Environmentally friendly product - pure water PR. What does “environmentally friendly product” mean and where can you buy it

Today in our country the concept of "environmentally pure product» (ECP) is not approved at the federal legislative level. Each of us, including the manufacturer, can interpret this combination of words in his own way and put different meanings into it. There are no standards for environmental products, there is no law that should regulate the legality of applying "environmental" labeling. Therefore, in Lately On store shelves, you can increasingly see products labeled "eco" or "bio". When buying such products, the consumer often does not think about why this marking is applied to a particular product, how it should differ from the rest, and whether it is lawful to apply such information on the product packaging.

After conducting a short survey among Muscovites on the topic “What is an environmentally friendly product”, we realized that most often they associated this concept with products grown in a personal plot, in “grandmother’s beds”, that is, with products home production. Speaking about them, the consumer usually emphasizes that their production was done without the use of pesticides, herbicides and growth stimulants, that they do not contain preservatives and dyes. This is true in most cases.

At the same time, the consumer does not at all correlate the quality of products with the sanitary and hygienic standards of packaging, storage, sale and transportation of food products, which determine their safety.

Consider on simple example at what moment homemade milk may become unsafe. Let's say cows graze in an ecologically clean area, eat only "clean" grass, their diet does not include biostimulating additives. However, the conditions for the "production" and sale of milk are far from sanitary: hygienic conditions are not provided during milking, there is no need to talk about observing the thermal and sanitary regime when selling on roadsides. Consequently, milk reaches the consumer already with biological and chemical contaminants.

It follows from this that an environmentally friendly product (ECP) is not only a product made from environmentally friendly raw materials or natural product, it is also safe product, passed during the production of strict control over compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards, a product that must be stored, transported and sold only under certain conditions.

Environmental friendliness and safety are not synonymous

Both in Russia and in Europe, milk production in factories must comply with established safety requirements. But only Western-made milk can be called environmentally friendly, since it is in Europe that there are standards for environmentally friendly products.

When interviewed, many respondents, talking about ECP, said that such products should be, first of all, safe for human health. One cannot but agree with this, but the concept of "environmental friendliness" cannot be replaced by the concept of "safety".

Food safety is an object of sanitary and hygienic control. Sanitary norms and rules characterize it as the absence of danger to the life and health of people of present and future generations. food products must meet the requirements sanitary regulations, norms and hygiene standards. Food products that comply with such regulations must not have a toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic or other adverse effect on the human body.

An environmentally friendly product is a necessarily safe product, but not only. It must be produced in accordance with environmental standards
- without pesticides,
- no synthetic feed additives,
- without growth regulators,
- free of artificial preservatives, colors and flavors,
- without chemical enzymes and additives,
- without the use of genetic engineering achievements.

It is important to note that organic farming is seen in Europe not only as a guarantee of the environmental friendliness of the product, but also as a guarantee of the conservation of natural resources for its production. On the packaging of milk, produced by order of the President company in Spain, it is indicated that organic farming allows you to preserve the traditional rural type of settlements, use renewable energy and water resources, and preserve the biodiversity of flora and fauna.

"Green" certification

Now more and more attention is paid not only to the ecological quality of the environment, but also to the "ecology" of human nutrition. In this area of ​​our environmental policy, there is much to be surprised and upset about. It turns out that in Russia, without a sufficiently legitimate federal basis, there are several food quality certification systems.

Firstly, the Moscow Ecological Product sign. While it is assigned after successful completion of voluntary certification.

This is a joint project of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the city of Moscow and the Union of Consumers of the Russian Federation. According to the Decree of the Government of Moscow dated September 16, 2003 No. 783 “On measures for the environmental assessment of products sold at consumer market of the city of Moscow”, with the sign of conformity “Environmentally friendly product” can be marked drinking water packaged in containers; animal products or plant origin made from natural food raw materials, grown in compliance with established sanitary norms and rules, and meeting the safety requirements established for food products for young children.

Secondly, it is the system of voluntary certification of ecological agricultural production "EkoNiva".

Thirdly, the system of voluntary certification "BIO".

