The environmental labeling scheme Planet score makes its debut in France, on an experimental basis, on 1.000 products sold on the channel ecommerce. With the aim of demonstrating the effectiveness of this scheme that French consumers have already shown they favor, in a large survey of the association UFC-Que Choisir.
Planet score, the first candidate for environmental labeling in France
Planet score is the environmental labeling system supported by voice UFC-Que Choisir along with other independent organizations - such as CIWF France, France Nature Environment, Synadis Bio Fédération Forébi - which in turn express the widespread interests linked to animal welfare, environmental protection and agroecology.
The 'Climate' law - introduced in France to promote the circular economy and combat food waste - in fact, requires the government to decide, by 31.12.21, which system to adopt for the environmental labeling of food. The Ecological Transition Agency (ADEME) and the Ministry of the Environment are therefore invited to choose Planet score which official system.
Planet score. Carbon footprint but also pesticides, biodiversity, animal welfare
Il Planet score was designed by the French research institute ITAB (Institut de Agriculture et de l'Aimentation biologiques) with the aim of offering consumers the opportunity to grasp, at a glance, the level of sustainability of food products. In a broader perspective than just the 'carbon footprint' since it - even when referring to the entire life cycle of the product (Life Cycle Assessment, LCA), which must also consider the climatic cost of nitrogen fertilizers - does not consider the equally essential aspects that follow:
- pesticides. The use of chemically synthesized pesticides, herbicides, fungicides contributes dramatically to the sterility of soils, the pollution of soils and water basins (including groundwater, such as ISPRA reminds us), the loss of biodiversity (insects, including pollinators, and birds in particular). With serious impacts on the human health of current and future generations,
- biodiversity. Protecting life on earth is the first goal of agroecology, which FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) has indeed recommended to incentivize all its member states. On the other hand, productions stand out - of palm oil and GMO soybeans, as well as of meats in South America, (in primis) - made at the expense of forests and wildlife,
- animal welfare. The European Commission, as seen, has further postponed the adoption of a comprehensive strategy on animal welfare. Consumers, on the other hand, want to be able to recognize - and enhance, with their purchasing choices, the levels of animal welfare contained behind each product. Eggs without sexation from hens raised on the ground, farmed animals without antibiotics and maybe even in larger spaces (eg organic farms).
Eco-scorand, the at-risk scheme greenwashing
Eco-score is an alternative environmental labeling scheme which, however, as seen, collects fierce criticism from consumers, environmentalists and eco-farmers. Such a system - designed by ECO2, the company that launched the sustainable cooking app etiquette - in fact, it limits itself to considering the carbon footprint of the products. It has been applied in the French version of our favorite app Yuka which in fact integrates it with an extra score to be attributed to organic products. For the environment e for health.
The risk of greenwashing in the system Eco-score it is evident when we consider how the processing of raw materials grown with devastating synthetic and agrotoxic fertilizers can allow large industries to obtain - thanks to investments in renewable energy and other amenities - a score similar to that of local realities that instead favor biodiversity and nourish the soils (rather than impoverish them), according to agroecological models e short supply chain.
Planet score, the plebiscite of French consumers
UFC-Que Choisir submitted 5 alternative models of environmental labeling to a sample of 1.000 consumers, in Lidl and Biocoop points of sale. Collecting the plebiscitary vote, 87%, in favor of Planet score.
Customers favor the tool conceived by ITAB because it - in offering extremely brief news - shows at the same time the scores relating to the four key factors. Climate, impact on wildlife (biodiversity), pesticide toxicity, farming method.
General tests
The dress rehearsals of effectiveness of Planet score involving 40 brands of 35 operators - of which 8 in large-scale distribution (Biocoop, Lidl, Naturalia, Franprix, La Vie Claire, Monoprix, Naturéo and Greenweez) - who will carry this environmental label on 1.000 food products.
Following the selection French consumers will thus have an additional tool, in addition to the Nutri score, to choose healthy, good and fair foods. While in Italy the obscurantism continues, to the exclusive advantage of the usual suspects who pull the reins of the ministries and their agencies.
Dario Dongo and Marta Singed
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
A professional journalist since January 1995, she has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic studies on food and has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
