24 October 2011 Sponsored

Moving towards Sustainability with GECA

Ecolabels pave the way to sustainability

Independent ecolabels provide important support to building and design professionals looking to purchase sustainable products and services.

The Environmental Choice Australia Ecolabel is run by independent not-for-profit organisation Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA). Their product certification program indicates the environmental performance of a product or service using a cradle-to-cradle approach which has been developed in line with ISO 14024 principles and drives towards global best practice.

GECA’s Ecolabelling Program considers the environmental impacts all along a product’s supply chain, including sourcing, manufacturing, use and disposal. Further consideration is given to a product’s fitness for purpose, material requirements, product stewardship and an organisation’s legal performance for social and environmental regulations.

Criteria for GECA standards are developed using the best available scientific information and set following consultation with stakeholders, government, industry and other ecolabelling schemes internationally. GECA certify a wide range of products and services including furniture and fittings, paints and coatings, textiles, carpets, timber, panel boards and floor coverings.

A listing of certified products, many of which score maximum points under the Green Building Council of Australia's Green Star rating scheme, can be found on the GECA website. For further information, please contact GECA on Phone: 61 02 6287 3100 URL: geca.org.au

1. SHAW contracts group’s product stewardship includes take back and recycling programs for their carpets

2. MACQUARIE TEXTILES are made using dyes that reduce impacts on environmental and human health

3. The WATTYL Interior Design range is low VOC, odourless and better for indoor air quality and human health

4. Certified ZENITH furniture is made with environmentally preferable materials

5. The manufacture of CSR GYPROCK SUPERCHEK Plasterboard incorporates energy and resource efficiencies

For more information please contact GECA on 02 9699 1424 or visit geca.org.au