Undoubtedly, voluntary certification is a way to improve quality. It gives the opportunity to develop business, improve product quality, fight in a world of fierce competition.

But for the production of environmentally friendly products at the present stage of economic development, first of all, laws must appear that regulate the use of the terminology "ECO" and the application of appropriate labels. These laws should be based on standards that set strict requirements for the quality of environmental products.

List of enterprises that have the right to use the Ecological Product sign (according to the Department of Food Resources of Moscow)

In accordance with the Decree of the Government of Moscow dated September 16, 2003 No. 783-PP "On measures for the environmental assessment of products sold on the consumer market of the city of Moscow", NP "Moscow Ecological Products" carries out practical activities for environmental certification of products within the framework of the Moscow system of voluntary certification "Eco-Friendly Products".

To date, this organization has issued certificates with the right to use the Ecological Product label for products manufactured by the following enterprises:
CJSC Agrofirma Belaya Dacha»: fresh cucumbers; fresh sweet pepper; fresh tomatoes; fresh potatoes; table carrots; White cabbage; onion turnip.
JSC "Cherkizovsky Meat Processing Plant": natural semi-finished products from beef and pork.
CJSC "Gorodishche": fresh table carrots.
CJSC "Dashkovsky vegetable plant": fresh table carrots, fresh food potatoes, fresh white cabbage.
JSC "Karat": butter "Domashnee".
Interregional public organization beekeepers: 14 varieties of natural flower honey.
ZAO Sistema Zernostandart: buckwheat and wheat flakes that do not require cooking.
JSC "Moscow Mill Plant No. 3": wheat flour of the highest grade.
JSC "Mill Combine in Sokolniki": flour premium"Sokolnicheskaya" and flour of the highest grade "Grain Company" Nastyusha ".

ECOdeception

Today, the situation is often repeated when a consumer, purchasing a product, “buys” for a large number of various icons on the packaging, without thinking about what each of them means. Unfortunately, most cases of environmental labeling of products Russian production- it's a PR campaign clean water. When choosing a product, it is worth remembering that awards are not always an indicator of its quality and environmental friendliness. The application of so-called eco-labels is most often illegal, they are used as a method of competition and as a justification for increasing the cost of a product in a number of similar ones. Such products lead the consumer astray.

We discussed the problems of ECOdeception with the specialists of the ecological supermarket "Grunwald". They noted that for European market labeling "bio" is not a myth and not a PR move of manufacturing companies. Organic (organic, ekologisch), biological (bio, biologisch, issue d "agriculture biologique) or ecological products are not just a product with a specific inscription and icon. ecological product is the result of a complex and lengthy process based on compliance with huge amount norms, recommendations and standards.

Manufacturers of quality products understand that falsification of products is a blow to their reputation. The worst thing for them is the massive loss of trust in the brand. Many people try to protect their product. Good example- the decision taken by the management of the company "Shishkin Les". Manufacturers incur higher production costs for original packaging than its competitors. But by financing the production own bottles for bottling, they receive a 100% guarantee against unauthorized use of their brand. Most other manufacturers simply buy cheap ready-made containers and reap disastrous results.

Unfortunately, goods with various illegally printed information regarding quality are quite often found on the shelves of stores, including some large chain department stores. The buyer is not able to independently understand the reliability of this information. You can hope for luck, or you can shop in stores that have their own quality control service and act as a qualified intermediary between the manufacturer and the buyer.

A striking example of eating low-quality foods is antibiotic resistance, which has arisen due to frequent use meat and milk of animals in the treatment of which antibiotics were used.
With a sedentary lifestyle, constant stress, overeating and inhaling dirty air, the conditional ecological cleanliness of food products may not affect health in any way.

What are the dangers of conventional products

In pursuit of economic gain, the global food industry is the least concerned about the health of its end consumer. Its main goal is to feed maximum amount people at the lowest cost. To achieve it, food producers are taking a whole range of measures, starting genetic engineering and ending with the use of completely useless, and even harmful chemicals.

