About

Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) is Australia’s leading certifier of environmentally preferable goods and services.

GECA is not-for-profit, independent, and the only Australian member of the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN).

Our life-cycle based ecolabel was established to encourage the development of sustainable goods and services and now provides public access to over 2000 certified products.

Read more about GECA

GECA's mission

The GECA board

Meet the GECA team

GECA corporate and governance information

A brief history of GECA

• The GECA Ecolabelling Program is in line with ISO 14024 and offers global best practice in product certification and ecolabelling
• GECA standards are rigorous, scientific and relevant
• GECA ‘s program rewards top performing businesses and their products and services
• GECA is internationally recognised through membership to the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN)
• Our standards development and review process is transparent, consistent, and includes consultation with stakeholders, industry, experts and the general public

The operating principles for GECA’s Ecolablelling Program are set out in the GECA Scheme Rules. Effective from April 1, 2011, The Scheme Rules provide clear, robust and comprehensive guidelines for GECA’s program, as well as how GECA, its auditors and licensees work together.

Get on board the GECA program and Get Certified!

Another integral part of our program is our ongoing collaboration with GECA licensees to recognise their sustainability leadership by promoting their certified products. So too, is our work to educate the market about the value of ecolabels and build recognition of their positive environmental and social impact in the wider community.

Further reading:

• Go to our resource section for FAQ's, sector-specific case studies and for access to a range of resources on GECA's certification scheme.

The interconnectedness of environmental, social, economic and governance issues are recognised as the four pillars of sustainability.  GECA’s commitment to these four pillars are seen in our mission and our program.

Our standards clearly address the environmental and social impacts of production and manufacturing through all phases of the product life cycle. Licensees must consider the environmental impacts of sourcing raw materials, and the social impacts from using harmful, toxic and carcinogenic substances both in the manufacturing process and for the end user.

GECA standards also address product stewardship aspects of the life cycle, considering the economic and the environmental implications of excessive waste.

Governance by GECA and its Board ensures it operates according to its constitution, meets statutory legal and ethical requirements arising from our not-for-profit status and being a standards-setting body that operates according to the principles of ISO14024.

We walk the talk in our operations and premises, too. Our Sydney Office is a showcase of GECA-certified flooring, paints, furniture and fittings and thanks to generous donations from our licensees. We also source sustainable products and services for our own work.

Download GECA Sydney Office Case Study

GECA is recognised under the Green Building Council of Australia's (GBCA) Assessment Framework for Product Certification Schemes. GECA certified products are rewarded in Green Star Material Calculators and will be rewarded under the new Fitout Calculators.

Six  current GECA standards are recognised for Green Star:

• GECA 28-2010 v2 - 'Furniture and Fittings' - Level A recognition;
• GECA 50-2011 v2 - 'Carpets' - Level A recognition;
• GECA 25-2011 v2 - 'Floor Coverings' - Level A recognition;
• GECA 04-2011 v2 - 'Panel Boards' - Level A recognition;
• GECA 40-2008 v1.1 - 'Hard Surfacing' - Level A recognition;
• GECA 28-2006 Modified 2010 v2 - 'Furniture and Fittings' - Level B recognition. 

Earlier versions of some of these standards are recognised for projects registered before July 2010.

GECA benefits to Green Star Building Professionals

Specify GECA into your Green Star projects and gain:

• Efficiency: no need to collect excessive documentation or complete the Calculators in full for each project
• Certainty that your chosen GECA products will be Green Star compliant
• Recognition with Australia’s most recognised and respected Ecolabel.

Further reading:

• Search for Green Star compliant GECA certified products
• Read more about Green Star points for GECA Certified Products on GECA and Green Star page
• Find out more on the GBCA Fitout Calculator in our FAQs

GECA works collaboratively with a number of organisations that are aligned with our mission. This page contains a listing of these organisations and the nature of our association with them.

Global partnerships

The Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN).

