SUSTAINABILITY

ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION AND REGULATION:

ECOLABEL

• The EU Ecolabel is a voluntary scheme which was established in 1993. Manufacturers are encouraged to label products that have a reduced impact on the environment over their life cycle. European consumers can identify such products with a flower symbol.

PACKAGING DIRECTIVE

• The EU Packaging Directive, introduced in 1994 and amended in 2001, sets targets for the reduction of packaging waste by means of designing out waste in the initial package design, recycling, and re-use. It also sets limits for the amount of toxic metals used in packaging. EU member states have to meet the following targets: by 2008, 60% of all packaging waste is to be recovered and a minimum of 55% of this waste is to be recycled.

ENERGY LABELLING DIRECTIVE

• This EU directive was introduced in 1996. All electrical appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines are labelled with a rating from A to G to indicate their energy use for consumers to refer to when making a purchase. The directive also aims to phase out inefficient appliances.

END-OF-LIFE VEHICLE DIRECTIVE (ELVD)

• This directive was introduced in 2003 to encourage the reuse and recycling of waste from vehicles when they reach the end of their life. It restricts the use of toxic metal in new cars and requires manufacturers to label plastic parts to air recycling. Manufacturers also have to publish information on how to dismantle the vehicles.

WASTE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT DIRECTIVE

• This EU directive also known as the WEEE Directive was implemented in 2006. It encourages manufacturers to develop electrical and electronic products that can be dismantled and the parts reused or recycled. Manufacturers have to include instructions to consumers not to discard the old product but take them to WEEE collection points. The directive also requires manufacturers to arrange collection of WEEE.

RESTRICTION OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES DIRECTIVE (RoSH)

• Introduced in 2006, this EU directive bans the use of some hazardous materials and chemicals such as lead. mercury and cadmium in electrical and electronic equipment. This is to safeguard human health when electrical equipment is disposed of and recycled.

CONTROL OF SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH REGULATIONS (COSHH):

• COSHH is a set of HSE (Health and Safety Executive) regulations and guidance for the storage and handling or potentially dangerous materials. The regulations include details of how the materials should be labelled, safely used ad stored to protect employees.