GECA

GECA’s ecolabel is a sign that buyers can trust to have a lower impact on the environment and human health, are ethically made and fit for purpose.

Our ecolabel and standards address multiple environmental attributes such as toxicity, air quality, energy use, recyclability, VOCs, carcinogens, reducing water consumption, protecting waterways, use of sustainable materials and minimising material usage. They also consider impacts across the entire life cycle of a product or service, from raw material extraction through to use and eventual disposal or breakdown.

We care about the conditions in which certified products are manufactured, which is why social impacts are across all our standards. Including, safer and more ethical working conditions, not only for the employees but also those involved in the supply chain.

The ecolabel ensures that certified products consider the effects of toxic chemicals such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or carcinogenic substances on human health. GECA certified products contribute considerably to better air quality, minimising health risks.

The number of informed consumers is growing every day. 

In fact, many are actively looking for products and services that align with their values and using their buying power to influence brands. While some of these consumers are willing to do the research, the majority prefer the efficiency of looking for reputable certifications and labels that have independently verified a product’s sustainable credentials. The best marketing an organisation can do is to prove its commitment to positive social and environmental impacts.

The GECA Claim Authenticated mark gives consumers confidence in their purchase of your service or product. By achieving GECA authentication of your claim, you and your customers will have the independent third-party assurance that your claim has been substantiated through an in-depth exploration. This means that conscious consumers will be able to confidently differentiate your product, service or organisation from others that may have false or misleading claims.

Our GECA LCA Suite includes:

Life Cycle Assessment
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can be used to evaluate the environmental or social impacts of a product or service, from the extraction of its raw materials, transportation, manufacturing, when it’s being used and the end of its’ life. An LCA provides manufacturers with detailed information on their impacts and illustrates where key improvements have been made in the market. This empowers manufacturers to improve their processes even further.

Environmental Product Declaration
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) can assist in earning points in schemes such as Green Star, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA).

Who We Can Help
We work with all those committed to addressing the social and environmental challenges ahead. This includes all levels of government, businesses, our fellow not for profits and indeed all communities seeking to create positive change.

How We Can Help YOU
We understand what it takes to become truly sustainable. Our team are highly skilled and approach all work with a holistic outlook – considering impacts on both people and the planet. Here are some examples of how we can help you:

• Developing sustainable policy, frameworks, guidelines or roadmaps
• Mapping supply chains and the responsible sourcing of materials, products and services
• Advice on ways to implement sustainable procurement processes
• Input into your sustainability training programs and resources

Our expertise includes technical knowledge in Australian standards that consider the entire lifecycle of a product – environment, health, social and fit-for-purpose. We understand the meaning of sustainable procurement of materials, products and services, as well as the requirements to achieve a circular economy, carbon, biodiversity and modern slavery solutions.

Please feel free to contact us to understand how we can help you.

What We Don’t Do
We are very proud to run Australia’s only not for profit multi-sector ecolabelling program. The GECA ecolabel is transparent, impartial and independently assessed. To ensure our reputation as a trusted ecolabel remains, our service of consultation and advisory does not include:

• an assessment and audit that then achieves ecolabel status
• sharing confidential and proprietary information about GECA certified products and services
• directly engaging in any activities related to standard writing or licensing. GECA consultants remain separate from these activities, as per the GECA Certification Scheme Rules.

Let’s Talk!
Jessica Mutton, our Head of Business & Strategy, would love to hear from you! You can contact her via email or call 02 9699 2850. She will be able to provide you with further information on how we can help, including a proposal and quote.

Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN)
GEN is a not-for-profit association, founded in 1994 to help improve, develop and promote ecolabelling, and all members must meet requirements including following ISO14024. GECA is the only member in Australia.

Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) Green Star
We were the first scheme to be recognised by GBCA, and our certification aligns with their scheme’s Green Star rating system. This means using GECA certified products can directly count towards Green Star points for your project.

Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC)
We’re a member of ASBEC, the peak Australian body committed to a productive and sustainable built environment.  ASBEC is composed of organisations that are involved in the planning, design, delivery and operation of our built environment.

Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) IS Rating
The Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) is the peak industry body for advancing sustainability in Australia’s infrastructure. ISCA is a member-based, not-for-profit industry council and works to advance sustainability in infrastructure planning, procurement, delivery and operation through its IS rating scheme. The scheme recognises GECA as an environmental labelling body and therefore rewards project proponents who source GECA certified products and are seeking an IS Certification.

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
USGBC is committed to transforming how our buildings are designed, constructed and operated through LEED, because they believe that every person deserves a better, more sustainable life. Their mission is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life. USGBC created LEED to measure and define what green building meant, and to provide a roadmap for developing sustainable buildings. GECA is an Organisational Member of USGBC.

Supply Chain Sustainability School Australia
The Supply Chain Sustainability School enables socially, environmentally and economically sustainable supply chains for all organisations in Australia and New Zealand through open access to educational resources. GECA is a member and Industry Partner.

Business Council of Sustainable Development (BCSD) Australia
BCSD Australia is a CEO-led organisation of more than 40 Australian businesses and non-governmental bodies working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world by aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals and acting on climate change. Its mission is to accelerate this transition by making sustainable businesses more successful. They are the Australian partner for the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). GECA is proud to be a member.

Materials & Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance (MECLA)
MECLA launched in April 2021 to drive reductions in embodied carbon across the building supply chain. GECA is proud to be a Founding Partner of this collaborative initiative. MECLA is part of WWF-Australia’s Renewables Nation campaign, which advocates for Australia to seize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a renewables export powerhouse.

Australian Life Cycle Assessment Society (ALCAS)
We’re a member of ALCAS, Australia’s peak professional organisation for people involved in the use and development of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), management and thinking.

Global Compact Network Australia (GCNA)
We’re a member of the Australian, business-led network of the UN Global Compact. The GCNA brings together participants of the UN Global Compact, including a number of Australia’s leading companies, civil society organisations and universities, to advance responsible business and the private sector’s contribution to sustainable development.

GECA Ecolabel
This is a Type I ecolabel, which is recognised globally as the most robust and credible form of the environmental label as it involves multiple criteria and lifecycle considerations. When you see the GECA ecolabel, you know that the product or service has been independently assessed to meet a wide range of environmental, human health and social impact criteria, while also proving that it performs as promised. We’ve developed our rigorous standards, following ISO 14024 principles for global best practices in ecolabelling. The GECA ecolabel can only be used for GECA certified products and services by the GECA licensee. The GECA ecolabel is also a certification trademark, giving the public assurance that certified goods or services meet a particular standard. Certification trade marks are assessed and approved by the ACCC and registered by IP Australia

GECA Claim Authenticated Label
This is a Type II environmental label, which provides a third-party assurance and a desktop audit on specific claims. The GECA Claim Authenticated label gives consumers confidence that a specific sustainability claim has been substantiated through an in-depth exploration by independent third-party assurance.

GECA Component Logo
In some instances, a GECA licensee’s client may use their GECA certified product or service in their own product. GECA understands that a licensee’s client (retailer, supplier, manufacturer) may want to acknowledge that a component of their product or service is using the licensee’s GECA certified product or service. In these instances, licensees can provide the GECA Component Logo, following strict conditions.