FAQ
Ecolabel
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A lifecycle ecolabel shows that a product or service has been independently certified to have lower impacts on the environment, people, and communities across its whole journey — from raw materials, to use, right through to disposal.
It's considered the gold standard in voluntary eco-certification because it looks at everything, not just one issue like recycled content or energy use. When you see a lifecycle ecolabel, you know the product or service has been rigorously assessed and is genuinely a better choice for people and the planet.
A true lifecycle ecolabel follows internationally recognised ISO 14024 principles. These schemes award a mark or logo to products or services that meet a science-based standard tailored to their category — for example, cleaning products, furniture, or waste collection services.
Certified products and services must show they reduce environmental impacts across production, use, and end of life compared to similar options on the market.
To spot a true lifecycle ecolabel, look for:
Transparent, publicly available standards
Multiple criteria across environment, health, performance and social responsibility
Independent third-party assessment
Lifecycle coverage from raw materials to the end of life
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The GECA ecolabel is Australia's only not-for-profit, multi-sector lifecycle ecolabel — recognised globally as the most robust and credible type of environmental label because it covers multiple criteria across a product or service's entire lifecycle.
When you see the GECA ecolabel, you can trust that the product or service has been independently assessed to meet strict environmental, human health and social impact requirements — while also proving that it performs as promised.
We've developed our ecolabel standards in line with ISO 14024 principles, the international benchmark for best practice in environmental labelling. The GECA ecolabel can only be used by licensees whose products or services have successfully met every criterion in a GECA standard.
Importantly, the GECA ecolabel is also a certification trade mark, assessed and approved by the ACCC and registered by IP Australia, providing assurance to the public that certified products and services meet a transparent, science-based standard.
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The ISO 14020 series is a set of international rules that ensure environmental labels and claims are clear, consistent and trustworthy. It includes the global standard behind lifecycle ecolabels like GECA, as well as guidance for product declarations and single-issue claims. In short, it's the world's benchmark for stopping greenwashing and helping people make informed, sustainable choices.
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GECA's ecolabel is Australia's only not-for-profit, multi-sector lifecycle ecolabel that follows ISO 14024 principles, the international benchmark for robust environmental labelling.
Where some sustainability schemes focus only on a single issue (like energy use or recycled content), GECA's ecolabel takes a holistic approach. Certified products and services must meet strict criteria for environmental impact, human health, and social responsibility while proving that they perform as promised.
Other features that make GECA unique include:
Independence & rigour – impartial third-party Assurance Providers carry out all assessments.
Transparency – standards and certification requirements are publicly available.
Global credibility – GECA is the only Australian member of the Global Ecolabelling Network, and our program is peer-reviewed internationally.
Recognition – GECA certification is recognised by major green building schemes such as Green Star, NABERS, WELL, and the IS Rating Scheme.
This means the GECA ecolabel provides unmatched trust and credibility, helping people and organisations make better choices for people and planet.
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Yes, GECA is a part of the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN), which allows other ecolabel certifications to be used during the GECA certification process via a GAP analysis, comparing where the standards of other GEN members may align.
Getting Certified
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Getting certified with GECA is a transparent, collaborative process that ensures your products or services meet world-class environmental, health and social standards. Here's what to expect:
1. Pre-application: Review the relevant GECA standard and meet with the GECA team to discuss your product or service scope. We'll help you identify eligible ranges and recommend the most cost-effective certification pathway. You'll then complete a pre-assessment survey to confirm readiness for the next step.
2. Request quote: Once your pre-assessment survey is approved, we'll provide you with quotation information via the GECA Portal. You'll then receive an obligation-free quote from one of our independent third-party Assurance Providers.
3. Accept quote: To proceed, simply accept the quote and pay a one-off application fee of $950 + GST to GECA. Certification must be completed within 12 months of quote acceptance.4. Assurance Provider: Your nominated Assurance Provider will conduct a conformance assessment, which includes an on-site audit. A detailed verification report will be produced. All proprietary product and service information is treated as strictly confidential.
5. Certification: Once your assessment is successfully completed, you'll be awarded a GECA licence certificate. You'll also receive: A licence agreement to sign GECA certified logos and brand guidelines, and a GECA Marketing Toolkit to help promote your certification
Re-certification: To maintain your GECA certification. An annual licence fee is required A complete re-assessment is conducted every three years This cycle ensures ongoing alignment with best practices and continuous improvement. -
Gain a clear market advantage through independent, third-party verification
Access green building projects through recognition by GBCA (Green Star), ISC, WELL and NABERS
Build trust and loyalty with consumers, specifiers and procurement teams
Strengthen employee engagement by demonstrating authentic sustainability commitment
Future-proof your business against changing regulations and rising ESG expectations
Attract investors and partners seeking verified sustainability credentials Join a growing community of forward-thinking organisations driving real environmental and social impact
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There are three costs to the GECA ecolabel certification process. The application fee, the assessment fee, and the annual licence fee.
For more information, please contact us and we will send you our information pack. -
The timeframe depends largely on your organisation's readiness.
Before the formal assessment begins, your GECA Client Engagement Manager will work with you to:
clarify the requirements of the relevant standard
explain what documentation and evidence you'll need
provide resources and tools to help you prepare
Once you're fully prepared and ready to begin the official certification, the process typically takes 3 to 12 months.
