Benefits and effects of the Austrian Ecolabel

Benefits and effects of the Austrian Ecolabel

• Sustainable energy generation for climate protection
• Environmental and health protection
• Environmental awareness and communication
• Environmental Education
• Financing of environmental and climate protection projects
• Operational environmental protection and operational savings

The contribution of the Austrian Ecolabel for a more sustainable economy and society was discussed from various perspectives during the celebration of 30 years of the Austrian Ecolabel:

Ulrich Streibl, CEO of oekostrom AG, addressed the aspect of sustainable energy production for climate protection. In order to achieve the climate goals of Paris, there is no alternative to switching to renewable energies: "In the coming years, we will continue to focus on the further expansion of renewable energy, develop new projects and implement them. The beauty of the Ecolabel is that it`s alive and the Ministry is always in touch with the energy suppliers - together we can continuously develop it for the benefit of consumers and the climate".

Regarding chemicals in environmental and health protection, Susanne Stark, Investigations and Ecolabel Division at VKI, referred to the recently published EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, which is aimed at greater protection of people and the environment from hazardous chemicals. "The EU Commission has recognized the problem and announced in its chemicals strategy of 14.10.2020 that the most harmful chemicals in consumer products are to be banned or minimized. The Ecolabel has long been a pioneer in this area: award-winning products may not contain harmful substances at all or only in very low concentrations".

But environmental awareness and communication can also be brought to a common ground. For example, John Lueftner, producer and managing partner, emphasized that Superfilm Filmproduktions GmbH has been committed to climate protection for years and has helped develop the guidelines for the Austrian Ecolabel for the Austrian film industry: "The topic concerns us all, is really important and - above all - feasible. In the beginning this was new territory, but soon 'Green Producing' became a matter of course for us and a component in the planning and implementation of all our productions. Everybody should do their part for a better environment!"

With regard to environmental education, Gabriele Eder-Lindinger, principal of the Bundesrealgymnasium Wien III, addressed the important role of schools: "Sustainable development goals must be pursued in the very place where the growing generation spends most of its time: at school. For us as an eco-labelling school, a basic attitude in the educational, social, health and ecological fields is important, which aims at a positive, future-oriented environmental impact".

Wolfgang Viehauser, Chief Market Officer and Spokesman of the Board of Management of HYPO NOE, addressed the financing of environmental and climate protection projects, referring to the potential of sustainable investments: "In the 30th year of the Ecolabel's existence, the market for green forms of financing - and thus the financing of green projects - has developed from a niche market to the mainstream. Today, green bonds are an optimal financial instrument to promote adaptation to climate change and climate protection - they offer banks a good opportunity to contribute to the environmental goals of the EU's Green Deal".

To the range of topics operational environmental protection and savings in the enterprise Thomas Hruschka, director of the division sustainable development in the Viennese environmental protection department (MA 22), OekoBusiness Vienna (of the city Vienna), said the Austrian Ecolabel would prove in the partnership existing for over 20 years that successful managing and environmental protection are not contradictory. "The Austrian Ecolabel is particularly strongly represented in the Viennese tourism industry: from the small café to the Viennese Heurigen up to the luxurious hotel, many entrepreneurs have declared themselves ready to fulfill the high environmental standards of the Ecolabel for tourism in their business and have thus become important ambassadors of environmentally friendly Viennese hospitality," says Hruschka.

Responsibility for a future worth living

In a concluding discussion round on the subject of "Consumers and businesses - allies in environmental and climate protection?" Christian Kornherr, head of the investigation division at VKI, was deliberately critical and referred to the relevance of the state eco-label: "The fight against greenwashing, which is more topical today than ever, shows that consumers and businesses are unfortunately not natural allies in environmental and climate protection. That is why, even after 30 years, the following still applies - trust in sustainable consumption is not enough, independent confirmation by the Austrian Ecolabel is still needed".

Christian Pladerer, director and board member of the Austrian Institute of Ecology, added: "The Austrian Ecolabel has been a guarantee and independent orientation aid for sustainable products, services and educational institutions in Austria for 30 years. With the eco-label, manufacturers of paper products, paints, varnishes, cleaning agents, reusable packaging and much more, as well as tourism businesses, film producers, schools and kindergartens, fulfill their contribution to the sustainable development of our society".

Andrea Fronaschütz, Head of the Austrian Gallup Institute, talked about the results of the current study on the awareness of the Austrian Ecolabel.

Martina Kuso, Head of Marketing at Kunst Haus Wien, concluded by explaining the museum's sustainable orientation: "Based on Hundertwasser's visionary ideas, Kunst Haus Wien combines art and ecology. As the first museum to be awarded the Austrian Ecolabel, we would like to bring current issues concerning the climate crisis into the public discourse and encourage visitors to take action".