Lib Dem MP welcomes green label report (Cheltenham Liberal Democrats)

Cheltenham Liberal Democrats <info@cheltlibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dem MP welcomes green label report

March 23, 2009 12:01 AM

MARTIN HORWOOD MP, Lib Dem shadow environment minister and a member of the Environmental Audit Committee, has today welcomed a report from the committee calling for clearer, simpler environmental labelling based on the 'traffic light' model used in food labelling. Martin was a member of the sub-committee that prepared the report and came to Parliament after a career in commercial and charity marketing.

'Consumer choice often makes more difference, much faster than government regulation and labelling is crucial to people making an informed choice' he said. 'But we need to counter the growing plethora of green claims and labels which threaten to confuse people and undermine their confidence. The Food Standards Agency and even Sainsbury have shown us the way: we need a universal system that gives straight, clear advice to consumers, including red, amber and green 'traffic lights' that don't just baffle with numbers but tell people clearly which products are relatively good and which are relatively bad.'

'It might be difficult to imagine one labelling system that takes in a range of environmental indicators but health labelling on food has managed to clearly summarise fat, sugar, salt and other contents so I'm sure we can manage something equally clear and informative on the environment. The indicators might vary from product sector to product sector but the obvious ones to include are:

• carbon used in production

• impact on biodiversity

• impact on water resources

• energy efficiency and

• recyclability'

'The verification behind the label would have to be robust but experts have spent plenty of time developing complex standards and footprinting methods already. The trick is communicating them to consumers in a quick and easy way that can really drive buying behaviour and make a practical difference to the environment'