Stricter criteria for S’pore Green Labelling Scheme from next year

SINGAPORE — An enhanced certification and labelling scheme for environmentally friendly pulp and paper products will have more rigorous criteria from next January, the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) said yesterday.

Standards will be benchmarked against environmental practices used in the European Union, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Pulp and paper firms will also be assessed on the way they prevent the outbreak of fires on their plantations, and how their peatlands are managed.

In a press release issued yesterday, an SEC spokesperson said that the revamped scheme would allow consumers to take a stand in support of the environment and against practices that cause the regional haze problem.

More details of the enhanced green label will be announced next month, and firms may sign up for a workshop organised by the SEC to better understand the enhanced criteria.

Companies that are already certified under the existing Singapore Green Labelling Scheme will be given a transition period to strengthen their business practices and comply with the new criteria.

There are now 15 paper firms certified under this scheme administered by the SEC. Some of the accredited firms told TODAY that they are relatively confident of meeting the new criteria because their paper products already meet international certification standards, such as those from the Forest Stewardship Council and the International Organisation for Standardisation.

However, Mr Terry Ang, managing director of Scanpap (Asia-Pacific), pointed out that there could be more costs for the firm when it conducts tests for new paper-mill products to meet the new standards. “(Still), I think the SEC has ... sort of given a signal to not just suppliers but consumers … (that they) should keep sustainability in mind.” SIAU MING EN