Main methods used modern manufacturers to achieve economic benefits:

• reduction of production costs;
• reduction in the cost of manufacturing processes;
• increase the shelf life of food;
• reducing the rate of damage and loss of resources by increasing their resistance to pests and negative external factors.

As a result, the shelves of modern supermarkets, grocery stores, markets and stalls in all cities of the world are filled with bright, beautiful, mouth-watering products that can be stored in the refrigerator for months. And few people think, plunging into all this illusory abundance, about the gigantic size of the chicken and the unnatural brilliance of bell pepper, about the village milk that does not sour for weeks, and about the obviously distorted taste of many familiar products. [sidebar#1]

By eating such "modified" foods, a person unknowingly causes serious harm to his body in the form of chronic diseases, reduced immunity, intoxication, metabolic disorders, allergies, fatigue, disorders of various systems and internal organs. And it is still somehow not customary to associate all these problems with food, although many do not even know how life can be transformed. healthy eating and environmentally friendly products.

Can Organic Food Help Improve Your Health?

Replace harmful products for natural food

Healthy nutrition is the key to normal human life and even one of the surest ways to increase life expectancy. Recover after prolonged eating substandard products is not easy, and this can only be done with the help of a complete transition to environmentally friendly and natural food.

Replacement junk food useful products leads to a gradual improvement in well-being and mood, increased efficiency and disappearance depression, reducing the manifestations of chronic ailments and restoring vitality in general.

When switching to organic food, it is important to understand that a natural diet is not a panacea, and deviations from it are quite acceptable. You should not expect radical changes and total recovery of the body from organic food, and even more so hope that they will help cure any serious diseases. [sidebar#2]

The opposite effect can be given by the wrong combination of products or attempts to oversaturate the body with useful substances due to the uncontrolled consumption of food unusual for the body.

What products are environmentally friendly

Despite the desire of a significant part of the representatives food business get the maximum profit from the sale of low-quality products, the modern market law also applies to healthy food.

Demand creates supply, and every year everything appears on the market. more products nutrition, which does not harm the body at all, and on the contrary, saturates it with vitamins and microelements necessary for optimal life. And the main task of those who decide to switch to healthy food of a person - to learn to recognize such products on the shelves of supermarkets.

Environmentally friendly products do not contain genetically modified organisms, synthetic preservatives, artificial flavor enhancers, dyes and flavors. The raw materials used in the production of eco-products are grown without the use of hormones, antibiotics, artificial fertilizers, pesticides and pesticides.

Food grown on organic materials is much tastier and healthier than those obtained through the use of growth regulators, chemical enzymes and other artificial additives. Realizing this, many farms are trying to minimize human interference in the natural development of plants and animals.

Advantages of organic products over conventional ones

Natural products are best help health

In addition to being environmentally clean food completely safe for humans, it has other important advantages.

1. High content of vitamins and microelements (in eco-products useful substances about 50% more than in ordinary food).
2. improved taste, pleasant aroma, juiciness and appetizing (the taste of organic food has no chemical impurities).
3. Security is not only inside, but also outside. Fruits and vegetables are often waxed to prevent them from spoiling quickly and to give them an attractive appearance. appearance. Environmentally friendly products do not need such processing. They can be eaten with the peel, which means you get even more nutrients.
4. Benefits for children and pregnant women (lack of chemical additives completely excludes their penetration and settling in the body).

What are ecological products

Despite the fact that most often fruits and vegetables are considered natural products, there is a huge list of products that can rightfully be proudly called “ecological”. So, on the shelves of modern stores you can find environmentally friendly pasta And vegetable oils, nuts and dried fruits, natural canned food, dairy products, candy and chocolate.

Eco-products of animal origin are also known, prepared using special technologies that provide for the rejection of growth hormones, chemicals, antibiotics and low-quality feed in the process of growing birds and animals. Some manufacturers show concern not only for people, but also for their pets, launching ecologically clean food for cats and dogs on the market. What unites all these delicacies is the absence harmful components in the composition and the presence of a special sign on the package.