GECA is the only Australian member of the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN), giving us international relevance and recognition.

GEN is a global not-for-profit association of national third-party, ecolabelling organisations that was founded in 1994 to improve, promote and develop the 'ecolabelling' of products and services. GEN members must meet certain requirements, including following ISO 14024 principles.

Through our GEN membership GECA has access to the latest international thinking and the potential for partnerships with other national GEN members. This helps to reduce costs and increase the environmental impact of the work of GECA and licensed manufacturers.

GECA's GEN membership can also assist Australian manufacturers and other suppliers to achieve environmental certification for GECA-certified goods in other GEN member countries.

Environmental Choice New Zealand (ECNZ)

GECA and ECNZ are both members of GEN (see above) and are collaborating on the development and review of standards of common interest and assisting respective licensees to obtain certification on both sides of the Tasman Sea.

Local alliances

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA)

 GECA was the first certification scheme to be recognised within the GBCA’s Assessment Framework for Product Certification Schemes for their Green Star ratings system for green building projects. We continue to collaborate with the GBCA to build a more sustainable building sector.

Auditors to the GECA Program

GECA specifies that only JAZ-ANZ accredited auditors can audit to the GECA Scheme Rules. NCS International, one of Australia’s foremost independent third-party verification and auditing bodies, currently audits to the GECA Program.

Sustainable Business Australia (SBA)

GECA is working with SBA to transform the actions of businesses and consumers to drive a substantial increase in sustainable consumption. Sustainable Business Australia is the peak body in this country for the low carbon and environmental goods and services sector. The organisation is also a think tank focusing on 'new markets, new industries and new jobs'. 

A large part of SBA's work involves raising awareness about the scale and relevance of major environmental challenges and the commercial solutions that business and industry can provide. 

Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) 

GECA is a member of ASBEC, a peak body of key organisations committed to a sustainable built environment in Australia.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

The Forest Stewardship Council is an international association of members consisting of a diverse group of representatives from environmental and social groups, the timber trade and the forestry profession, indigenous people's organisations, responsible corporations, community forestry groups and forest product certification organisations from around the world.

Australian Stone Advisory Association (ASAA), Australian Tile Council (ATC)
In the pursuit of best practice, GECA partnered with the ASAA and the ATC to develop and promote its Hard Surfacing Standard for tile and stone products.

ECO-BUY

GECA formed a partnership with ECO-BUY to offer sustainable procurement training courses in 2012. ECO-BUY is a Melbourne based, not-for-profit Centre of Excellence in Environmental Purchasing, established to encourage the purchasing of environmentally preferable products and services.

The Facility Management Association of Australia Ltd (FMA)

The FMA serves to further the objectives of facility managers and the facilities management industry, through the provision of member benefits and services, professional development and advocacy. GECA participates in conferences and expos as a speaker, panelist and exhibitor, and as a contributor to Facilities Perspectives Magazine, the FMA's official publication.

Total Environment Centre (TEC)

GECA is a member of the TEC, and involved in their ongoing investigation into ecolabels and their role in the Australian consumer market.

DesignBuildSource.com.au

GECA is a contributor to DesignBuildSource, an online portal of information delivering Architecture, Construction, Engineering and Interior Design news and analysis from Australia and around the world. GECA's contributions can be found here.

GECA invite individuals, organisations and companies to join as members.

We seek widespread stakeholder involvement in the development of our ecolabelling program, standards and in the promotion of green purchasing in Australia

GECA membership benefits include:

• direct involvement in all our programs and activities
• participation at the Annual General Meeting
• invitations to attend, and special prices, for all GECA events
• Membership Certificate

To join GECA

Please download and fill out the GECA Membership Application Form (available below)

Return your completed form by

• post to to Suite G01, 15 Belvoir Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010

• email to: info@geca.org.au

GECA Licensees please note GECA membership is free to licensees but it must be applied for in a separate membership form.

Download GECA Membership Application form