Star Bamboo Singapore

Star Bamboo is proud to announce that we are recognised as part of the international non-profit organisation Global Eco-labelling Network’s Internationally Coordinated Eco-labelling System (GENICES). As a staunch supporter of Singapore Environment Council’s Green Label scheme, our eco-friendly bamboo flooring is now listed as a Type I Voluntary Environmental Performance Labelling product.

Our eco-friendly bamboo flooring is now recognised all around the world.

From GEN’s web site, a Type I program is:

a voluntary, multiple-criteria based, third party program that awards a license that authorizes the use of environmental labels on products indicating overall environmental preferability of a product within a particular product category based on life cycle considerations.

All you need to understand is that when you get bamboo flooring from Star Bamboo, you get independent assurance that your actions will help the environment.

Simply look out for the Singapore Green Label logo below:

Star Bamboo is a proud member of the Singapore Green Label.

If your supplier claims to Green Label certified, you should verify their claims on the Singapore Green Label product directory (Star Bamboo is listed under “035-004″).

Below is the full text of the press release from Singapore Environment Council (SEC):

Singapore’s Green Label Gets A Global Boost

Singapore’s Green Label, which turns 20 in 2012, is certified by Global Ecolabelling Network’s Internationally Coordinated Ecolabelling System(GENICES)

Singapore’s most recognised eco-label, the Green Label, which is administered by the Singapore Environment Council, today received a global boost when it was officially accredited by the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN), an international non-profit association of third-party, environmental performance recognition, certification and labelling organisations.

2          The certificate of accreditation was awarded to SEC at the 2011 GEN Annual General Meeting and International Conference of the Global Ecolabelling Network in Yilan, Taiwan, yesterday afternoon, 27 October 2011.

3          This independent accreditation from a global authority on eco-labelling sets the Green Label apart as Singapore’s one and only Type 1 Eco-labelling scheme.

4          “Type 1” is an important distinction that identifies Singapore’s Green Label Scheme (SGLS) as an eco-certification scheme that considers multiple criteria, examines the overall life cycle of a product and which incorporates principles of life cycle thinking, and which is administered on a voluntary basis. This ensures that all aspects of the product have been analysed to ensure that the product is truly an environmentally preferable alternative to one that does not carry the Green Label Logo.

5          The peer-review process of the Global Ecolabelling Network’s Internationally Coordinated Ecolabelling System (GENICES) accreditation process also lauds the appropriate and good practices of the SGLS, as verified by international auditors. The SEC is the only eco-labelling body in Singapore that is a member of the Global Ecolabelling Network.

6          Receiving the accreditation certificate on behalf of the SEC was Executive Director Jose Raymond. He said, “We are very proud that Singapore’s Green Label has stood up to such stringent scrutiny from GEN. The SEC works hard to constantly develop new criteria for eligible products, and tighten up requirements for existing categories as well. By expanding our outreach to as many types of consumer products, construction materials, personal electronics and home appliances, as well as constantly improving the credibility and distinctiveness of the Green Label, we hope that the already familiar logo will become an instantly recognisable and trusted symbol of environmentally preferable products.”

7          The GENICES certification also sets a solid foundation for the Singapore Green Label Scheme to ramp up its drive to expand its scope, in terms of criteria development and regional outreach.

8          The GENICES certification helps SEC achieve multilateral, mutual trust with other GENICES members. This is a very important step, as it qualifies the SGLS to sign Mutual Recognition Agreements with other GENICES certified countries, such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, the United States and many European countries. This makes it easier for SGLS  certified products to get certified in these countries. The achievement of multilateral mutual trust also enables SEC to cut costs for products certified by other GENICES members.

