Good Environmental

Choice Australia

The Environmental Choice Australia Ecolabelling Program operates a national, third-party, independently verified ecolabel, in conformance with ISO 14024, that can be applied to a wide range of products and services. GECA’s Ecolabel program is internationally recognised through GECA’s membership of the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN).

The program is run by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA), a non-government, not-for-profit organisation that aims to encourage sustainable production and consumption practices through the development of standards for environmentally preferable goods and services. Those that meet GECA standard requirements are assessed by an independent auditor such as NCSI, and licensed by GECA to display the Environmental Choice Australia Ecolabel.

Whilst in the past people might have selected a product because it’s cheap, looks good, has a brand they like, or lasts longer than a similar product, studies are showing that most customers today are increasingly willing to consider ‘environmental impact’ in their purchasing decisions.

GECA’s was the first third-party ecolabel on the Australian market and is still the most recognizable. The GECA Ecolabel has provided customers, manufacturers and other suppliers, product specifiers, project managers and procurement officers with an independent, reliable and convenient way to chose products and services that deliver better environmental outcomes since 2001.  

The voluntary Australian Environmental Labelling Standards developed by GECA are designed to give manufacturers, distributors, and marketers the financial benefits of dealing in and producing environmentally preferable products.

What Standards does Good Environmental Choice Australia cover?

The GECA Ecolabel utilises stringent, scientifically based standards of environmental performance for different product sectors to verify product compliance for their ecolabel.

GECA’s voluntary environmental labelling standards are developed and approved by the Standards Development Committee and GECA’s Board of Directors after a widespread consultation process. These standards specify the core environmental performance benchmarks, developed in line with ISO 14 024 standards for environmental labelling, against which products and services are assessed in order to receive the Environmental Choice Australia Ecolabel.

NCS International feels that in the contemporary Australian market, it is important to demonstrate to the consumer that businesses are socially and environmentally responsible for their effect on the environment. Together with GECA, we feel that these standards provide a very valuable service to the community and environmentally responsible manufacturers. GECA’s focus is to extract as much benefit for these producers as possible and to have their product used in the market.

How Can NCS International help you with Certification?

NCS International can assist you with all your certification needs in relation to the Good Environmental Choice Australia standards.

If you are already in business and have been exposed to the environmental challenges in the market you will be surprised as to how easily ecolabel allows for environmental benefits to create financial prosperity. If you are new to this area you will find out how showing environmental performance has some of the strongest rewards available for any business.

For any more information on these standards visit the Good Environmental Choice Australia website.

For more information, and to find out how we can help, please email us on info@ncsi.com.au, or call on 1300 856 554. 

The Sustainability Age: Judy Hollingworth, CEO of Good Environmental Choice Australia discusses our transition from the 'information age' into the 'sustainability age', and what it means for businesses moving forward.

Green Buildings: Judy Hollingworth discusses how GECA certification through NCSI can help you obtain six star Green Star certification for your building.