Summary
Details
- Global
ISO 14020 can be used by any organization that develops, makes, manages, or communicates product-related environmental statements. This includes manufacturers, brand owners, retailers, certification and ecolabel program operators, industry associations, and other organizations that issue or oversee environmental claims such as ecolabels, self-declared claims, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), or footprint communications.
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Background
As environmental claims became increasingly common, concerns grew over inconsistent terminology, unsubstantiated marketing claims, and greenwashing. ISO 14020 was developed to establish common principles for communicating the environmental aspects and environmental impacts of products. The standard provides the foundation for credible environmental communication and is intended to be used alongside other standards in the ISO 14020 family.
The current edition, ISO 14020:2022, expands the framework beyond environmental labels and declarations to cover broader environmental statements and environmental statement programmes. It introduces common terminology and principles that apply across different types of environmental communication, helping organizations provide information that is accurate, relevant, scientifically supported, and understandable.
ISO 14020 serves as the umbrella standard for several related standards, including:
ISO 14021: Self-declared environmental claims (Type II).
ISO 14024: Type I ecolabels.
ISO 14025: Environmental Product Declarations (Type III).
ISO 14026: Footprint communications.
Key Principles
ISO 14020 establishes general principles that apply to all product-related environmental statements and programmes. Environmental claims should:
Be accurate, verifiable, and not misleading.
Be relevant to the product and supported by scientific methodology.
Consider the product's environmental aspects throughout its life cycle where appropriate.
Be transparent and supported by sufficient information.
Avoid creating unnecessary barriers to international trade.
Be periodically reviewed and updated as scientific knowledge and market conditions evolve.
ISO 14020 does not define certification criteria or reporting requirements for a specific type of environmental statement. Instead, it establishes the common principles that underpin the entire ISO 14020 family and promote consistent, trustworthy environmental communication.
Current Status
ISO 14020:2022 is the current edition of the standard, replacing ISO 14020:2000. The revision modernized the framework by introducing the concepts of environmental statements and environmental statement programmes, consolidating common principles across the ISO 14020 family, and aligning the standard with newer guidance on footprint communications and environmental product declarations. As concerns about greenwashing continue to grow, ISO 14020 provides the overarching principles used by organizations developing environmental labels, declarations, and other product-related environmental claims.
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