More than 50 public and private sector representatives have met in Colombo to strengthen Sri Lanka’s National Eco-Labelling Framework, under a European Union-funded programme aimed at building a single trusted standard for environmentally responsible products.
The consultation, titled “National Eco-Label Sri Lanka: Framework Strengthening and Harmonisation,” was organised through the EU-funded Green Recovery Facility, implemented by Expertise France with the Ministry of Environment, EconomyNext reported. Participants included government institutions, industry associations, existing eco-label scheme owners, certification bodies and technical experts.
“As sustainability becomes an increasingly important factor in global trade, credible and transparent environmental standards are essential,” said Dr Johann Hesse, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. He said the EU was helping Sri Lanka build the institutions and technical capacity “needed to strengthen sustainable production, increase consumer confidence and unlock new market opportunities for Sri Lankan businesses.”
Sri Lanka launched the framework in 2022, but the system remains fragmented. Sector-specific schemes already operate, including the Green Label introduced by the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka and energy rating initiatives run by the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority. Differing criteria, limited national recognition and weak integration with Green Public Procurement have prompted the push for a harmonised approach.
Nearly 1.8 million products worldwide now carry recognised eco-labels. But more than 300 eco-labels are estimated to exist in the United States alone, and six in 10 European consumers report difficulty telling credible environmental claims from misleading ones — a gap the programme frames as a greenwashing risk.
Stakeholders gave input on industry readiness, priority product sectors and the framework’s implementation roadmap. Three priorities emerged: aligning eco-labelling with Green Public Procurement to drive demand, strengthening testing and verification capacity, and adopting a phased roll-out. The workshop also introduced a proposed tiered recognition system offering businesses a graded path to national recognition.
The next phase will refine harmonised criteria and support implementation. The Green Recovery Facility also runs Sri Lankan programmes on eco-industrial parks and green finance taxonomy.
