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TECHNICAL UPDATE - The Flower - EU symbol of Eco-label

 In the arena of labeling and certification, The Flower a voluntary scheme which encourages businesses to market and sell products and services that are “kinder to the environment”.



 There was a time when if a product was produced in the handloom, the seller said so and the buyer bought it in good faith. The honesty of the word of mouth might persist but to give credence there has been brought in place a system of labeling and certification. Each set of label has its distinct benefits, advantages and lays down certain criterion for selection. There is also put in place a scheme for marketing so that the certificate holder gets the benefit of putting on the label.

 The Flower as it is popularly called is the symbol of the European Eco label. The label is given for a host of categories excluding pharma products. It is a voluntary scheme which encourages businesses to market and sell products and services that are “kinder to the environment”. The presence of the mark helps buyers and sellers to identify such products whose makers have voluntarily put in place a system of check and a commitment to the environment. It is today a symbol of products, providing simple and accurate guidance to consumers. The compliance is checked by independent bodies and the product meets strict performance standards. In textiles it can be awarded to all kind of textile clothing and accessories, interior textiles, and fibres, yarn and fabric.

The key features which the label guarantees – limited use of substances harmful to the environment, limited substances harmful to health, reduced water & air pollution, textile shrink resistance during washing & drying, colour resistance to perspiration, washing, wet & dry, rubbing & light exposure….. Once certified the manufacturers can use the free Green Store to sell the product. There are checklists available for first assessment, then the companies can contact the assessors for the detailed survey for compliance. The guidelines are revised from time to time. The presence of the Flower guarantees that the product is Green, eco friendly and confirming to the EU standards. There are plenty of well known names from countries of Denmark, Sweden, Thailand, Indonesia, Italy…

 

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