Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) is a not-for-profit, membership-based organisation with a mission to promote environmentally preferable products and services. Established in 2000, GECA has been helping Australians make more sustainable product choices and increasing sustainability awareness throughout the supply chain.
What is GECA Certification?
GECA Certification adheres to standards that are rigorous, scientific and relevant to key Australian industries. Designed to reward top performing products, GECA certification is internationally recognised through GECA’s membership of the Global Ecolabelling Network.
GECA Certification prompts consumers to choose more sustainable products for their businesses and personal use by their development of ecolabelling standards and their ability to licence these products against them.
As the first organisation to introduce ecolabelling in Australia, GECA follows the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 14024 standard for labelling. ISO 14024 sets out the global principles and procedures GECA then uses to develop their own standards for GECA ecolabels.
Why is GECA Certification Important?
GECA certification is important in preventing the negative impacts that unsustainable actions have on the environment. When you purchase products and services with the GECA Ecolabel, your purchase is supporting environmentally preferable manufacturing and consumption. The certification ensures products and services are certified against an environmental performance criteria across its life cycle for a more sustainable future.
With uncertainty around the environmental claims of so many products on the market, offering products with the GECA tick of approval cuts through any uncertainty.
Who Can Apply for GECA Certification?
The GECA certification scheme is a multi-sector ecolabelling program, meaning businesses across all sectors can apply for a certification on their products. This includes architects, builders and cleaning businesses that are present in the Australian market.
What Products and Services Can be GECA Certified?
GECA keeps up with the latest in sustainability to show manufacturers how to best create green products. At the same time, shows consumers across Australia how easy it is to make a good choice with their easily recognisable and trustworthy ecolabel.
When you purchase a GECA certified product, you know you are buying a product that comes from sustainable consumption and production.
Steps to Attain GECA Certification
The 3-step certification process begins at the application stage where applicants enquire about gaining the certification. In response GECA sends an information pack and the relevant standard that correlates to your application. At this stage, a quote request and application form is completed to which GECA will then obtain quotes third-party Assurance Providers who will conduct the conformance assessment.. Applicants will then review the accumulated quotes and accept one, paying the application fee.
The second step is the conformance assessment stage where the applicant is supplied with a Conformance Assessment Plan and required to submit relevant documents. The product/s becoming GECA certified are then assessed. The selected Assurance Provider will then submit the Assessment Report and the Certificate of Conformance to GECA and your business.
The GECA licencing stage is where you sign the Turnover Declaration Form and the Licence Agreement and receive the GECA Licence for your product of service. This needs to be recertified every 36 months.
Benefits of Choosing GECA Certified Products
There are many benefits that come with a GECA certification. For one, GECA’s scheme is the only independent and widely trusted and recognised green building scheme in Australia and across the world. That trust can help your business stand out to consumers.
GECA’s ecolabel on products provides an independent tick to specifiers and purchasers that the products are better for the environment and reduce their impact on human health - making for a clear indication of sustainability.
Check out Kwikmaster Professional's GECA Certified Range Here
