The Ecolabel from the
Continent Africa
Henk Stander,
Aquaculture Division, Department of Animal Sciences:
University of Stellenbosch
T
he term “ecolabelling” is derived from
the science of ecology, which deals with
interrelationships among organisms
and between organisms and their
environment. Although “organically grown”
and other ecolabels account for probably less
than 1% of the total market, these labels and
related issues are becoming more important
because, in “capturing the interface of
environmental and trade issues” they may
forecast farming and market trends. The focus
on organic farming and sustainable agriculture
has spawned a new generation of “ecolabels”
that share some organic farming standards
while also addressing broader social and trade
policy issues.
“Ecolabelling” is usually a voluntary method of
environmental performance certification and
labelling that is practiced around the world.
An ecolabel identifies products or services
proven environmentally preferable overall,
within a specific product or service category.
The roots of ecolabelling are found in the
growing global concern for environmental
protection on the part of governments,
businesses and the public. As businesses
have come to recognize that environmental
concerns may be translated into a market
advantage for certain products and services,
AgriKultuur |AgriCulture
various environmental declarations, claims
and labels have emerged, such as natural,
recyclable, eco-friendly, low energy, recycled
content, etc. These have attracted consumers
looking for ways to reduce environmental
impacts through their purchasing choices,
but they have also led to some confusion and
scepticism. Unproven or irrelevant claims have
been branded “greenwash”. Whatever your
view on ecolabelling, we will see more and
more of them on products in the future.
The effectiveness of an eco-label is directly
influenced by the way it is communicated
to the public. It is needed for eco-labels to
contain information that shall increase their
credibility but also the implementation of
information campaigns by those who certify
organic products.
Development of sustainable or organic
agriculture in developing countries is directly
related to the export of sustainable or organic
products to more developed markets but
we must then be able to harmonize the eco-
labels from exporting countries so that the
labels does not turn from a catalyst of market
development in a restrictive factor. The role
of government in this regard is very important
because it can help producers to adapt their
38