9          “We are happy to be able to offer more value-for-money to SGLS applicants, and hope that more manufacturers will avail themselves to this attractive opportunity for regional outreach by applying for the SGLS certification. For the Singaporean consumers, having as many products labelled under the SGLS will mean allowing them to make more environmentally preferable purchasing decisions across. For example, the very same construction manager who chooses Green Label-certified cements containing recycled content, and paints low in volatile organic compounds at the workplace can pick up a Green Label detergent, dishwashing soap or light bulbs on their way home,” added Mr Raymond.

10        As of 22 October 2011, 1,940 products are certified under the SGLS.

For more information about the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme, please visitwww.greenlabel.sg.

**END OF MEDIA RELEASE**

A recent article in the Business Times (reproduced here) reported that :

“If buildings meet certain Green Mark standards, owners can apply for additional Gross Floor Area (GFA) beyond the master plan gross plot ratio control.

Developments with the Platinum rating can receive up to 2 per cent more GFA (capped at 5,000 sq m), while those with the Gold Plus rating are eligible for up to one per cent more (capped at 2,500 sq m).”

In land-scarce Singapore, this is a powerful incentive. At current record land prices,  an extra 5,000 sqm is easily worth millions of dollars to the developer, even though a development charge has to be paid to the government.

There are currently 4 levels of Green Mark ratings:

There is now greater impetus to strive for the next Green Mark level, especially for buildings at the Green Mark Gold Plus level. Only 5 points separate this from the highest Green Mark Platinum level, making it an attainable goal.

With the 2008 revision of the Green Mark programme, developers can score points by using Green Label certified products such as our bamboo flooring. Under this category, there is a total of 1.5 points available. Any extra building costs is more than offset by the extra GFA available.

When a mere 5 points could equate to a difference of millions of dollars, every little bit helps.

Sorry for the long silence, we have been very busy for the past 2 months!

Just saw this article on AsiaOne web site:

THOSE seeking to buy energy- and cost-saving home appliances, such as refrigerators and washing machines, will be able to check if the products are on a “green” list that will be posted online.

Special materials, such as different types of glass and walls that are green, will also be included in the list, making it easier for construction-industry players to develop environmentally-friendly buildings.

The list, which is expected to be ready in a year, is the first project of the Singapore Green Building Council.

Wait a minute, don’t we already have such a list?

In fact, the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) already has a list of eco-products for many years. On their list of Green Label-approved products, Star Bamboo has been listed since 2006.

So if you are into eco-purchasing, go check out the SEC web site now.

p.s. our next post will be about the latest exciting avenue for eco-purchases, look out for it!

Saw on yesterday’s news that 2 Singapore companies are reprimanded for misusing the Singapore Environment Council’s (SEC) Green Label logo. They inserted the logo on their products when they were not certified.

Green Label Singapore is “a voluntary accreditation for environmentally-friendly products by SEC”.

The Today newspaper report has more details on the case. I couldn’t find the article on the Todayonline web site, here is a scan below:

 The Green Label Singapore programme was started in 1999, and this is the first known case of misuse. It means that awareness of Green Label has reached a critical mass. Consumers are now making their influence felt by requesting for Green Label products.

Use of the logo must always be accompanied by an identification number.

At Star Bamboo, our bamboo flooring has been accredited since 2006. The Green Label Singapore logo appears on all our marketing material, along with our ID number 035-004.

We are certified not just because bamboo is a rapidly renewable material (that would mean ALL bamboo flooring is eco-friendly, which is obviously not the case).

At Star Bamboo, we take a holistic approach beginning with responsible sourcing of raw materials, use of low/zero-emission chemicals in our production, careful disposal and recycling of waste materials, and also proper welfare for our workers. The entire production is audited twice-yearly by a German company.

Green Label Singapore has been officially recognised under Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Green Mark programme since Jan 2008. Developers are now approaching Star Bamboo for our bamboo flooring, as it is a certified eco-friendly product and eligible for Green Mark points.

With a growing demand for eco-friendly products, it is no wonder some companies are taking a shortcut to tap into this market.

So be aware, and make the right choice!