Project

Raising Environmental Awareness – the Case of the Nordic Ecolabel SWAN

01.03.2010 - 01.12.2000

norden.org

Consumers in the Baltic countries and North West Russia are increasingly becoming environmentally conscious and showing interest in ecolabelled products. Sustainable development and eco-friendly consumer habits are prominent on the political agendas in these regions. However, there is still a significant information gap about ecolabelling among the public and business communities.

The Nordic Ecolabel (Swan) is one of the most recognized ecolabels in Europe and a well-known brand in the Nordic countries. Leveraging the expertise of the Nordic Ecolabelling offices would be highly beneficial for the Baltic countries and North West Russia.

Through the project activities, target groups will receive comprehensive information about ecolabelling and the Nordic Ecolabel. Additionally, discussions will be held on the steps required to apply the Nordic Ecolabel in these regions, aiming to foster greater awareness and implementation of sustainable practices.

Project purpose and goals

  • To increase environmental awareness among the public and businesses in the Baltic countries and North West Russia by introducing the Nordic Ecolabel as a successful example.
  • To stimulate the interest for import of Swan-labelled Nordic products to the Baltic countries and North West Russia, and by this to contribute to better environment in the Baltic Sea Region.
  • To increase the interest for businesses in the Baltic countries and North West Russia to label their products with Nordic Ecolabel and by this to increase their competitiveness in the Nordic market.
  • To increase contacts between public servants in the Nordic, Baltic countries and North West Russia on ecolabeling.
  • To investigate and evaluate the possibilities of representation of Nordic Ecolabel labeling services in the Baltic countries and North West Russia.

Project target groups

The main target groups of the project are officials, businesses and NGOs involved in ecolabelling, and consumption in the Baltic countries and North West Russia.

Partners

  • Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania (Coordinating partner)
  • Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Estonia
  • Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Latvia
  • Nordic Council of Ministers Information Office in St. Petersburg
  • Environmental Protection Agency under the Ministry of Environment in Lithuania
  • Estonian Environment Information Centre under the Ministry of Environment in Estonia
  • Latvian “Vides Projekti State Ltd”
  • St.Petersburg Ecological Union (NGO)
  • Ecolabelling Sweden
  • Nordic Ecolabelling Board

Key events and activities

  • Survey on business awareness about ecolabelling in the Baltic countries and North West Russia.
  • Meetings of project group for representation of Nordic Ecolabel in the Baltic countries and North West Russia.
  • Presentation of Nordic Ecolabel at Business &Trade fairs & local conferences in the Baltic countries and North West Russia.
  • Seminars (workshops) about the ecolabelling in the Baltic countries and North West Russia
  • Final conference of the project “Eco-labelling as an effective tool to achieve sustainable business success: Case of the Nordic Eco-label” on 2 December 2010

More information about the Nordic Ecolabel: www.nordic-ecolabel.org

More information

Vida Gintautaitė

Vida Gintautaitė

Adviser for Social and Health issues

Lithuanian, English, Russian