Federal Eco-Labeling Law Taking Shape

The “Eco-Labeling Act of 2008” is far from becoming the law of the land, but U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein is crafting federal legislation under that name to rein in the confusing proliferation of environmental product labels.

EBN. As currently written, the bill would “establish a voluntary eco-label award program intended to promote products with a reduced environmental impact during the entire life-cycle of the products, and to provide to consumers accurate, nondeceptive, and scientifically based information on the environmental impact of products.” If it became law, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would be asked to establish a 13-member “Eco-Labeling Board” to accredit product certification centers, which would in turn set multiple-attribute criteria for products of all kinds to carry a uniform eco-label.