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The visuals which you can observe in this web-site and on household laundry detergent packs in Europe form part of an extensive programme initiated by A.I.S.E..
This means that the company placing the products carrying these visuals on the market has committed to the
This programme is detailed hereafter.
The Association Internationale de la Savonnerie, de la Détergence et des Produits d'Entretien (A.I.S.E.) is the official body that represents the soap, detergent and maintenance industry with European and other international organisations.
Through its member associations, the A.I.S.E. now represents around 1200 companies in Europe, covering approximately 90% of the market.
The A.I.S.E. Code is the European Soap & Detergent Industry's response to the European Commission's Fifth Environmental Action Programme, which calls for economic operators to become more proactive in supporting sustainable development.
The objectives of the Code are for companies to continue environmental progress when formulating products and packaging for household laundry detergents and to encourage consumers to be more closely involved by proper use of the product.
The benefits of the Code will be to reduce further the environmental load created by the manufacture and use of these products. This will be achieved by engaging industry-wide commitment across Europe and applying scientific approaches to support further product innovation. It also recognises that real progress has to involve consumers in a way that is relevant to them. In that sense, this is a new, pioneering initiative promoting both sustainable development and sustainable consumption in a balanced way.
This A.I.S.E. Code is a voluntary initiative undertaken by the Soap & Detergent industry across Europe (1)
Manufacturers who subscribe to the Code formulate their household laundry detergent products and packaging, taking into account the following specific measurable targets across Europe to be achieved by 1st January 2002 (using 1996 as reference):
The commitments and targets in the Code are based on risk assesment and life cycle analysis which indicate that most of the environmental impact occurs in homes. Apart from the choice of the criteria used, this also shows that there is a need to provide washing advice to consumers.
Under the A.I.S.E. Code, manufacturers agree to provide consumers with relevant usage instructions to guide them to do their laundry in an environmentally responsible manner (2).
The industry wants to execute the Code in a spirit of dialogue and openess; that is why the European Soap and Detergent Industry has embarked on a process of dialogue with interested parties to explain the Code and get feedback at both EU and national levels; this lead to the adoption of a European Commission Recommendation on this initiative (published in the Official Journal under reference 98/480/EC on 1st August 1998).
A data collection system has been prepared with assistance from external consultants to allow the industry at both national and European-level to report on progress made under the A.I.S.E. Code, every 2 years -CLICK HERE for details on data collection process.
The Code has been initiated by the European Soap, Detergent and Maintenance Products Industry Association, A.I.S.E. (Association Internationale de la Savonnerie, de la Détergence et des Produits d'Entretien).
The Code is open to any household laundry detergent manufacturer/distributor or importer, whether a member or not of the national industry association. More than 180 companies (including multinationals and their subsidiaries) have committed to the Code, covering more than 90% of the European market !
This project is open to all; the implementation is the responsibility of individual companies placing household laundry detergent products on the market (manufacturers, distributors or importers). Those who subscribe will commit to implement the Code in the country in which they are operating through the national industry association of that country, whether they are a member or not.
Practical implementation of the Code started in Denmark and Sweden in Autumn 1997, as pilot countries.
Given the positive conclusions and the endorsement by the European Commission in the form of a Recommendation in July 1998, implementation in the other countries in Europe has been taking place as from mid-1998/early 1999. This can be concretely noticed by the appearance on household laundry detergent packs of the Code visuals presented in the other sections of this web-site. Each National Association has since then been developing adequate consumer communication plans to promote this initiative as well as sustainable consumption including pan-European TV advertising campains [R1] in 2000 and again in 2001 [R2]. Please feel free to contact them directly for more information.