Jakarta — Ecolabels should be viewed not merely as product certifications but as strategic instruments for driving climate action, sustainable consumption, and the transition to a green economy, according to the Chairperson of the Indonesian Environmental Scientist Association (IESA), Dr. Yuki Wardhana.
According to Yuki, ecolabels play an important role in transforming production and consumption patterns by encouraging businesses and consumers to make environmentally responsible choices. Through ecolabels, consumers gain credible information about the environmental impacts of products, while producers are encouraged to improve resource efficiency, reduce emissions, and adopt sustainability principles throughout their value chains.
Speaking on Tuesday, June 16, at the webinar “Ecolabels for Climate Action”, held to commemorate World Environment Day, Yuki said the climate crisis is no longer a future threat “but a reality that we are facing today” that demands collective and sustained action. He pointed to changing weather patterns, rising global temperatures, environmental degradation, and increasing ecological disasters as evidence of the urgent need for climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.
“Ecolabels are, in essence, a tangible form of climate action,” he said. “When producers commit to environmentally friendly products, when consumers choose responsibly produced goods, and when governments create policies that support a green economy, we are building an ecosystem capable of accelerating sustainable development goals and national climate commitments.”
Yuki emphasised that Indonesia’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition towards a green economy cannot rely solely on government regulations. Active participation from academia, businesses, civil society organisations, environmental communities, and the wider public is equally important.
Through its #SekarangUntukIklim or #NowForClimate campaign, IESA is encouraging people to take practical actions by making more sustainable consumption choices, improving waste management practices, supporting environmentally responsible products, and fostering innovation that contributes to environmental protection. “No action is too small when carried out collectively by millions of people,” Yuki said.
The webinar also revealed strong public interest in turning ecolabel awareness into concrete action. Feedback from participants indicated that stakeholders expect follow-up initiatives to go beyond knowledge sharing and evolve into tangible policy, business, and community programs.
One of the key recommendations was stronger policy support and institutional frameworks. Participants called for engagement with ministries, government agencies, and local governments to formalise and institutionalise ecolabel implementation, including pilot projects in selected regions. They also proposed the development of policy briefs involving government, academia, businesses, and civil society organisations.
Participants further highlighted the importance of expanding education and outreach efforts. Suggested follow-up activities included additional webinars, public awareness campaigns, specialised training programs, and knowledge-sharing initiatives targeting students, academics, and local communities. Improving literacy on sustainable consumption and waste management was seen as a critical step in fostering long-term behavioural change.
Behavioural change emerged as another major theme. Participants advocated for broader public campaigns on waste segregation, household composting, and sustainable lifestyles. Several respondents suggested applying social marketing approaches to encourage environmentally responsible consumption patterns.
The webinar also underscored expectations for IESA to play a more strategic role in advancing ecolabel adoption nationwide. Participants urged the association to lead a national campaign on ecolabels and sustainable consumption, develop practical action plans, and serve as a bridge connecting government agencies, researchers, businesses, and community groups.
From an economic perspective, participants identified ecolabels as a potential tool to enhance the competitiveness of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). They called for programs that help businesses better understand both the environmental and commercial benefits of ecolabel certification, while integrating sustainability principles into broader economic and development activities.
Overall, the feedback reflected a shared expectation that ecolabels should become more than a consumer information tool. Participants envisioned ecolabels as part of Indonesia’s broader strategy to accelerate climate action, support a just transition, strengthen green economic development, and help achieve the country’s climate and sustainable development goals. (nsh)
Banner photo: Rahime Gül/Pexels.com
