Questionnaire for workshop participants - EU Ecolabel Marketing for ...

5.7. Final report HUNGARY
The Hungarian project activities are performed in co-operation by the CES (Vilma Eri).
4.7.1 Project result 2006 and situation 2007
In 2006, no new ecolabel awards were achieved. Altogether 64 companies in 3 product
groups (indoor paints and varnishes, soil improvers and hard floor coverings) were
contacted. Some of them showed initial interest but only one company entered the
application phase. Its product was tested in an accredited laboratory. Unfortunately,
however, the product did not meet the EU Ecolabel criteria. Those not interested were
either in bad economic situation and could not afford the cost of the ecolabel, or they did
not find the EU Ecolabel can have a marketing value.
Contacting retailer companies did not bring significant results either. In 2006, there were
only three eco-label product groups available in Hungarian shops (televisions, hard floor
coverings and copy paper) none of them were sold as retailer brands. 16 retailer shops
were interviewed, two of them promised to consider to give more advertising to
ecolabelled products.
At the beginning of 2007, chances for EU Ecolabel seemed to improve as Hungary had
prepared its green public procurement National Action Plan. It was hoped that the
National Action Plan would increase the demand for eco-labelled products, consequently
it would facilitate an increased interest of producers in the EU Ecolabel as well. However,
the National Action Plan still has not been approved by the Parliament, producers do not
know about it, so it does not stimulate interest in the ecolabel.
4.7.2 Strategy and focus adjustment 2007
Year 2007 strategy in Hungary focussed on products affected by the National Green
Procurement Action Plan, i.e. products used in construction (indoor paints, hard floor
coverings). As agreed with the CB, the campaign focussed on 2 new additional product
groups i.e. tissue paper and the new EU ecolabel product group - soaps and shampoos
proposed by the January 2007 kick-off meeting of the project. During the acquisition
process, however, it turned out that most companies producing soaps, shampoos and
hair conditioners produce some other cleaning products, most frequently all purpose
cleaners and hand dishwashing detergents, sometimes detergents for dishwashers and
laundry detergents as well. As a result, these product groups have also been involved in
the acquisition, and hard floor coverings have been dropped.
Besides acquisition attempts, the project has also tried to work with consumers and raise
public awareness on the EU Ecolabel and the ecolabelled products. Participation in fairs
was not planned as the costs of participation would be above € 1,500. Consequently,
other solutions had to be found.
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