Ecological Solutions - Self Declared is one of the declarations under the Ekko Score Conservation & Environment Standard.
Ecological Solutions - Self Declared relates to any product or service that is an ecological alternative to a synthetic. It might mean that the product is a beneficial insect or plant that would deal with the invasive pest by consuming it or making the environment unattractive for its continued occupation. The product might also be a companion planting solution, insects like bees or some kind of beneficial relationship that negates the use of toxic chemical solutions, fertilizers or provides an alternative plant solution to gardens - yards, vertical and on rooftops.
Ecological Solutions generally add way more to the environment than they take. Poisoning your lawn for instance kills micro organisms, leaves residual chemicals and weakens the health of your soil. Ecologically friendly gardening practices often reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases that occur as a direct result of modern day gardening practices like the excessive use of garden machinery. Ecological gardening also encourages the absorption of carbon dioxide by soils and plants.
Ecological Solutions - Self Declared sits in the ECOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS Family under the Environmental Standard: Conservation & Environment of Ekko Score. One set of weighted Ekko Score points are gathered from each Family.
These are the claimable declarations & certifications under the Environmental Standard: Conservation & Environment. Please note that different certifications and declarations may be relevant to each category.
Yes, where the impact of the claim is similar. This is how it works.
IMPORTANTLY, SELF DECLARATIONS ARE GOVERNED BY CONSUMER LAW. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR BUSINESSES TO MAKE FALSE CLAIMS (INCLUDING IMPLIED CLAIMS IN A CONTEXT LIKE EKKO SCORE).
EVEN IF A PRODUCT HAS A FORMAL CERTIFICATION, THAT CERTIFICATION DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ENTIRE INTEGRITY OF THE PRODUCT'S MAKE UP.
An example might be a Handmade, Australian, Certified Organic chocolate that contains Palm Oil. Under Ekko Score, this product would claim Certified Organic and would self declare: Zero Waste Production and Australian made, but could not claim the No Palm Oil declaration. This would mean a lower score under the Conservation & Environment Standard, making the inclusion of Palm Oil clear to potential consumers, without detracting from its other assets.
No product is perfect, but some products are definitely better than others. Ekko Score allows you to make the best decision you can, or to put it another way, the least worst decision. And to make that decision with the confidence of not being green washed. Find out more about how Ekko Score works.