Standards & Legislation

Question 1

What is the British Standards Institution (BSI)

Answer 1

• Controls safety of products
• Tests things like size of component, electronics, flammability
• Gives assurance that the product is manufactured to a high standard

Question 2

What is International Standards Organisation (ISO)

Answer 2

• Centred around the structure and integrity of the business
• Could include suppliers, how materials are sourced, transportation, e.t.c.

Question 3

What is the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)

Answer 3

• Makes sure the health and safety for chemical substances is good
• Will specify where it should be stored, how it should be used, e.t.c

Question 4

What is the Battery Directive

Answer 4

It identifies that anything including batteries cannot be put in the waste.

Question 5

What are the Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) Regulations made for

Answer 5

Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is regulated to reduce the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) incinerated or sent to landfill sites.

Reduction is achieved through various measures which encourage the recovery, reuse and recycling of products and components

Question 6

What are the Polymer Recycling Logos for

Answer 6

They are made to show people/companies what material a product is, so they can be disposed of properly. Each type of plastic has to be disposed for separately.

Question 7

What is the Packaging Directive

Answer 7

• Made to encourage businesses to reduce the plastic used in packaging
• Recently, polystyrene was banned unless there’s a good reason for it be used (in packaging)
• Now, paper pull/cardboard pulp is used to protect products instead

Question 8

What is the Plastic Bag Directive

Answer 8

• Customers had to pay for non-reusable plastic bags
• In May 2021, the charge was increased to 10p

(Companies have a recovery and recycling obligation)

Question 9

What does Legislation do/help with

Answer 9

Legislation forces companies to make changes where they otherwise wouldn’t.

Question 10

What does the EC Energy Label (now known as the UK Energy Label) show

Answer 10

• The sticker shows you a products running costs and how efficient the product is.
• It also shows you the energy efficiency rating.
• The scale had to be updated, as products were getting too efficient

(market pull - people choosing the most efficient products)
(technology push - the products getting more efficient)

Question 11

What does the Mobius Loop show (Recycling Sign)

Answer 11

• To show something us recyclable.
• Shows ‘Recycling’

Question 12

What is the EU Ecolabel and what does it show

Answer 12

• A label a company applies for to demonstrate that they are environmentally friendly
• This appeals to consumers who are becoming more environmentally conscious

Question 13

What is the National Association of Paper Merchants Recycled Mark show (NAPM)

Answer 13

• Specifically for paper and card
• It shows the product has come from a recyclable sourced and shows you how much of the product has been recycled

(card may not be at 100% as it would be bad quality on a molecular level)

Question 14

What do the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) do?

Answer 14

• Regulates/manages the cutting of timber.
• They replant trees after chopping them down

Question 15

What is the Energy Efficiency Sticker - Energy Saving Trust

Answer 15

A company can apply for the mark if their product is very efficient (this improves PR)

Question 16

What is the Energy Star sticker/logo

Answer 16

Recognises where products are especially energy efficient (usually found on computer monitors)

Question 17

Consumer law changed on 1 October 2015, as the Consumer Rights Act came into force. What changes does it now cover?

Answer 17

● what should happen when goods are faulty
● unfair terms in a contract
● what happens when a business is acting in a way which isn’t competitive
● written notice for routine inspections to be given by public enforcers, such
as Trading Standards
● greater flexibility for public enforcers to respond to breaches of consumer
law, such as seeking redress for consumers who have suffered harm

Question 18

What is the Sale of Goods Act

Answer 18

The Sale of Goods Act states that goods delivered or sold must be of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose. Fit for purpose means that the goods will provide the benefit or meet the purpose advertised by the seller.

Question 19

The Battery Directive

Answer 19

The battery directive has the objective of improving the environmental performance of batteries by regulating the use of certain substances in the manufacture of batteries (lead, mercury, cadmium, etc.) and setting standards for the waste management of these batteries.

Question 20

What is the WEEE directive (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive)

Answer 20

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) is a European Community Directive concerned with waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Together with the RoHS Directive, it became European Law in February 2003.

Question 21

What is the Packaging Directive

Answer 21

● sets targets for recovery and plastic recycling
● requires the encouragement of the use of recycled packaging materials in
the manufacturing of packaging and other products
● requires packaging to comply with ‘essential requirements’ which include
the minimisation of packaging volume and weight, and the design of
packaging to permit its reuse or recovery
● requires the implementation of measures to prevent packaging waste in
addition to preventative measures under the ‘essential requirements’, which may include measures to encourage the re-use of packaging.