Page 15 - BOSS Today Issue 24

BOSS welcomes a new solution to a widespread problem.

t seems to be conventional products according to a A further benefit for Commission support is ensured
Iwisdom that the office methodological framework manufacturers is the support as part of its “single market
products (OP) industry – and UK that is controlled by of resellers, including both for green products” initiative.
consumers – have continually an independent scientific the large multinationals (eg OP industry support already
struggled to understand, committee. Staples and Office Depot) seems to be fairly widespread,
maintain and market the many n To ensure that data used for and the major local resellers since SOFEA has a board of
eco rating systems currently the product rating is audited across the EU. Undoubtedly, 18 directors representing
available. The databases used by certified independent these will also benefit from this manufacturers and distributors
to collect information for the third parties. scheme, which in effect makes equally across Europe. The
current systems are often very n To make available the results it simpler for their end-user current Board members are:
complex and costly to create of the product ratings for customers to make an informed Adveo, Bureau Vallée, Staples,
and maintain, and because the resellers involved in environmental choice. The Office Depot, Bruneau, Antalis,
there has been no high level the project to utilise in their SOFEA database will also hold Pilot, Hamelin, Esselte, 3M,
co-ordination of these systems, marketing materials. multiple environmental product Schwan Stabilo, Fellowes, Tesa,
OP companies across Europe information that resellers can Exacompta Clairefontaine and
have tended to create their The Benefits utilise. ACCO.
own systems, thus further The benefits of such a scheme Certainly, BOSS CEO Michael Below this Board, there
compounding the problems. to OP manufacturers are clear: Gardner is very enthusiastic will be Technical Working
about the project: “The Groups for product families,
SOFEA, So Good n A reduction in the costs European office supplies involving all stakeholders,
As a result, the UK OP industry associated with the creation, industry for many years has as well as the Independent
should surely welcome the updating and auditing of eco been bombarded with a Scientific Committee, which will
new, independent, not for profit product claims. plethora of eco labels that safeguard the credibility of the
European Association registered n The third party verification cause confusion, add cost and system.
in Belgium called SOFEA of eco claims, using a ‘level are not understood by the
(Sustainable Office European playing field’ of criteria and majority of end users. The BOSS n IF YOU ARE INTERESTED
Association), which has been an evaluation process Federation fully supports the IN FINDING OUT MORE
created to establish an eco- controlled by an initiative to create a single eco ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT
evaluation and rating system for independent evaluation and rating system PROJECT OR JOINING
office products across Europe. scientific committee. for office products. The success ONE OF SOFEA’S
In essence, the new eco rating n A reduction in the amount of this project is dependent STAKEHOLDER
system proposed by SOFEA will of requests from resellers for upon the support received WORKING GROUPS, PLEASE
have four key elements: product eco information and from the manufacturers and the CONTACT MICHAEL GARDNER
environmental compliancy. major distributors. Its credibility (michael@bossfederation.co.uk)
n To capture product n A unique and interactive will depend on backing from FOR MORE INFORMATION.
environmental and technical platform that the EU and the creation of
compliance information highlights the factors that an independent scientific
in a secure database. explain the SOFEA product committee for verification of
n To analyse the collected ratings, and also identifies the ratings given to products.”
information and rate improvement opportunities. It appears that European

October/November 2014 | BOSS TODAY 15

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