The EU Ecolabels for Mattresses and Furniture – Status report and expected market uptake

Europur & Euro-Moulders General Assembly & Technical Conference – Vienna, 11-13 June 2014

Mauro Cordella

European Commission, JRC-IPTS

Content

• JRC and the product policy context

• The EU Ecolabel

• EU Ecolabel for bed mattresses

• EU Ecolabel and GPP for furniture

• Conclusions

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IET – Petten, The Netherlands

Institute for Energy

IRMM – Geel, Belgium

Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements

ITU – Karlsruhe, Germany

Institute for Transuranium Elements

IES/ IHCP/ IPSC – Ispra, Italy

Institute for Environment and Sustainability

Institute for Health and Consumer Protection

Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen

IPTS – Sevilla, Spain

Institute for Prospective Technological Studies

The Joint Research Centre

Joint Research Centre in the context of the European Commission:

DG ENV DG ENER DG ENTR DG RTD DG … DG JRC

Activities in support of Product Policy

Development and implementation of Sustainable Product Policies:

• EU Ecolabel Regulation,

• Green Public Procurement Communication,

• Energy Related Products Directive,

• Energy Labelling Directive

Techno-economic research, development of environmental assessment methodologies, as well as the operational management of the stakeholder interaction

Less PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY More

Num

bers

of p

rodu

cts

in th

e m

arke

t

Interventions:

• Support

innovation

Interventions:

•Pricing and trading

•Voluntary initiatives

•Producer responsibility

•Business support

•Procurement

•Labelling

•Public information

Interventions:

•Minimum

standards

PRODUCT INTERVENTIONS – Overall approach

Cut out the

least

sustainable

products

Encourage

development

of new, more

sustainable

products

Drive the existing market towards greater

sustainability

Ecolabel

Eco

desig

n

GPP

Product policy toolbox

7

The Product Bureau http://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/product_bureau/index.html

Examples of existing environmental labels http://www.globalecolabelling.net/

ISO 14040-44 Standards

Sectorial PCRs

Type I (ISO 14024): 3rd-party certified multi-criteria env. label, voluntary, pass/fail requirements based on lifecycle considerations

Type III (ISO 14025): Independently verified label for performance quantification, voluntary, no thresholds set

EU and national Ecolabels

• Same interests ("Greening the market"), different playfields

• EU Ecolabel covers the European Market and allows cross-country marketing with the same label

• National Labels cover national/regional market characteristics and needs of consumers

• Joint and continuous learning process:

- Share information ("co-operation")

- Align criteria and/or test methods ("harmonization")

- Enhance and extend criteria ("competition")

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Advantages for Companies

• Improving the environmental performance of their products/services

• Communicating the good environmental performance of their products with an internationally popular, credible and trustworthy label within the label "jungle"

• Demonstrating the company‘s awareness and commitment on environmental issues

• Strategic position in Green Public Procurement (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/gpp/index_en.htm)

The EU Ecolabel http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel/index_en.htm

• 1992: EU Ecolabel regulation establishment, only for products

• 2000: 1st revision of the regulation, extension to services (tourist accommodations, campsites)

• 2009: 2nd revision of the regulation (EC no. 66/2010), greater focus on lifecycle and hazardous substance

• Mgt: European Commission, EUEB, MS's Competent Bodies

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+ Water based heaters

+ Absorbent hygiene products

Criteria development process

Based on:

1. Analysis of legislation, other

labels and standards

2. Market aspects

3. Technical and environmental

analysis, including LCA/LCT

4. Stakeholders consultation and

practical aspects

Steps:

1. Identification of criteria areas

2. Proposals, discussion and

assessment

3. Definition of relevant, feasible

and supported criteria

Timing:

criteria revised each 3-4 years,

about 24 months for the process

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EU Ecolabel - Some statistics… (1)

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EU Ecolabel - Some statistics… (2)

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• +30 product groups and about 37.000 products labelled so far

EU Ecolabel - Some statistics… (3)

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EU Ecolabel for Bed Mattresses

Status

• Last revision: Commission Decision of 9 July 2009

• Revised criteria voted positively by the EUEB in Nov 2013, not yet adopted since the scrutiny period is still on-going

Current number of EU Ecolabel licenses and products

• Austria: 1 licence, 3 products

• Denmark: 1 licence, 13 products

• France: 1 licence, 1 product

• Lithuania: 1 licence, 1 product

• Total EU: 4 licences, 18 products

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Possible reasons for relatively low penetration:

• Flame retardants

• Materials (e.g. textiles)

• Quality aspects

• Different labels

Engagement with industry (and other stakeholders)

EU Ecolabel as internationally popular and trusted Label:

- 'High-quality long-lasting product' - 'Hazardous substances restricted' - 'Indoor air pollution reduced'

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Revised scope (Nov 2013)

1. The product group “bed mattresses” shall comprise products consisting of a cloth cover that is filled with materials and that can be placed on an existing supporting bed structure or designed for free standing in order to provide a surface to sleep or rest upon for indoor use.