This timeframe can vary depending on factors such as the complexity of your product or service, the quality of your supporting evidence, and how quickly information can be provided to the independent Assurance Provider.
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You and your team, your dedicated GECA account manager, the third-party assurance provider and assessor, as well as the GECA standards and technical team who can assist when needed.
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Start by reading the GECA standard for your product or service — it’s your guide to what needs to be met. Then, get your evidence ready, prepare your team, and make sure your sites are set for assessment. Don’t worry — GECA has resources, tools, and a dedicated team to support you every step of the way.
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You'll have a dedicated GECA account manager to guide you through certification and answer questions, plus access to our technical experts for advice on meeting the standards.
After certification, we'll help you celebrate and promote your achievement with a Marketing Toolkit, brand guidelines, and exposure through GECA's channels.
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GECA certification is a rigorous process and if you'd like assistance we can recommend third-party consultants who can help you through the certification journey.
Please let us know if this is something you are interested in.
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GECA certification must be renewed every three years to ensure your products or services continue to meet the latest sustainability benchmarks and best practice standards.
If a new version of a standard is introduced during your certification period, you'll have a 12-month grace period to transition to the updated requirements. This keeps your products aligned with green building schemes and other procurement programs.
All licensees must complete recertification before their certificate expires. If your assessment is underway but not yet finalised at the time of expiry, you must hold a current letter of support to remain certified (an additional fee applies).
Certified Products & Services
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We have a handy product and service directory available featuring all GECA certified products and service
Getting a Claim Authenticated
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GECA's Claims Authentication service provides independent verification of specific environmental claims, following the internationally recognised ISO 14021 principles.
Our Standards & Technical team develops clear criteria for each claim, based on thorough research. Independent technical specialists then review all supporting evidence to ensure the claim is credible, specific and measurable.
We currently authenticate claims in areas such as:
Recyclability
Recycled content (including VinylCycle for PVC)
Compostability
Water filtration
Energy and emissions-related improvements
This service is particularly valuable for companies not yet ready for full lifecycle ecolabel certification but wanting to demonstrate progress and avoid greenwashing through trusted, third-party assurance.
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A GECA-authenticated claim provides independent, objective and science-based verification of your environmental or sustainability claim.
This helps cut through marketing clutter, giving businesses and consumers confidence that your claim is credible and trustworthy.
Here's what the process looks like:
Pre-application – Meet with the GECA team to discuss your claim. Complete a pre-assessment survey to confirm readiness.
Request a quote – Once approved, you'll receive an obligation-free quote from GECA.
Accept quote – Proceed by accepting the quote and paying a one-off $950 + GST application fee. Your authentication process must be completed within 12 months.
Criteria & submission – GECA develops tailored criteria for your claim. You then provide the required documentation.
Certification – Once verified, you'll receive:
A GECA Claims Authentication Certificate
A licence agreement
GECA certified logos and brand guidelines
A GECA Marketing Toolkit to help promote your achievement
Recertification: An annual licence fee applies to maintain your claim's credibility, and a complete reassessment is conducted every two years. This ensures your claim stays aligned with best practice and continuous improvement.
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A claim focuses on a single environmental attribute — for example, "made with 95% recycled content" or "80% powered by renewable energy". GECA verifies these through our Claims Authentication service, which follows ISO 14021 principles. This provides independent, third-party assurance that a specific claim is accurate, evidence-based and not greenwashing.
An ecolabel, on the other hand, is much broader. GECA's ecolabel is a lifecycle ecolabel developed under ISO 14024, which means certified products and services must meet rigorous criteria across multiple areas — including environmental impact, human health, social responsibility, and performance — over their entire lifecycle, from raw materials to end of life.
In short:
Claims = specific issue, independently verified
Ecolabel = whole-of-lifecycle, multiple criteria, internationally recognised
For many companies, an authenticated claim is a good first step toward sustainability, while lifecycle ecolabelling represents the gold standard.
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The timing depends on how prepared you are when you begin.
During the initial consultation, your GECA Client Engagement Manager will guide you through the requirements, help you understand what evidence you'll need, and provide resources to prepare your documentation.
Once you're ready to start the formal process, authentication usually takes between 6 and 12 months. The exact timeframe can vary depending on the complexity of the claim and how quickly supporting information is provided.
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There are four main costs in the GECA authentication process:
Application fee – a one-off fee payable at the start.
Criteria review – the development and review of tailored criteria for your claim.
Assessment fee – the independent third-party verification of your documentation and evidence.
Annual licence fee – required to maintain your certification and the right to use the GECA Authenticated Claim mark.
The exact costs vary depending on the type and complexity of the claim. Please get in touch with the GECA team to receive a tailored breakdown.
Collaboration
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Absolutely. GECA regularly collaborates with industry, government, academia, and fellow not-for-profits on initiatives, advocacy, and research that drive more sustainable consumption and production.
As a GECA licensee, you'll also be invited to contribute to standard development, industry projects, and environmental programs, as well as to participate in events, trade shows, and editorial opportunities.
We welcome partnerships that share our vision for a sustainable future for people and the planet. We'd love to hear from you if you have a project in mind.