The Australian Environmental Choice Program provides to the Australian and International markets an opportunity to show environmental performance for market participants. In developing this quality independent ecolabelling scheme we have a goal of providing to the Australian market the best possible labelling scheme in conformance to the best scientific methodologies available. Our corporate aim is to:

" To encourage the demand for and supply of products which reduce the stress on the environment during their entire life-cycle."

Good Environmental Choice Australia Ltd (GECA) sought comment on a range of program characteristics from industry, governments and other stakeholder organisations prior to formally launching the program. During this time the organisation sought to establish strong links with key industry and government organisations to ensure that the program's directions directly benefit these groups.

The development of environmental labelling standards for different product categories are an important part of defining the real environmental attributes and concerns of certain industries. The product categories have been developed taking into consideration consumer awareness / market volume / potential for environmental improvement / available resources / suppliers involved / usefulness as a functional unit and market need. In a general sense, it is not the interest of Australian Environmental Certification to discriminate between which industries are open to environmental assessment; categories are only restricted by lack of scientific data in these areas. At this stage, we will not be assessing foods or production processes of foodstuffs as part of the environmental labelling scheme. We believe that the organic labels in Australia are adequate and should be better supported by the Australian consumer.

GECA began as a certification body for environmentally preferable products in the Australian market, and has since begun certifying services and service providers. Further expansion into the services sector is anticipated.

GECA intends to roll out a range of consumer education and information programs aimed at enhancing the markets environmental development. In agreement with similar minded organisations we will implement campaigns against environmentally damaging products when better products are available or actions against manufacturers which mislead the consumer with their own brand of environmental labelling.

Our work is guided by a policy commitment to our corporate goals and the necessity of raising manufacturing standards in their environmental performance in an ongoing and progressive way. We are eager to work with key organisations within Australia to further these goals and develop a higher level of service to both industry and the consumer.