How can I tell if a product label is credible?

It can be difficult to tell if a product label is credible. Given that there are a number of different aspects to the credibility of a label, it is important to find out about a given label including getting answers to the following questions:

• Is there an independent third party certification system that backs up the claims made?
• Is the process through which the standards are set open and transparent with participation from all interested parties?
• Are the standards freely available?
• Are the standards set at a high enough level to really drive change toward social and environmental sustainability? 
• Are the governance structures set up in such as way as to ensure balanced representation of different interests in decision-making?

There are also a number of networks of certification initiatives working to ensure high quality and credible systems. 

ISEAL Alliance

Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN)

In Australia, a new group has set up an information service on 'greenwashing' which reviews a range of initiatives and how they stack up to their claims. See the Eco-Shout's Greenwashing page here.