Requirements for environmentally friendly products

In order to bring truly safe, healthy and high-quality environmentally friendly products to the market, manufacturers must comply with certain requirements.

1. When growing crops, it is not allowed to use mineral fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, chemicals and any unnatural radiation. Animals can be grown only on environmentally friendly feed, and their diet should not contain hormonal drugs and feed antibiotics.
2. In the production of organic food, it is prohibited to use artificial preservatives, genetically modified organisms, synthetic flavors, substitutes and taste regulators. Aggressive processing methods and changes in the original properties of products are not allowed.
3. Environmentally friendly products are characterized by minimal external processing. Wax and exposure to chemical factors is a sign of artificially increasing the shelf life of products and improving their appearance.

Where to buy organic products

It is better to buy organic products in specialized stores.

Every year, the world market is replenished with new manufacturers of organic products, and healthy food itself is becoming more and more in demand. Many companies from Russia and other countries open retail and wholesale points of sale, participate in international fairs, show their products at exhibitions.

Unscrupulous entrepreneurs are also becoming more active, passing off cheap low-quality goods as ecological products. That is why it is better to purchase eco-products in specialized stores and centers that have licenses and certificates confirming the naturalness of the products offered. Before getting on the shelves of eco-markets, real organic food undergoes mandatory certification and receives a brand certifying its naturalness. Russia has not yet issued a law that would regulate agriculture and control the work of producers organic products However, a draft of such a document has already been submitted to the State Duma.

Agricultural fairs are regularly held in different cities of the country, presenting to buyers a wide selection of products grown by farmers on their own farms. And despite the fact that all the fruits, vegetables, berries, meat and dairy products they sell look very natural and natural, there is no guarantee that chemicals were not used when growing plants, and when feeding animals - harmful additives and stimulants. That is why it is better to buy ecological products in places where an official and 100% guarantee of their naturalness and safety is provided. bright sign and original presentation organic products is not an indicator of its naturalness and safety.

A modern buyer can recognize an environmentally friendly product by the signs "BIO", "ECO", "ORGANIC". Such badges indicate strict adherence to the principles of organic agriculture in the process of preparing products. The products themselves can be called differently: bioproducts, environmentally friendly products, organic food. It is much more profitable and safer to buy goods marked with an eco-certification mark than buying products from private farmers, whose quality control is almost impossible.

In accordance with the standards established in America and Europe, the inscriptions indicate that the product is 95% natural. Environmentally friendly products can contain about 70% organic matter and even a little less, but the inscription about these indicators must be present on their packaging.

Despite the fact that the cost of environmentally friendly products is usually 20-50% higher conventional products nutrition, a safe organic diet is an invaluable investment in your own health.

- these are products that are grown on pristine clean land without the use of chemical fertilizers, man-made impacts, including the processing process. When sold, such products are labeled with the “eco” emblem and cost an order of magnitude more expensive (about 3-5 times, which is 60-70% of the cost of conventional food)

Why? Eco-products are positioned in the premium segment and their production requires more costs, manual labor, certification, veterinary control, laboratory research, packaging, etc.

Organic vegetables and fruits contain 40% more antioxidants, which reduces the occurrence of cancer and cardiovascular disease, and in the milk of animals grown by biotechnology, the level of antioxidants is 90% higher. Eco-products contain more minerals, vitamins, microelements, which are so necessary for people living in a metropolis.

In the world, according to experts, every year there is an increasing interest in the consumption of environmentally friendly products. So the demand for eco products increased from 20 billion dollars in 2000 to 60 billion dollars in 2012 - more than 3 times! It is assumed that by 2020 the demand for will increase to 200 - 250 billion dollars! The leaders in the production of eco-products are the USA, Germany, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Switzerland. Russia, on the other hand, lags behind European producers in terms of the technology for the production of eco-products by 15-20 years….

Signs of environmentally friendly products in Europe and requirements for its production.

All products marked with such signs are subject to strict control at all stages of production and sale. Production quality control includes:

- production of organic products in isolated places to prevent mixing of products

– controlling organizations carry out annual inspections of production sites products are also entitled to unannounced inspections and controls. After each inspection, a report is drawn up by the inspecting organization.

