95/365/EC: Commission Decision of 25 July 1995 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to laundry detergents

• Published date: 13 September 1995
• Subject Matter: Environment,Consumer protection
• Official Gazette Publication: Official Journal of the European Communities, L 217, 13 September 1995

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95/365/EC: Commission Decision of 25 July 1995 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to laundry detergents

Official Journal L 217 , 13/09/1995 P. 0014 - 0030

COMMISSION DECISION of 25 July 1995 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to laundry detergents (95/365/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 of 23 March 1992 on a Community eco-label award scheme (1), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 5 (1) thereof,

Whereas the first subparagraph of Article 5 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 provides that the conditions for the awards of the Community eco-label shall be defined by product group;

Whereas Article 10 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 states that the environmental performance of a product shall be assessed by reference to the specific criteria for product groups;

Whereas Article 4 (2) (a) of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 states that an eco-label shall not be awarded to products which are substances or preparations classified as dangerous in accordance with Council Directive 67/548/EEC (2), as last amended by Commission Directive 94/69/EC (3) and Council Directive 88/379/EEC (4), as last amended by Commission Directive 93/18/EEC (5), but it may be awarded to products containing such substances or preparations in so far as they meet the objectives of the Community eco-label award scheme;

Whereas laundry detergents contain substances or preparations classified as dangerous in accordance with the abovementioned Directives;

Whereas the ecological criteria established by this Decision include, in particular, hurdles and scores limiting to a minimum the content of substances and preparations classified as dangerous in the detergents which may be awarded an eco-label;

Whereas detergents complying with these criteria have therefore a reduced environmental impact and meet the objectives of the Community eco-label award scheme;

Whereas in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 the Commission has consulted the principal interest groups within a consultation forum;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the committee set up under Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The product group 'Laundry detergents` means all laundry detergents, in powder, liquid or any other form, for the washing of textiles, which are intended principally to be used in washing machines.

Article 2

The environmental performance and the fitness for use of the product group, as defined in Article 1, shall be assessed by reference to the specific ecological and performance criteria set out in the Annex.

Article 3

The product group definition and the criteria shall be valid for a period of three years from the date on which this Decision takes effect.

Article 4

For administrative purposes the product group code number assigned to this product group shall be: '006`.

Article 5

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 25 July 1995.

For the Commission

Ritt BJERREGAARD

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ No L 99, 11. 4. 1992, p. 1.

(2) OJ No 196, 16. 8. 1967, p. 1.

(3) OJ No L 381, 31. 12. 1994, p. 1.

(4) OJ No L 187, 16. 7. 1988, p. 14.

(5) OJ No L 104, 21. 4. 1993, p. 46.

ANNEX

ECOLOGICAL CRITERIA FOR LAUNDRY DETERGENTS

1. GENERAL

The general requirements established by Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 on a Community eco-label award scheme and the following specific criteria shall apply for the awarding of an eco-label to laundry detergents and must be complied with during the entire period covered by the contract concerning the terms of use of the label.

These specific criteria for laundry detergents include:

- specific ecological criteria on ingredients (1) and packaging,

- other general ecological criteria,

- fitness for use criteria.

The requirements on data and information to be requested by the competent body receiving an application from the applicant are described in Appendix III.

2. FIELD OF APPLICATION

These criteria may be applied to laundry detergents, in powder, liquid or any other form, for washing of textiles, which are intended principally to be used in washing machines.

3. FUNCTIONAL UNIT AND REFERENCE DOSAGE

Functional Unit

The functional unit is expressed in g/wash (grammes per wash). For heavy-duty detergents this is related to the dosage per 4,5 kg load (dry textiles) and for low-duty detergents to the dosage per 2,5 kg load (dry textiles) in the washing machine.

Reference dosage

The dosage recommended by the manufacturer to consumers for the water hardness (WH) of 2,5 m mol CaCO3/l and 'normally soiled` textiles is taken as the reference dosage for:

- calculation of the ecological criteria,

and

- test of washing performance.

If the WH of 2,5 m mol CaCO3/l is not relevant in the Member States in which the detergent is marketed, the applicant shall specify the dosage to be used as reference.

4. ECOLOGICAL CRITERIA ON INGREDIENTS AND PACKAGING

4.1. Ecological criteria on ingredients

The following parameters are considered:

- total chemicals

- critical dilution volume - toxicity (CDVTOX)

- phosphates (2)

- insoluble inorganics

- soluble inorganics

- non-biodegradable organics (aerobic)

- non-biodegradable organics (anaerobic)

- biological oxygen demand (BOD)

Appendix II presents the definition of parameters used in calculations. These parameters are calculated and expressed as g/wash or l/wash, as appropriate. They are aggregated and assessed as a whole, according to the approach presented in this document.

For each criterion an exclusion hurdle is defined, beyond which the product is not eligible for an eco-label.

Scoring/weighting factors

The following table summarizes the selected criteria, their exclusion hurdles, their weighting...