環保促進會推出首個「回收成份認證」
為未來廢物徵費及提升回收意識作最後準備
隨著廢物徵費條例草案於立法會通過，越來越多人關注指定垃圾膠袋的潛在環境問題，而膠袋使用回收再造物料，能夠緩解其對環境的影響，同時支持本地回收和建設循環經濟。
惟市場上有大量產品和包裝聲稱含有回收成份，卻未有通過核實和驗證，採購專員及消費者無法判別真偽。早前消費者委員會調查亦指出逾三成受訪市民認為市場上的環保產品資訊不夠詳盡，因此建議生產商通過第三方認證取得環保標籤，以確保產品的環保資訊真實而準確。
有見及此，環保促進會（下稱「本會」）推出「香港環保標籤計劃 - 回收成份認證」，此乃根據國際標準化組織ISO 14021標準而定的「第二類環保標籤」，讓業界及普羅大眾憑著一個「嘜頭」，即可認清真正含有回收成份的產品。
此認證適用於膠袋、餐具、容器、紡織物、紙品等含回收成份的產品，本會透過嚴謹、規範、量化的認證步驟，以及全面監控回收産品的生産程序，從而有效區分回收産品與一般原生産品。獲認證的產品能於產品上展示所含回收成份的標籤，以提升產品信譽和協助產品進軍設有回收成份門檻的不同市場，同時協助採購專員和消費者作出更環保的選擇。
本會自2000年推行「香港環保標籤計劃」，是本港唯一根據ISO 14024標準而定的「第一類環保標籤」。現時「第一類環保標籤」涵蓋62款產品，為應對未設有環保標準的產品，國際間陸續出現「第二類環保標籤」，以核實生產商的環保聲明，例如回收成份含量、可拆解設計、製作過程或產品使用可再生能源等。因應市場需求，本會率先推出「回收成份認證」，作為本港的首個「第二類環保標籤」。
Green Council Launched the Recycled Content Certification
Final Preparation for future waste levy and raising recycling awareness
While there are increased concerns about the potential environmental problems brought by designated garbage bags subsequent to the passage of the waste charging bill by the Legislative Council, the usage of recycled materials in plastic bags could ease its impact on the environment, support local recycling businesses and build a circular economy.
There are a large number of products and packaging on the market claiming to contain recycled materials, yet, procurement officers and consumers are unable to distinguish the authenticity among the products without verification. A survey by the Consumer Council revealed that over 30 per cent of respondents thought the information provided by the green products on market is not comprehensive and hence suggested manufacturers obtain ecolabels through a third-party certification to ensure accuracy of environmental information.
In view of the above, the Green Council (“GC”) announced the launch of the “Hong Kong Green Label Scheme - Recycled Content Certification”, an ISO 14021 Type II ecolabel. With this label as a “mark” for recognition, procurement officers and the public could immediately identify products truly containing recycled materials.
This certification applies to products with recycled content, such as plastic bags, tableware, containers, textiles and papers, etc. Through a set of rigorous, standardised and quantified certification procedures, as well as all-round surveillance on the manufacturing process of recycled products, GC could effectively differentiate recycled products and general original products. Certified products are allowed to use ecolabel showing the contained recycled content, improving product reputation and enhancing competitiveness for entering recycling markets, at the same time helping procurement officers and consumers to make more environmentally friendly choices.
GC has implemented the Hong Kong Green Label Scheme since 2000, and is the only ISO 14024 Type I ecolabel in Hong Kong. So far the Type I label covers 62 products, in order to cater for products without product criteria, overseas territories have gradually set up Type II ecolabel for certifying manufactures’ environmental declarations, such as recycled content, design for disassembly, use of renewable energy, etc. In response to the market demand, GC is launching the Recycled Content Certification as the first Type II ecolabel in Hong Kong.