- enterprises must document the origin, quantity and type of all fertilizers, feed, plant and animal protection products, including their use.

- Accounting should daily reflect the number of products sold, its type, as well as information about the buyer who sells the products. And, of course, accounting for products sold to the end customer.

- only those products that are controlled by inspecting organizations can have the labeling of environmentally friendly products.

These requirements are spelled out in the "Regulation on Organic Farming and the Appropriate Labeling of Agricultural Foods" No. 2092/91 dated 06/24/91. and includes all EEC countries.

American standards for the production of organic products.

In order to obtain the "Demeter" or "Biodin" brand, the farmer must use the biodynamic method of production for two years under the supervision of a representative of the Demeter Association or the Biodynamic Association, and also conclude a contract with these organizations. An assessment of the performance of farmers is carried out every year.

The whole process of producing organic products must be carried out in accordance with the "Lectures on Agriculture" described by Rudolf Steiner. The lectures prescribe that pets and pet food should be farm-produced and raised as much as possible. The basis of soil fertility is organic fertilizers, compost from plant residues, biodynamic compost preparations. If it is necessary to import feed, fertilizers, then a thorough check for compliance with the requirements of Demeter follows.

It is forbidden to use nitrogen, phosphorus synthetic fertilizers, potassium salts containing chlorine, and lime, phosphorite, crushed rocks are allowed to be used depending on local conditions. It is also forbidden to use sewage, garbage, composted production waste, due to high content lead, mercury, chromium, zinc, etc. It is strictly forbidden to use synthetic and poisonous plant protection products (herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, chemical growth regulators, etc.)

Farmers must strictly adhere to the prescribed instructions up to the scheduled diet of pets and poultry. Feed for them should not contain antibiotics, synthetic additives. And when processing farm products, it is unacceptable to use nitrites, artificial fillers, etc.

All activities of the farmer, his planned activities for the fertilization of the site, the use of animal and bird feed must be declared in writing and must be approved by representatives of the Demeter Association or the Biodynamic Association or the local farmer's group. In addition, the annual quality assurance of the Demeter Association.

Russian market of eco-products.

Law GOST R 51074-2003 “National standard of the Russian Federation. Food products. Information for the consumer" prohibits the unsubstantiated use of "organic food", "grown without the use of pesticides", "grown without the use of mineral fertilizers", etc. on product labels, and also requires the general composition of the ingredients to be reported, nutritional supplements, flavors, biodegradable active additives etc…

Thus, the law contains general requirements and regulations for consumer information. There is no regulatory framework for determining the environmental friendliness of products in the country. And the consumer market eco products accounts for only 0.1% of the sale of all food products.

Why is the demand for environmentally friendly products so low in Russia? Are there few people in Russia who think about healthy way life, quality and safe food? There are several reasons:

- sometimes the label "eco" is a marketing ploy and products marked with this sign are no different from ordinary ones.

- the solvency of the population in Russia is lower than in Western Europe, not every Russian buyer can pay 190-200 rubles for a dozen eggs, 100 rubles for 1 liter of milk, and 200 rubles for 500 g of sour cream, and for village chicken- 700 rubles per kg.

- in Russia today there is no integrated system for the production of environmentally friendly products at the state level, so the market for demand for eco-products has not been created. So, in Europe, in the production of organic milk, pet meat and poultry, a certificate is issued for the land on which organic food for pets and birds is grown. There are certain standards and norms of production.

- lack of information about the production, about the quality of eco-products.

However, there are Russian producers who supply organic food products to the market. The “Professional Association of Producers and Suppliers of Ecological Products and Ecoservices” created in Russia unites manufacturers different regions countries - from St. Petersburg and Moscow to the Urals and Siberia. They voluntarily certify the products they produce.

What are the difficulties in forming the Russian market of eco-products and what are its prospects?

1. The productivity of eco farm products is much lower than that of conventional farms. Manufacturers do not use chemical fertilizers, GMOs, antibiotics, growth accelerators, etc. If the average wheat harvest per hectare in Russia in 2011 was 30-40 tons, then on an eco-farm it was 4-5 tons.

