GECA restructures for growth

GECA restructures for growth

Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) is pleased to advise its members and supporters that it has undertaken a major restructure to position it for further growth. Key changes include strengthening governance, completing separation between GECA and its appointed certifying body (auditor), Environmental Assurance (EA) and a transition which will lead to licensees being able to choose from a list of JAS/ANZ approved certifying bodies.

The restructure follows the recommendations of internationally renowned management consultants, McKinsey and Co who assisted GECA to establish a pathway for the organisation's future growth and to establish a structure that would allow the organisation to manage the dramatically increasing demand for eco-labelling.

The key Board decisions include:

• The establishment of a best-practice Governance system for the Board and its committees which now comprise Finance and Risk; Governance, Nominations and Ethics; Standards Advisory Committee; and the Marketing and Membership Advisory Committee.
• Decision to broaden the membership base in line with the constitution to enable GECA to harness diverse representative groups interested in promoting eco-labelling.
• Signing of a new Heads of Agreement between GECA and EA to bring about a complete separation of powers between standard setter and auditing body; There is also now no Board representation or any link with EA in governance or shareholding. GECA will transition in an orderly way to appointing multiple auditors from end-March 2011 - until then the Heads of Agreement will ensure that GECA will continue with EA as its certifying body until 31 March 2011.

Having taken on the leadership role of the Board tasked to reposition GECA twelve months ago, Ed Warcaba is confident that the organisation has the structure and processes to grow rapidly. Ed has decided to stand down as Chair and provide an opportunity for another director to lead the next development phase of the organisation. We would like to thank Ed for his valuable contribution as chair.

GECA announces a New Chair

GECA is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Jack Josephsen as incoming Chair to lead the organisation forward.

Mr Josephsen, an engineer, is Managing Director of Brisbane-based National Maintenance Products Pty Ltd, a company that formulates, manufactures and distributes environmentally preferable protective coatings, adhesives and sealants. Jack has also been a director of GECA since June 2008.

Jack says he is excited by his new role at GECA as he believes that eco-labelling has a critical role to play in Australia's move to living sustainably.

The GECA team consists of:

Directors: Jack Josephson - Chair, Ed Warcaba, Suzanne Little, Bill Jones, Bobby Ali-Kahn, James Porteous, Bill Jones and Glenn Norris,

Executives: Ian Higgins - CEO, Sonya Ku - Standards Manager, Aimee Lutze - Operations Manager, Nick Capobianco - Marketing Consultant, Jevan Piptone - IT Officer.

Update on Rules for the use of the Environmental Choice Australia Ecolabel

With more than 160 companies now using the Ecolabel to promote GECA certified and many other organisations making reference to GECA certified products, the need to for tighter rules relating to the use of the Ecolabel becomes more important.

GECA is presently working on an update to the rules for using the Ecolabel to ensure consistent reference to and use of the Ecolabel on products, in advertising and other situations. The rules will also include updated guidelines on claims that can be used with the Ecolabel so that consumers will see consistent messages relating GECA certified products.

In response to recent questions and feedback, the following additional guidelines for the Use of the Ecolabel have been prepared and will be incorporated into the new rules for the use of the Ecolabels when it is finalised.

• Use of the Ecolabel when a certified product is a component of another product.

When GECA-certified Products are used as parts and components, the Ecolabel can be used only for those parts and components. (The Ecolabel can only be used for finished Products which are themselves GECA certified.)

• Use of the Ecolabel when a certified product excludes a decorative component

In some cases a certified product may exclude a decorative component. An example of this is a chair which is certified without textile upholstery (certified as "white furniture"). On such occasions, the Ecolabel may only be used on the product and in advertising when it is accompanied with the following expression:

"GECA certified [product or product name] excludes [name of decorative component]

Using the example of GECA certified "white furniture" the expression would be:

"GECA certified chair excludes textiles"

• Use of the Ecolabel on websites:

The Ecolabel may be displayed on the web site of the Licensee, but only when clearly separated from non-GECA certified Products. The web site will be regarded as a sales-brochure by GECA.

• Use of the Ecolabel on company stationery:

The Ecolabel shall not be used on company stationery including letterhead, business cards, invoices, email signatures etc. unless the following circumstance applies:

If all products sold by a company or brand are GECA certified, then the company may include the Ecolabel with the accompanying claim onto its company or brand stationary:

"All [state company or brand name] products are GECA certified. License Number [state license number]"

The updated "Rules Governing the Use of the Environmental Choice Australia Ecolabel" are expected to be released in December 2009 and will be emailed to all licensees and posted on the GECA website.

If you have any questions or feedback, please email these to nick@geca.org.au

2010 Australian International Design Awards

Standards Australia has launched the 2010 Australian International Design Awards, recognising product design and innovation excellence. Manufacturers and designers of professionally designed products available for sale in Australia or products professionally designed by Australians for overseas market can now enter the 2010 program and be in the running for a number of awards including the Australian Design of the Year, and the award for Excellence in Sustainable Design.

Indesign is sponsoring the Architectural and Interior Product category award. Previous winners in this category include GECA licencees Herman Miller, Formway Furniture and Planex.

Applications close on December 1, 2009.