Vitality Leaf (Ecological Union)

Ecological Union is one of the leading Russian non-commercial organisations in environmental protection. Our mission is to promote the development of a green economy to ensure a high quality of life for people and maintain a healthy environment for future generations.

Since 1991 we have been working extensively on environmental education and promoting environmental awareness. Since 2001 the priority area of the Ecological Union’s work is developing type I ecolabel Vitality Leaf (ISO 14024). Vitality Leaf is the only Russian lifecycle ecolabel recognised internationally.

In 2007, the Ecological Union joined the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN). Since 2017 the director of Ecological Union, Yulia Gracheva, has been a GEN Board member. As part of the Global Ecolabelling Network program, the Ecological Union participated in developing the national system of ecological certification of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Ecological Union is a member of GENICES, the GEN Internationally Coordinated Ecolabelling System. In 2011, the Ecological Union received a GENICES member certificate, and in 2017 it has successfully passed a re-audit and confirmed its status.

It is a member of the Multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee (MAC) of the Consumer Information for Sustainable Production and Consumption UN One Planet Work Program (CI-SCP). We cooperate with international experts as part of the One Planet Network program.

Our experts constantly monitor the implementation of green public procurement and participate in international programs to improve competence in this area. Based on this knowledge, we conduct training sessions and seminars for public sector representatives and prepare methodological materials in Russian.

Our organisation works closely with retail representatives to increase responsible consumption awareness in society. In 2021 the Ecological Union developed a standard for stores, retail chains and online venues.

Currently, the Ecological Union has 27 standards based on the lifecycle concept. Vitality Leaf ecolabel can be given to retail chains, household chemicals, reusable bags, leather and textile products, fertilisers, etc. Also, about two dozen new standards are being developed by Ecological Union experts.