EcoLogo and EPEAT have brokered a mutual recognition deal. For awhile we’ve been preaching about the need for increased harmonization between different labels, so this is exciting news!
Henceforth, manufacturers will be able to register products in the EPEAT system by working directly with EPEAT, or by working with EcoLogo. Ecologo may list EPEAT registered products on their website as jointly Ecologo-EPEAT registered, but all will also appear on the EPEAT registry. Any products that are registered through Ecologo (or in future by other collaborating organizations) will appear on the EPEAT registry in exactly the same format as all other products, with no distinction regarding origin or status.”
Behind the scenes, coordinating two different systems is laudable, but takes time and work from both parties. Sarah O’Brien from The Green Electronics Council (EPEAT’s mothership) explained to us via email: “In relationship with EPEAT, Ecologo will register products through the usual EPEAT process – declaration and verification. Their verification investigations will be coordinated with us and will serve as an additional piece of the overall EPEAT verification rounds…. We will be using a joint Product Verification Committee at least to begin with, to ensure that the interpretation and application of criteria are the same across both organizations’ verification investigations.”
We are waiting to hear if this also extend to the logo’s themselves – i.e. can products registered with EPEAT also carry the EcoLogo? Stay tuned.