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The German government has expanded the use of its eco-label “Blue Angel” to distinguish the most environmentally friendly design of vessels. The use of climate-friendly coolants and refrigerants in ship air conditioning is a major selection criteria.

The German Environment Ministry has released new guidelines for greening the maritime transport industry. The latest version of its eco-label, Blue Angel, is setting an international precedent by targeting ship yards and docks to be more ambitious in achieving environmental compatibility in the designing and construction phase. The German government hopes that the move will encourage designers to be more ambitious in implementing climate friendly technology into their vessel designs. Within the new guidelines a specific requirement is made with regards to the use of climate friendly refrigerants in air conditioning applications.

The move, announced 20 November, comes in response to continuously rising emissions from shipping untackled by legislation. After having clearly supported natural refrigerants in other applications, including Mobile Air Conditioning and stationary applications in developing countries projects, the Environment Ministry hopes to limit the environmental impact from high global warming refrigerants currently used in maritime transport. Although no further details have been provided yet, the guidelines foresee sanctions for climate-damaging refrigerants. Overall, the initiative to create a new Blue Angel category will provide new impetus to legislators to set stricter rules for environmentally friendly shipping. Since 2002, the Blue Angel has already been awarded to seven ship yards and operators for their environmentally sound operations.

The oldest eco-design label

Established in 1978 by the German Ministry of Environment the Blue Angel is the oldest and most recognised environmental label in the world. The Blue Angel is a voluntary label that has already attracted vendors to register over 10,000 products in 80 different categories. Being a market oriented label it is an influential mechanism for implementing environmental policy.