A couple of items in the news recently raises the question of whether existing ecolabels are being used fairly and resulting in life cycle benefits:
LEED: blocking use of chemicals that increase energy Craig Silvertooth More voices need to be heard when setting green standards
Sustainable Fishing: Laine Welch: Wal-Mart and park service snub Alaska salmon for lack of a label
The LEED issue is more about whether 3rd party standards are being developed in an open fashion (including experts from the energy products industry) and both deal with simplistic purchasing criteria that require a supplier have a particular certification. Products that don’t fit in the box or that companies refuse to pay hefty fees to obtain (even if they exceed the label criteria) can’t be considered.
Are purchasing standards limiting innovation and discouraging those who really are looking holistically at life cycle management just for administrative ease?