2. The shelf life of organic products is very short - from 36 hours to no more than 72 hours. Difficulties in organizing deliveries to the consumer. Manufacturers cannot afford to overstock their products in order to meet storage standards.

3. In Russia, there is no national system for confirming standards and quality control of eco-products. When this is created, then the market for eco-products will acquire civilized forms - farmers will have access to retail chains, educational institutions, food outlets, a supply chain will be established.

The Ministry of Agriculture is currently developing a law on ecological agriculture. Hearings were held in the Public Chamber on the problems of developing the market for ecological agricultural production. Now it has become obvious that it is necessary to support this sector of the economy.

According to the Ministry of Health, economic losses from diseases associated with disorders of the digestive system amount to 1,512.74 billion rubles annually. With the support of the state, it is possible to reduce the cost of production, expand the market for eco-products, and improve people's health in general.

A growing number of people are beginning to care about the impact of the products they purchase on the world. These people want to know where fruits and vegetables are grown, how their clothes are made, what is in the things they use, and so on. Appeared big choice green goods that did not exist even a few years ago: from cleaning products to clothing, from grocery bags to fruits and vegetables, from pasta to children's toys.

Definition

Eco-friendly (also eco-friendly or green) is an ambiguous concept used to refer to goods, services, laws, policies that claim to cause minimal harm or harmless to the ecosystem or the environment. The term is most commonly used for products that are green and/or conserve resources such as water and energy and/or that do not pollute the environment.

Signs of sustainability

Creating a completely environmentally friendly product means creating a product that does not harm both the environment and humans. But it is very difficult to make a completely environmentally friendly product. It is necessary that the entire chain from the production of a product, including transportation and storage, to its consumption and disuse, does not harm the ecosystem and humans. An environmentally friendly product can be grown in a garden, far from civilization, without the use of artificial fertilizers, watered from a well or stream and transported to the market by animal transport. The ideal is very difficult to achieve. And manufacturers label their product as environmentally friendly when there is at least one sign of environmental friendliness.
A mandatory sign of environmental friendliness is the non-toxicity of the product. Further, a sign of environmental friendliness is the use of ingredients that do not disturb the ecosystem. Organic ingredients or materials obtained without the use of toxic pesticides or herbicides. Products made of glass, wood, metal, with the inscription "made from recycled materials." A sign of environmental friendliness is production that does not violate the ecosystem and does not harm humans. Biodegradable materials that break down quickly due to natural decomposition, which have less impact on the ecosystem. (However, if a product is called biodegradable, this does not mean that it is. For example, you can read about biodegradable plastic.) Goods that can be recycled.
Sometimes companies use eco-labels to promote their products and use eco-terms in their names and advertisements. Often such promotion is only “greening the image”.

"Greening the Image"

Manufacturers sometimes label their products as "sustainable" or "sustainable" when in fact they are not. Marketing companies often use (or, to translate literally English word, "greenwashing", "green camouflage") to boost sales at the expense of environmentally conscious shoppers. The same marketing masters who once sold cigarettes now sell "green" products. The prefixes "eco" and "bio" have become very fashionable and are used literally everywhere. Loud slogans “biodegradable”, “only natural product”, “environmentally safe”, “environmentally friendly”, “organic” are written even on products that are made from petrochemicals and are sold in disposable packaging.
The same corporations that made DDT and filled the ocean with plastic are also greening their image and assuring consumers that their new, improved product models will magically solve the problem of ecology.

How to get a truly environmentally friendly product

This is where common sense can help.
If you choose any of the household chemicals Read the ingredients carefully. Manufacturers often hide full list ingredients, and should be suspicious of such products. It is better to give preference to products that contain more natural ingredients or some natural ingredients. There must be no harmful chemical ingredients. We need to look at the eco-label.

When purchasing any product, you should first consider what impact it can have on human health and the environment. It's better to prioritize natural wood, metal or glass. You should not buy a product thoughtlessly, just because it is advertised or a neighbor has the same one.

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