The Ecomark Rules, 2024

In one line

Since 26 September 2024 the Ecomark is a creature of rules, granted by the Central Pollution Control Board for three years, and using it without a grant is a contravention of the Environment (Protection) Act.

In the wording a student can write in an examination: the Ecomark Rules 2024, G.S.R. 596(E) of 26 September 2024, were made in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (ii) of sub-section (2) of section 3, sub-section (1) of section 6, section 23 and sub-section (1) of section 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986; rule 3 states the conditions for the grant of an Ecomark; rule 4 the procedure for grant; rule 5 suspension and cancellation with an appeal to the Central Government; and rule 6 the use of the Ecomark and the prohibition on using it without a grant.

The stated objects, from the recitals

The recitals are unusually useful because they state the policy in the Government's own words.

• to encourage the demand for environment-friendly products that cause lesser adverse impacts on the environment, supporting the principles of LIFE, Lifestyle for Environment;
• to promote lower energy consumption, resource efficiency and conservation, and the circular economy;
• to prevent misleading information on environmental aspects of products;
• because eco-labelling enables consumers to make informed purchase decisions and encourages manufacturers to transition to environment-friendly production, promoting green industries; and
• because the mark may be granted to products meeting specified environmental criteria as to resource consumption and environmental impacts, in particular the impact on climate change, on nature and biodiversity, energy consumption, generation of waste, emissions to all environmental media, pollution through physical effects, and the use and release of hazardous substances.

Learn the third of those: the prevention of misleading environmental claims is a stated object, and it explains why rule 6(2) exists.

Rule 3, the conditions for grant

Sub-rule (1), the gateway. An Ecomark may be granted to a product which has a licence or a certificate of conformity of Indian Standards granted under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act 2016, and or a mandate of the Quality Control Orders issued by the Central Government, and which fulfils the criteria specified in the corresponding entry in column (3) of the First Schedule.

So there are two gates. The product must be of certified quality, and it must meet environmental criteria for its category. A product that is environmentally excellent and fails its Indian Standard gets nothing.

Sub-rule (2), what the criteria may include. That the product:

• reduces pollution by minimising or eliminating the generation of waste and environmental emissions;
• is recyclable or is made from recycled material or both;
• reduces the use of non-renewable resources, including non-renewable energy sources and natural resources; and
• reduces the use of any material which has adverse impacts on the environment.