Parliament, Friday, 30 September 2022 – The Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure today attended the launch of the establishment of the government’s EcoASA Eco-labelling System for Building Materials and Products by Agrément South Africa (Agrément SA).
The committee is pleased to see that Agrément SA followed through with what they stated as one of their initiatives in their annual performance plan for 2022/2023. The establishment of this eco-labelling system is an important advancement in the South African construction and professional built environment to conform with ISO 14024 Environmental Labels and Declarations: Environmental Labelling Type I, Guiding Principles and Procedures.
Agrément SA can now assess, certify, and label building materials such as wall and ceiling panels, paint, sealants, adhesives, carpets, and insulation materials with the ecoASA label. The increased use of eco ASA labelled construction products and materials in buildings and infrastructure would make them more environmentally friendly.
The committee expressed its excitement as this development will have a positive impact on the general environment in South Africa particularly in cases where buildings and public infrastructure are demolished or destroyed as a result of a natural disaster or any climate related calamity. In such cases the debris and discarded building material- if they were eco ASA labelled - would cause less harm as they are completely recyclable.
Natural disasters such as the flood disaster that occurred in April 2022 in KwaZulu-Natal and in certain parts of the Eastern Cape and North West provinces have showed that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of natural disasters. The development of the ecoASA Eco-labelling System for Building Materials and Products as a green-rating tool for public buildings and infrastructure is one of the ways in which South Africa is mitigating against the effects of climate change and ensuring that its citizens are protected against its effects.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, MS NOLITHA NTOBONGWANA
For media enquiries, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Ms Faith Ndenze
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8062
Cell: 081 377 0686
Email: fndenze@parliament.gov.za
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