Environmental labeling is an international activity. It is considered an economic instrument to encourage the industries to improve their environmental performance and an important measure to promote green consumption. Based on the ISO 14024 standard, Type I environmental labeling is a voluntary program with multiple requirements and third-party certification. Type I program gives a patented logo to product (including services) proved to have an overall environmental preferability. The use of a patented logo gives out the notion to the general consumers that “These labeled products are the best green products within a specific product category. Therefore you may choose them with doubt.” The Environmental Protection Administration started the Green Mark program in Taiwan in August 1992 and finalized the procedures in the end of 1993. The Environment and Development Foundation (EDF) had been the certification body of this program since then. Up until now, there are 77 product criteria developed and published for application. These criteria may be categorized into three major groups: Low pollution, resource-saving and recyclable. There are a total of 1557 labeled products and the number of logo use has already exceeded 2.7 billion which is equivalent to an estimated production value of more than 45 billion NT. In order to provide incentive to the manufacturers to apply for the use of the logo, government agencies are encouraged to purchase Green Mark (type 1) and type 2 Green Products through the “Action Plan on Government Green Procurement” and to report back the result to EPA each February and August. Although EPA did not publish the statistical result of the August report yet, the effect of Government Green Procurement could be seen from the high number of labeled products this year (close to 600, compared to 200 per year in previous years) It indicates clearly that the interest from manufacturers in applying for certification as well as the interest from government agencies to buy green products increased tremendously. In addition, EDF succeeded in signing a mutual recognition agreement with the Korea Environmental Labelling Association this year and participated in a four-country joint program (with Japan, Korea and Thailand) to develop two common criteria. The criterion on “Original Tonner Cartridges” has already been finalized and published. Owing to EDF’s active involvement in the international activities, this year’s Global Ecolabelling Network Conference and Annual Meeting was held in Taipei and Hualien in October with more than 30 foreign participants from 17 countries. It was a good chance to show to the others what we have achieved here and to share our experiences with developing country delegates.

Ecolabelling, Green Consumption, Green Procurement