FAQ

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 

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

For procurement teams, specifiers and consultants, the GECA ecolabel provides a single, trusted source of independent verification, significantly reducing risk, time and duplication during the specification and procurement process.

GECA is Australia’s only multi-sector lifecycle ecolabel that follows ISO 14024 global best practice, with products and services assessed by independent third-party Assurance Providers — not GECA staff. This means certified products have already been rigorously evaluated against multiple criteria, removing the need for repeated evidence requests.

GECA certification confirms compliance across areas that procurement and specification teams are commonly required to assess, including:

• Environmental performance (such as emissions and VOC limits)

• Hazardous substance restrictions

• Human health considerations

• Ethical supply chains, including modern slavery, fair wages and workplace health and safety

• Sustainable materials sourcing and product stewardship

• Fitness for purpose, durability and compliance with relevant Australian Standards

GECA certified products are also recognised by leading green building schemes, including the Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star Responsible Product Framework, the IS Rating Scheme, and the WELL Building Standard. This helps teams meet project requirements with confidence and consistency.

All GECA standards and certified licensees are publicly available, enabling transparency and easy verification. Consultants can rely on GECA certification as proof of compliance, only requesting additional documentation where there is a genuine project-specific requirement not already covered by the standard.