The deadline for retailers and industry figures to respond to the government consultation on introducing compulsory water labelling closes in just over a month.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are asking for views on introducing a water label across the UK for products like taps, showers, toilets, dishwashers and washing machines.
UWLA managing director, Yvonne Orgill, is urging the KBB industry to complete the short survey to make their opinions be heard by November 25.
Orgill said: “We must not miss this opportunity to make our views known or we risk having a mandatory label imposed that does not meet the needs of the industry. Those that already support the Unified Water Label and know that it is robust, already established and growing, can reinforce our message to Government that a mandatory label is not the best solution.
“We welcome the government’s commitment to reducing water waste but do not consider it necessary or cost effective to develop a new labelling system when one is already in place.”
The Unified Water Label that has been identified within the ISO Standard 31600:2022 as best practice, and the Defra has stated in the consultation document that their approach is based on this standard.
With a worldwide label that covers 14 differing product categories and a database that includes 14,000 individual products, The Unified Water Label is regularly accessed by 10,000 architects and specifiers. The label has also been used on 150,000 building or refurbishment projects internationally.
Orgill said: “We believe that a mandatory label will be significantly more expensive for the industry than a voluntary one and that a mandatory system will take away the flexibility that the industry now has to operate a system that meets their needs. They will also be exposed to an enforcement body that will have the power to impose sanctions, under the proposed mandatory scheme.
“We are asking the members and supporters to work with us for the benefit of the industry, and respond before the consultation closes in in just under 6 weeks’ time.”