Division (a) Joint promotion activities to improve stakeholder awareness

The main objective is to continuously inform manufacturers, consumers and multipliers (retailers and NGOs), indeed all stakeholders, about the Community Eco-label and its developments. Printed material (brochures and newsletters, articles) and the website are some of the appropriate means. In parallel, feedback from stakeholders should be systematically sought and taken into account.

A complete range of brochures has been developed by the Commission and different competent bodies and is systematically made available to relevant stakeholders as well as being regularly updated and improved. During the last three years efforts have been made to make better use of the limited resources in developing brochures, newsletters and information material and to diffuse them more systematically to key target groups.

Similarly the Community Eco-label website (http://europa.eu.int/ecolabel) has been a successful source of all relevant information and has been regularly updated. The number of hits has been constantly rising, and is currently at about 75 000 per month. To reinforce its credibility and transparency, regular input has been encouraged from all stakeholders, including industry, consumers and environmental NGOs. It is important to continue this working line and to further develop the website to its full potential.

Apart from providing the appropriate information tools, it is also important to consider events, such as exhibitions and fairs, at which to present the Community Eco-label to a broader public. So far no systematic analysis was done to investigate which exhibitions or fairs are most suitable to promote the Scheme, although this has been done on an ad hoc basis, mainly during the targeted marketing actions. Another important aspect that has been explored is the possibility of using eco-labelled products at ‘mega-events’ such as world championships, the Olympic Games or festivals, etc. Results have been very positive, as for example during the Athens Olympic Games 2004 and the Winter Olympic Games 2006 in Turin.

The objectives and implementing measures stated in the previous working plan remain valid for the revised working plan.

Objective

Continuously inform all stakeholders about the Community Eco-label and its developments. In parallel, feed-back from stakeholders should be systematically sought and taken into account.

Actions

The EUEB and Member States should work closely with the Commission to:

• update and improve the Eco-label website,

• continue to develop and distribute brochures and other awareness raising printed materials,

• provide stakeholders with information that clarifies the procedures, time and costs related to applying for the Eco-label,

  and

• draw up a list of events where the Eco-label should be promoted.

The EUEB should investigate complimentary information tools (databases, guidelines etc.) to be provided to applicants.

The Competent Bodies together with the Helpdesk shall collect information from each licence holder on where their products are sold.