conducive to environmentally sound and sustainable development in our society. The implementation of EPR and GPN would require tools such as environmental labels and declarations (EL). EL has been used to encourage the demand for and supply of those products that cause less stress on the environment, thereby stimulating the potential for market-driven continuous environmental improvement. However, EL may act as potential trade barriers. Harmonization of EL by International Organization for Standardization (ISO) results in EL standards termed the ISO 14020 series. The contents of the ISO 14020 series and its implications on the market are discussed.