S-Tiles - raccomandazioni

CONCLUDING REMARKS/TIPS

Ten years since the implementation of the Community Regulation, the Eco-label scheme has now reached a ‘maturity’ phase. This growth process has been quite gradual compared to traditional legislative tools. As the scheme is a voluntary environmental policy tool, its growth has been more organic. We should remember that the scheme uses demand and supply market dynamics to promote sustainable consumption. Its effectiveness depends on the interested parties’ (consumer and producers) ability to trigger a virtuous cycle that is able to reconcile environment protection with economics. It is worthwhile noting that it is still paramount that Community institutions and Member States continue to encourage the initiatives aimed at promoting Eco-label awareness amongst consumers.

The Eco-label’s adoption of the ‘hard floor-coverings’ category has underlined, at the European level, the importance that the building sector bestows on the consumption of natural resources and respect for the environment. An active role by the Italian ceramic sector with regard to the awarding of the Eco-label could help to establish a strategic link with sustainable building programmes at the national and European level. Moreover, this approach could ensure Italian Eco-labelled tiles access to relevant public procurement markets that meet ‘eco-procurement’ standards. This is a fast-growing phenomenon, especially in Northern Europe, but also present in many other countries.