Student Labeling Initiative

This came across the Green Schools Listserv from Debra Rowe at the US Parntership for Education for Sustainable Development. Seems a good fit for a lot of the work our students and faculty are doing.

Request for assistance with creation of sustainability criteria
At the U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development, we are helping to create a Student Approved Labeiling Initiative that advocates for the usage and consumption of products made in an environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and economically beneficial manner.
Advantages of Student Led Initiatives
Students all over the nation are already analyzing products and manufacturers as part of their academic assignments. We want to make use of their valuable work to help consumers and producers alike make decisions for a more sustainable society. By having a student led initiative, the consumers know that there is no bias. The criteria met is made by and upheld by students.

The goals of the initiative are to:
• Furnish a selected criteria for product approval by students that upholds the triple bottom line.
• Provide a dependable, database for all those that desire to make smarter consumer choices to aid the world in which they live. The information provided will be fed into the site by participating students throughout the nation. All information provided will be to the best of the student’s knowledge based on this. list of selected criteria.
• Generate a “Student Approved” label to represent that a product has officially been approved by the student labeling initiative.


Need
Many people want to consume sustainable products but don't have enough information about their consumption choices.

Solution
Creating enough attention, companies will be encouraged to carry the label. National participation by students will create pride in the labeling system. Consumers will find the student approved labels at their point of purchase on products in stores as well as electronic commerce. When consumers purchase products affiliated with the Student Approved Labeling Initiative, they know that buying a certain product is helping to positively shape the world.

Educators
We need students throughout the nation to help develop the criteria for what meets the standards of the Student Label. We are encouraging professors to carry out the criteria development through class assignments. Educators that take on this task will be provided with supplemental material regarding existing criteria for other labels for their students. If you are interested in participating in this important project or if you have questions or comments, please contact Chad Agrawal at chad.agrawal@gmail.com.