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BRITAIN is planning to outlaw misleading and false environmental claims
on consumer products. This move was announced last week as government ministers
conceded that public pressure has forced ministers to alter course over
the scope of an official ‘eco-labelling’ scheme. A more rigorous system
than that first proposed is under consideration. Originally, the government
was keen to introduce a scheme which assesses how ‘green’ individual goods
are on the basis of the direct environmental impact of a product during
use and then disposal. Now it has promised to support a ‘cradle-to-grave’
approach. This will involve consideration of the raw materials used, how
much energy is expended during manufacture and the product minimises pollution
and offers scope for recycling.