Partner Article

EU labels 'potentially confusing'

As a nation we are bombarded by signs and labels on a daily basis - from calorie counts, washing instructions and recycling symbols, to hazard signs. They appear on all sorts of consumer products, designed to give us vital information about the products we buy and how to best use them. They can ultimately have a huge influence on our purchasing decisions. But if they are confusing, overloaded or inconsistent, they can be more of a hindrance than a help.

A new poll commissioned by the Energy Saving Trust, designed to explore Brits’ attitudes to signs, reveals that we pay more attention certain labels above others. With environmental imperatives now pushed to the forefront of our collective agenda, 36% notice the recycling symbol on a daily basis compared to just 27% who notice food labels. Similarly, over 90% of us rely on the A-G energy rating labels that determine efficiency of household appliances - from washing machines, fridges, boilers and even cars.

While the amount of different ethical and environmental information about products is growing, there is a greater need than ever to maintain a clear and consistent labelling system. However a new EU initiative may now be flying in the face of that demand - by suggesting a complicated ‘green labelling’ scheme to run instead of the A-G system used and understood by millions of people across the UK. Changing the current labelling system will undoubtedly cause further confusion and hinder vital consumer choice.

Energy Saving Trust chairman Edward Hyams is urging the EU to “think again”. He says, “This would replace the current A-G scheme widely understood by millions of consumers. Our message is simple: if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. I would have thought that EU member states had enough on their plates at the moment without wasting time, money and effort changing something that eight out of 10 people across Europe already understand and recognise.”

For more information visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .