Over 50 stakeholders from government and industry gathered in Colombo to strengthen Sri Lanka's National Eco-Labelling Framework, an EU-funded initiative aimed at promoting sustainable products and preventing greenwashing in the marketplace.
A diverse group of more than 50 representatives from government agencies, industry bodies, certification organisations and technical experts convened in Colombo to develop Sri Lanka's National Eco-Labelling Framework (NELF). The consultation, organised through the European Union-funded Green Recovery Facility and implemented by Expertise France in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, sought to address inconsistencies across existing labelling schemes and establish a unified national system for identifying environmentally responsible products.
The initiative responds to growing global demand for credible environmental standards in international trade. According to the sources, approximately 1.8 million products worldwide currently carry recognised eco-labels, yet consumer confusion remains widespread—with six in ten European consumers struggling to distinguish genuine environmental claims from misleading ones. Sri Lanka launched its initial NELF framework in 2022, though several sector-specific schemes operate independently, including the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka's Green Label and energy rating initiatives by the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority.
During the consultation, stakeholders identified three priority areas: harmonising eco-labelling with Green Public Procurement policies to increase market demand, strengthening testing and verification capacity, and implementing a phased rollout of the new system. Officials emphasised that a strengthened framework would help consumers make informed choices, encourage sustainable production practices among businesses and reduce greenwashing risks through transparent, science-based standards. The EU's Dr Johann Hesse highlighted how credible environmental standards enhance Sri Lanka's competitiveness in global markets that increasingly value sustainability.
The government remains committed to developing a scalable system aligned with international standards. The initiative's next phase will focus on refining harmonised technical criteria, building capacity among scheme owners and supporting implementation of a nationally recognised eco-label. This effort forms part of Sri Lanka's broader green transition, supported through the EU's Global Gateway Strategy, linking sustainable production with responsible consumption and international market opportunities.
