Over 50 public and private sector leaders gathered to advance Sri Lanka's National Eco-Labelling Framework through an EU-funded Green Recovery Facility initiative, aiming to harmonise environmental standards and reduce greenwashing.
A major stakeholder consultation brought together government officials, industry representatives, certification bodies and technical experts to strengthen Sri Lanka's approach to environmental labelling. The workshop, organised through the European Union-funded Green Recovery Facility and implemented by Expertise France in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, focused on building a credible system for identifying sustainable products and responsible businesses.
The initiative addresses a growing global challenge. While nearly 1.8 million products worldwide carry recognised eco-labels, consumer confusion remains widespread. According to the sources cited, six in ten European consumers struggle to distinguish genuine environmental claims from misleading ones, underscoring the need for transparent certification systems. Sri Lanka's framework aims to prevent greenwashing by establishing clear, science-based standards that build consumer confidence and support local businesses in meeting international environmental requirements.
Sri Lanka launched its National Eco-Labelling Framework in 2022, with several sector-specific initiatives already operating, including the Green Building Council's Green Label and energy rating programmes by the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority. However, differing criteria and limited national recognition have highlighted the need for harmonisation. The EU-funded programme will assess existing schemes, align technical standards, strengthen governance and develop an implementation roadmap.
Stakeholders identified three key priorities during the consultation: aligning eco-labelling with Green Public Procurement to drive market demand, strengthening testing and verification capacity, and implementing a phased rollout of the new system. The next phase will focus on technical capacity-building, refining harmonised criteria and supporting the adoption of a trusted national eco-label for Sri Lankan products.
