The "Ecolabelling Lesson" is an annual educational initiative that promotes sustainable consumption and production through school education.
Launched in October 2023 to mark World Ecolabel Day, the initiative invites teachers across Ukraine to develop and deliver lessons that introduce students to ecolabelling, sustainable product choices and responsible consumption.
The project is implemented by Living Planet in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Environment of Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Institute of Environmental Recovery and Development of Ukraine and the Institute of Environmental Recovery and Development of Ukraine (formerly the State Ecological Academy of Post-Graduate Education and Management)
Learning about sustainable consumption
Teachers are encouraged to use creative and practical approaches to explain ecolabelling and sustainable consumption to schoolchildren.
The lessons include interactive activities, classroom games, storytelling, research tasks, educational quests and practical exercises that help students identify ecolabels and understand how environmental information can support more informed product choices.
The initiative contributes to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production by developing environmental literacy and consumer awareness from an early age.
A nationwide teachers' competition
The Ecolabelling Lesson has developed into an annual All-Ukrainian Teachers' Competition.
In the 2024-2025 competition, 121 teachers from across Ukraine submitted original lesson plans and educational activities.
As a result:
- 9 national winners received awards, and their lesson plans are promoted as model educational tools;
- 30 finalists were recognised for innovative approaches;
- all participating teachers received certificates;
- certified Ukrainian businesses supported the initiative by providing additional prizes.
The official awards ceremony was held on 26 February 2025 at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine in Kyiv.
Bringing stakeholders together
The initiative provides a common platform for public authorities, educators, students, environmentally certified businesses and the ecolabelling program to contribute to building a culture of sustainable consumption.
It also demonstrates how Type I ecolabelling can be used not only as a market instrument, but also as a practical educational tool for developing environmental and consumer literacy.
A model that can be replicated
The Ecolabelling Lesson provides a practical model for promoting SDG 12 through school-based education.
Living Planet, as the originator of the initiative and operator of Ukraine's "Green Crane" Type I ecolabelling program, is open to sharing educational materials, methodologies and case studies with organisations and ecolabelling programs interested in developing similar initiatives.