Environmental protection symbols - symbols worth knowing about

In recent decades, the issue of environmental protection has become one of the main priorities of many countries. Significant amounts of recyclable goods and raw materials appear on the markets, and biodegradable packaging is gaining popularity. Eco products have characteristic markings. How to recognize them and what is worth knowing about them?

Graphic signs related to ecology: what is it?

Markets around the world are flooded with various types of synthetic, inorganic or organic plastics. The average consumer, investor or producer looking for ecological raw materials is very often unable to recognize what material he is dealing with. How to distinguish plastic from bioplastic or so-called green chemistry from poisonous chemicals? For this purpose, a special system of graphic markings has been developed, which indicate the properties, origin and reusability of products and semi-finished products.

In Europe, the pioneers of the idea of ​​certifying organic goods were the Germans, who introduced the Blue Angel symbol in 1977. This mark is awarded only to environmentally friendly companies and products. In the 1980s, Canada and Scandinavian countries introduced further eco-labels. Currently, ecological labels can be found all over the world - they are the hallmarks of the highest quality products.

Who grants eco-certificates?

Certificates and markings confirming that a given product is ecological are awarded by specialized commissions, selected by governmental, international or non-governmental organizations. These are entities working to protect the environment, whose task is to:

• carrying out a series of product tests and in-house inspections in production plants,
• assessment of the quality of reported goods, raw materials, etc.,
• issuing opinions and certificates confirming that a given product does not harm the natural environment or does not pose a threat to human and animal health.

The group of the most well-known certifying institutions that issue ecological labels includes, among others:

• European Commission,
• National Ministries of the Environment,
• Polish Center for Testing and Certification,
• German Institute for Standardization (DIN),
• Green Lungs of Poland Foundation,
• International Oeko-Tex Association.

What are eco-labels for?

Ecolabels say a lot about the quality of products. Green symbols visible on the packaging indicate that the product has undergone a thorough inspection and meets certain standards in the field of environmental protection or natural resources. Ecolabels play several very important roles:

• make it easier for consumers to choose the highest quality products,
• inform about the origin and composition of the product,
• affect the competitiveness of enterprises.

The use of ecolabels is also a marketing activity thanks to which companies can build strong and recognizable brands. Positive certification of a product or raw material proves the pro-ecological, innovative orientation of the creators of local and global brands.

Environmental signs and their descriptions

We already know that the oldest ecolabel is the German Blue Angel, awarded to pro-ecological companies and brands. It is a round, white and blue sign with a motif of a man with outstretched arms and a laurel wreath around the figure. This is, of course, one of the many eco-marks that can be found on packaging. Other examples of markings used in Poland and around the world related to environmental protection are:

• mark: compostable with the motif of a sprouting green plant, awarded by DIN or the Warsaw Central Research and Development Center for Packaging to products
• the European Ecolabel, also known as the European Daisy, means products that have been produced with special care to preserve the safety of the natural environment,
• the Polish Eco mark, round and green, with the contours of Poland, applies to products manufactured in accordance with environmental protection standards,
• the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) mark, awarded to entities that focus on sustainable forest management,
• The Green Point, i.e. two intertwined arrows, indicating that the company producing the product contributes financially to recycling activities.

Signs: keep clean, reusable

One of the best-known eco-labels is also the symbol: keep clean. It has a simple form and depicts a figure throwing waste into a trash can. The black and white symbol means that the product must be placed in the appropriate container after use. It is also a message to consumers to support activities related to environmental protection.

Secondary materials that can be reused often also have the symbol of two parallel arrows pointing in opposite directions. It is a very popular graphic sign, often used on reusable packaging and tanks made of plastics, biodegradable materials, glass or metals.