“Origine France Guaranteed” label: explanations
In a context marked by the climate emergency, and while the preservation of national jobs remains a primary concern, a controversy is growing between “Made in France” and the “Origine” label France Guarantee". According to an ADEME survey, nearly three quarters of French people now express a preference for eco-responsible products in their consumption choices. In this context, it is imperative to deepen our reflection on the Origine France Garantie label, which could play a crucial role in this quest for sustainability. According to a study relayed by an article in Presse Optic, French consumers place more trust in the indication "Made in France" than in the label, although more demanding "Origine France Garantie". This finding raises questions about the perception and understanding of this label, as well as its real implications for consumers. We give you some explanations to decipher it.
Origine France Garantie: a lack of awareness
The Origine France Garantie label was created in 2010 and aims to certify the French origin of products in a context where traceability and transparency have become major issues for consumers. Unlike the simple "Made in France", this label involves a more rigorous certification process, guaranteeing not only that the product was manufactured in France, but also that the majority of its production costs were paid in the country.[= ]
However, despite its more demanding criteria, the Origine France Garantie label struggles to compete with the popularity of the simple “Made in France”. A lack of awareness which raises questions about communication and perception around the label.
A more in-depth analysis of the criteria and requirements of the label reveals a series of points to consider. The France Guaranteed Origin specifications require in particular that the products be manufactured in France using materials of French origin in a significant proportion. However, certain sectors, such as glasses and lenses, may encounter difficulties in meeting these criteria, due to dependence on the import of certain raw materials or specific components.
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In addition, the perception of the label can be affected by factors such as communication and consumers' understanding of its implications. The lack of clarity on the differences between "Made in France" and Origine France Garantie, as well as the complexity of the certification processes, may contribute to this distrust.
With this in mind, a Better consumer education on the meaning and real benefits of the Origine France Garantie label could help strengthen its credibility and legitimacy on the market. Increased transparency regarding certification criteria and more effective communication on the environmental and socio-economic benefits of this label could also encourage its adoption by consumers keen to support local and sustainable production.
What does this mean for eyewear manufacturing?
With regard to the manufacture of frames, the webzine Optic for Good has established, on the basis of the website originefrancegarantie.fr , a list of mandatory criteria for obtaining the Origine France Garantie label. Here they are:
For a metal frame, must be made in France:
- Manufacturing of faces and branches
- Face welding
- Folding faces
- Polishing
- Surface finishing
- Lacquering
- Assembly
- Finishing
For an injected frame:
- Molding and injection of branches
- Molding and injection of the face
- Polishing
- Coloring
- Decoration
- Assembly
- Finishing
For an acetate frame:
- Formatting faces
- Branch shaping
- Surface finishing
- Polishing
- Assembly
- Finishing
For an ophthalmic lens:
- the machining steps to obtain the desired correction
- glass surface treatment
- finishes
- the conditioning
The importance of raw materials
It should be noted that, despite the lists above, the raw material does not need to be of French origin. These materials play an essential role in the global economy and in the production of consumer goods. While their exploitation and use have a significant impact on the environment, but also on the social aspect, they require particular attention in the context of the Origine France Garantie label.
Ni the “Made in France” label nor the Origine France Garantie label do not take raw materials into account in their certification criteria. This gap, which is certainly worrying because it neglects a fundamental aspect of product durability, can be explained both by the difficulty of obtaining this material and by the geopolitical constraints which govern supply. However, the environmental footprint of a product is largely determined by the processes of extraction, transformation and transport of the raw materials necessary for its manufacture.
Manufacturers often have to play a balancing act to satisfy demand and offer products with lower environmental costs.
The exploitation of raw materials can lead to series of adverse environmental consequences. Mining, for example, can cause the destruction of ecosystems, pollution of soil and water, and loss of biodiversity. Additionally, the energy consumption required to extract and process raw materials contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, thereby worsening climate change.
So what can we do to guarantee a truly sustainable Origin France Guarantee label?
The Origine France Garantie label, like the more general concept of “Made in France”, constitutes an important element of the French economic and commercial landscape. However, it is imperative to recognize the limits of these labels with regard to taking into account the environmental impact of products. The exclusion of raw materials in the certification criteria raises concerns about the actual sustainability of products bearing these labels. It is therefore essential to adopt a more holistic approach to consumption, taking into account not only the geographical origin of products, but also their environmental footprint throughout their life cycle.
Alternative materials may also be a possibility to replace environmentally expensive raw materials.
With this in mind, consumers play a crucial role in making informed and responsible choices. Such as by favoring sustainably produced products and supporting initiatives to promote a circular and environmentally friendly economy. Ultimately, the debate between French purchasing and ecological purchasing should not be an opposition, but rather a complementarity in the search for truly sustainable and responsible consumption.
Sources: Optic for Good , Origine France Garantie
