This was one of the main conclusions of the side event organized by the Nordic Council of Ministers and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) during the United Nations 18th commission on sustainable development in New York 3-14^th May.

Elisabet Falemo, the Swedish State Secretary, opened the event expressing the commitment of the Nordic countries to the global agenda on sustainable development and to pursuing more sustainable production and consumption patterns.

Falemo stressed the role of Type 1 ecolabels, such as the Nordic ecolabel and the EU Flower, which are based on multiple criteria, lifecycle thinking and third-party certification. These voluntary market-based instruments are effective tools to improve resource efficiency of products while enabling consumers to make informed purchasing choices.

-It is very important for us to act within the international community to share experiences, to learn from other countries and regions and to contribute to increased awareness. Cooperation beyond the boundaries is a key to success, Falemo said.

UNEP has recognized the importance of ecolabelling also in relation to opportunities for developing countries. UNEP is providing capacity building and technical assistance to companies and governments in developing countries to seize ecolabelling opportunities.

Arab Hoballah, Chief of the Sustainable Consumption and Production Branch of UNEP, underlined the potential of ecolabelling to promote the mutual supportiveness of trade, environment and development.

According to Hoballah increased use of ecolabels in developing countries can reduce the environmental impacts of the manufacturing industries and enhance market access of environmentally efficient products, thus leading to improved regional economic integration and increased international competitiveness.

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