Dizzying array of goods on display at shelf. Each box or packaging with brand labelling, product description and other attributes. Your choice is perhaps the brand you are familiar with and because you use it. Or you might be attracted to beauty or exotic novelty. Or you may decide on the basis of price, comparing value versus quantity and quality. But have you ever made a choice, because the product helps caring for the world? If the label carries certification that the product helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water consumption, etc. Would you be more convinced of it as your choice? If you can choose, for the world, would you make that choice?

Understanding Eco-Label The beginning of eco-label dated back over 40 years ago due to environmental concern among European countries. Blue Angel, the world first eco-label, was conceived in Germany in 1978 to introduce products with least environmental impact to consumer, to incentivize producer to develop environmentally friendly products, and as a market driver for green products. Subsequently several other eco-labels have emerged, for example EU-Flower, Nordic White Swan. Eco-labelling is no longer confined to European Union and its members, but taken up worldwide among economic powerhouses such as the US, Japan, South Korea, China, India, Canada and in ASEAN such as Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. Eco-labelling is “voluntary” and represents an expression of “care” on parts of operators because there is no governing legislation. Rather, the products must be certified criteria of whether and how they are friendly to the environment. At present, there are three types of eco-labelling. Type I is certified by independent entity with an environmental impact assessment system throughout a product lifecycle according to ISO14024 standard. An example in Thailand is the Green Label of Thailand Environment Institute. Type II is selfdeclared certification according to ISO14021 standard, such as SCG eco value. Type III label shows data or numbers relating to environmental impact through product life cycle assessment in line with ISO14025. In Thailand, Type III examples include Carbon Footprint label, Carbon Reduction label and Carbon Footprint Reduction label. The true value of eco-label lies in long-term environment conservation, by giving information and communicating with consumer, to promote green products which substitute high environmental impact products.

From SCG eco value to SCG Green Choice SCG eco value is Type II label of SCG was developed and implement since 2009, as Thailand’s first self-declared eco label. For more than a decade, SCG developed and registered more than 90 products, services and solutions into SCG eco value portfolio and making efforts to increase higher revenue of this product category. SCG set the goal of SCG eco value’s share at 2 in 3 or 66.7% of total revenue from sales in 2030. In the last 4-5 years, the average proportion has been in the range of 30-40%. In 2020, SCG announced the label rename from SCG eco value to SCG Green Choice, while referring with ISO 14021 standard. The aim is to facilitate consumer’s choice of products, services and solutions that care for the environment (environmentally friendly). At the same time consumer can be confident that SCG Green Choice products, services and solutions of are environmentally sound and benefiting their quality of life. The word “Green” means being friendly to the environment and consumer, taking into account needs of other stakeholders. The word “Choice” means options. We can make a choice for the world, and for the benefit of ourselves and family. To be certified with SCG Green Choice, products, services, and solutions must possess attributes that are more environmentally friendly than their normal counterparts, and meeting at least one from a list of 15 criteria which include: Reduced Resource Use, Renewable Energy, Reduced Water Consumption, Health or Hygiene, Extended Life Product, Greenhouse Gas Reduction, Reusable or Refillable, Compostable, etc. SCG Green Choice has a certification and communication process according to international standards. There are control measures and monitoring mechanism for the qualification certified, to build credibility and consumer confidence. “We intend to share knowledge about product information, attributes and clear benefit to the environment of SCG Green Choice range. We launched the information campaign through media, shop front, points of sale, and all SCG online platforms.” said Nithi Patarachoke, President, Cement-Building Materials Business, on the current drive to make SCG Green Choice as a top priority on consumer decision.