A recent survey by the National Labour Council (NLC) and the Voucher Issuers Association (VIA) reveals that no less than 98% of retailers adhere to the eco-voucher usage guidelines, with full compliance also observed among online shops inspected.
The NLC and VIA describe this as a highly positive development. At the NLC’s request, VIA conducted extensive inspections across 305 retailers that accept eco-vouchers. Among the 298 physical stores surveyed across Belgium, breaches were very rare, and none of the seven online stores tested completed any non-compliant transactions. Compliance has increased by 30% since the last round of inspections in 2011.
According to the NLC, eco-vouchers have been a significant success since their introduction in 2009, promoting investment in responsible and eco-friendly products and services. Approximately 2.3 million employees benefit from eco-vouchers; about 40% spend them in stores specialising in organic and sustainable goods, while 10% use them for second-hand purchases. NLC President Rudi Delarue notes that the list of permissible products and services is regularly updated to reflect the latest trends in energy consumption and ecology.
Despite these positive results, the federal government has decided to gradually phase out eco-vouchers and cultural vouchers, as outlined in its government agreement. This was confirmed following an earlier agreement in July to increase meal vouchers twice by €2 during this legislative period. Labour Minister David Clarinval (MR) aims to “reduce the variety of voucher types while preserving purchasing power.”
