The Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN)

The Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) is a non-profit association of third-party, environmental performance labelling and certification -- "ecolabelling" -- organizations from around the world.  Basically, these organizations set criteria for, certify, and provide a label for use in association with, products and services with lower environmental burdens and impacts than comparable products/services with the same functions. Currently, twenty-five ecolabelling organizations belong to the GEN, as well as two other organizations that have "associate" status.

The GEN was founded in 1994 to improve, promote, and develop the ecolabelling of products and services.  The GEN fosters information exchange among its members and associates, dissemination of information to the public, co-operation and collaboration among its members and associates, and longer-term harmonization of ecolabelling programs, as appropriate.  In addition, the GEN represents the interests of ecolabelling in various international fora, and provides information/technical assistance to developing programs.

While membership is intended for ecolabelling organizations that share the GEN's objectives and meet basic criteria, much of the information collected in the GEN's programs and many of the GEN's meetings on ecolabelling (and other relevant) topics are open to a broader audience which includes interested parties, stakeholders, and others.