head
circle
whats new
space
what is
The Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) is a non-profit association of third-party, environmental performance labelling organizations founded in 1994 to improve, promote, and develop the "ecolabelling" of products and services. 
 
(See "What is Ecolabelling" for more about ecolabelling.)  top
 
The mission of the GEN is to:
  • serve its members, other ecolabelling programs, other stakeholders, and the public by improving, promoting and developing the ecolabelling of products, the credibility of ecolabelling programs worldwide, and the availability of information regarding ecolabelling standards from around the world;
  • foster co-operation, information exchange and harmonization among its members, associates, and other ecolabelling programs with regard to ecolabelling;
  • facilitate access to information regarding ecolabelling standards from around the world;
  • participate in certain international organizations in order to promote ecolabelling generally; and
  • encourage the demand for, and supply of, more environmentally responsible goods and services.

In support of this mission, GEN members:

  • set criteria for and certify products and services with lower environmental burdens and impacts than comparable products/services with the same function;
  • provide information, advice and technical assistance to organizations contemplating or developing programs;
  • disseminate information to the public; and
  • represent the interests of ecolabelling in various international meetings and events.

For more information on GEN activities, please go to "GEN Activities


GEN Membership
As of the end of 2001, the GEN included twenty-six national and multinational member organizations and a participant that operate ecolabelling programs around the world.  "Members " provides a list of member organizations and their representatives.

While membership is intended for ecolabelling organizations that share the GEN's objectives and meet basic criteria, much of the information collected in the GEN's programs and many of the GEN's meetings on ecolabelling topics are open to a broader audience.

Based on a decision taken at the 2000 Annual General Meeting (AGM), participation in GEN initiatives and activities has been expanded to include "associates". These associates are to be not-for-profit organizations that formally support ecolabelling principles and goals, though they are not ecolabelling practitioners. Go to find  "Associates ".


top

GEN Management & Adminstration
GEN activities are managed by a Board of Directors, and day-to-day operations are administered by a General Affairs Office and Secretariat.

In 1995, SIS Ecolabelling AB (Sweden) was selected by the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) Board of Directors to perform a range of secretariat duties in support of the GEN for a three-year period. At the same time, a General Affairs Office was established in the offices of the Japan Environment Association (JEA) to collaborate with the Secretariat in providing administrative support to the membership, the Board, and the Chair. The roles and responsibilities of the two organizations were determined and accepted.

In August 1999, the Secretariat function was transferred to TerraChoice Environmental Services Inc. (Canada). The General Affairs Office continues to be operated by the JEA. Both report to the Board of Directors.


top
GEN Board of Dorectors, 2002
 
John Polak TEMI, Canada Chair
Adela Petrova Cenia, Czech Republic  
Bjorn-Erik Lonn Nordic Ecolabelling Board  
Eva Eiderstrom Swedish Society for Nature Conservation  
Robin Taylor ECNZT, New Zealand  
Sung-Woo Seok Korea Eco-Products Institute  
Teruo Saito Japan Environment Association  
top
GEN General Affairs Office
 
Japan Environment Association (JEA)


TEL:
FAX:

top
GEN Secretariat
TerraChoice Environmental Services Inc.
Suite 801



TEL.
FAX.


space
Disclaimer of Use
Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) allows public access to this server to increase public awareness of, and knowledge about, ecolabelling issues and methodologies. Accordingly, the documents, data and other information available from this server are provided by GEN for informational purposes only, and GEN and its officers, employees and agents do not assume, and hereby expressly disclaim, liability for use of or reliance on the information available from this server.

Disclaimer of Liability
The content of this server is provided by the member organizations of GEN, and these organizations should be contacted to confirm the timeliness or accuracy of information contained in this database. Neither GEN nor any of its officers, employees or agents make any warranty, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or otherwise guarentee that the data, documents or other information available from this server are timely, complete, accurate or useful. GEN and its officers, employees and agents make no representation that the use of any information, product or process disclosed on this server would not infringe privately owned rights.
GEN and its officers, employees and agents do not assume, and hereby expressly disclaim, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in the data, documents or other information available from this server, whether such errors or ommissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause.

Disclaimer of Endorsement
Reference on this server to any specific commercial products, process or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favouring by GEN or its officers, employees or agents. The views and opinions of members of GEN or authors expressed on this server do not necessarily stste or reflect those of GEN, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.

Disclaimer of External Links
GEN and its officers, employees and agents do not assume, and hereby expressly disclaim, liability for enabling any user of this server to link to another server available on the World Wide Web, database or interactive computer service. Furthermore, GEN and its officers, employees and agents do not assume, and hereby disclaim, liability for information available from any other server available on the WWW, database or interactive computer service to which the user may link from this server.