2. The product group shall not include wooden and upholstered bed bases, inflatable mattresses and water mattresses, as well as mattresses classified under Council Directive 93/42/EEC

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Revised criteria (Nov 2013) 1. Latex foam 2. Polyurethane (PUR) foam 3. Wire and springs 4. Coconut fibres 5. Textiles (mattress cover and/or filling materials) 6. Glues and adhesives 7. Flame retardants 8. Biocides 9. Plasticizers 10. Excluded or limited substances and mixtures 11. Emission of volatile organic compounds from the mattress 12. Technical performance 13. Design for disassembly and recovery of materials 14. Information appearing on the EU Ecolabel 15. Additional information to consumers

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Criteria for PUR:

• 5% w/w threshold

• Restricted substances (Biocides, Heavy Metals, Plasticizers, TDA and MDA, Tinorganic substances, Other specific substances)

• Emission of specified volatile organic compounds (SVOCs, VOCs, VVOCs)

• Dyes

• Total chlorine content of isocyanates (TDI < 0.07 w/w)

• Blowing agents (no halogenated organic compounds)

- Based on analysis of information on industry requirements

- Common interests, compatibility and synergies between EU Ecolabel (product) and CertiPUR label (material)

harmonisation of requirements

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EU Ecolabel for Furniture Status

• Last revision: Commission Decision of 30 November 2009

• Currently under revision, vote planned by the end of the year (tbc)

Current number of EU Ecolabel licenses and products:

Poland: 1 licence, 1 product

Italy: 1 licence, 38 products

Total EU: 2 licence, 39 products

Main reasons for the low penetration:

Restrictive material requirements (≥90% wood, ≤3% any other individual material)

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Latest draft scope (under consultation)

1. The product group "furniture" shall comprise free-standing or built-in units which are used for storing or hanging items and/or providing surfaces for sitting, resting, eating or work purposes. The product group extends to furniture used in domestic, business and public environments and includes both indoor and outdoor furniture. The product group only extends to those products whose primary function is to be used as furniture according to the definition in the first sentence of this paragraph.

Examples of products whose primary function is not to be used as "furniture" include: streetlights, traffic cones and bollards, electrical cabinets, playground equipment, carpets, sanitary equipment and building products such as steps, doors, window frames, floor coverings and cladding. 2. The following products do not lie within the product group scope: (a) Products containing mirror glass where >5% of the product weight is due to mirror glass. (b) Seating and other furniture used in cars, trains, airplanes and other vehicles. (c) Products that contain lighting sources. (d) Second-hand or refurbished furniture where information about the materials and hazardous substances used is not available.

Main change: removal of limits to material contents

Much broader scope proposed now

Consideration of upholstery furniture

Similar scope under study for revision of GPP criteria

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Revised EU Ecolabel criteria (under consultation): 1. Product description 2. Hazardous substances – general text as per Articles 6(6) & 6(7) 3. Wood and wood-based materials 4. Plastics; 5. Metals; 6. Textiles; 7. Leather 8. Padding materials (specifically PU, latex and other textiles in #6) 9. Glass 10. Packaging 11. Final product criteria (technical standards, disassembly and EoL

information, consumer information, ergonomics where relevant and VOC

emissions where relevant). Sub-criteria for hazardous substances, adhesives and coatings included on a material specific basis GPP criteria to be revised based on information gathered, possible focus on main elements, padding materials currently though as "award" criteria for specific cases only

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Criteria for padding materials in furniture:

• Criteria focused on PU foam and latex foam. No criteria for springs, wires or coconut fibres though

• Proposed to align with latest criteria for bed mattresses

• Additional possible padding materials considered such as polyester, cotton and down feathers. Relevance in particular with cushions

• Reference to textile criteria

• No objections raised at 2nd AHWG meeting, only a query about potential for PU recycling / recycled content

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Conclusions

• EU Ecolabel as a tool to promote sustainability of products

• Criteria development based on robust process, intensive consultation with stakeholders, comprehensive information basis

• Different product groups different uptake of the label, examples of success (hard floor covering) vs. less interest (e.g. mattresses)… increasing the penetration engaging with industry!

• EU Ecolabel as international popular and trusted label avoiding confusion within the label "jungle"

• Importance of Ecolabel for GPP

• Requirements of CertiPUR label as element of reference for mattresses and upholstery furniture

• Common interests, compatibility and synergies

Thanks for your attention!

Mauro Cordella, Ph.D

European Commission

JRC–IPTS, Sustainable Production and Consumption Unit

Edificio EXPO C/ Inca Garcilaso 3, E-41092, Sevilla

Tel. +34 954 488 424; Fax +34 954 488 426

e-mail: mauro.cordella@ec.europa.eu

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel/

http://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/product_bureau/projects.html

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are purely those of the writer and may not in any circumstances be regarded as stating an official position of the European Commission.

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Supporting Information

Technical and environmental analysis

PRODUCT

manufacturing

production

transport

Use phase

final disposal

Reuse/ recycling

Raw material extraction

1. Life Cycle Assessment 2. Product-oriented analysis

Use phase

Production final

disposal

• technical description

• sources of hazard

• (others)

Reuse/ recycling

&

• Environmental hot-spots

• Improvement options

• Avoid shift of burdens

• Additional issues of concern

• Support to technical implementation

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Requirements for PUR foam

in the EU Ecolabel for mattresses