A report on environmental labelling from an influential group of MPs has backed the standards and criteria used by LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming).
The report paves the way for greater uptake of the LEAF Marque as a clear and robust standard that gives recognition to producers who maintain high environmental standards.
The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) report Environmental Labelling was published on Monday. It calls for a sector-based universal labelling scheme that needs to be backed up by systems for audit and accreditation that will ensure claims manufacturers make about products can be verified.
The report drew on evidence provided by 27 UK organisations involved in environmental labelling. LEAF was among a number also asked to answer questions directly to the committee.
The committee is urging the government to intervene to tackle the growing problem of greenwash - the use of insubstantial or meaningless claims to promote a product. While a proliferation of labels needs to be avoided, so too must “catch-all” labels that try to address every single issue for every single product, states the report.
The experience of LEAF Marque producers is singled out, and spin-off benefits of gaining accreditation are recognised. The government should also encourage carbon labelling on all products, the report recommends.
The findings of the EAC were published as the EU commission is debating certification and marketing schemes in the first DG Agri Green Paper for 20 years, and LEAF chief executive Caroline Drummond recently joined the UK delegation to the ministers’ meeting in Prague.
“We are delighted that the robust, independently audited approach LEAF Marque takes has received such strong backing from this influential, cross-party group of MPs,” said Drummond. “We are keen to continue to work with DEFRA to promote the strength of UK certification schemes such as Red Tractor and LEAF Marque. The UK has some of the most robust farm assurance schemes in the world and it is crucial that the independent approach that such schemes have adopted are increasingly recognised in the market place. We believe that the LEAF Marque standard goes well beyond many of the criteria the government seeks and it is important that we do not re-invent the wheel or distort the market opportunity, but add the true value that our farmers strive for.”
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