EU Ecolabel
Find out more about the EU Ecolabel, the “Euro Flower”.
EU Ecolabel: European Ecolabel
The European Ecolabel was launched by the European Commission in 1992. The basis is currently Regulation (EC) No. 66/2010 of the European Parliament and of the European Council of 25.11.2009. The EU Ecolabel is recognized in all 27 EU member states as well as Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It is awarded to products that have a lower environmental impact than similar products.
The EU Ecolabel is suitable for the following product groups:
- Interior and exterior paints and varnishes ((EU) 2014/312))
- Furniture ((EU) 2016/1332))
- Wood, cork and bamboo-based floor coverings ((EU) 2017/176)
- Hard coverings ((EU) 2021/476)
Detailed information on each product group, including a detailed description of the respective award criteria and emission requirements, can be found here.
Award criteria for the EU Ecolabel
The award criteria for the EU Ecolabel are based on several main principles and criteria:
- Environmental performance: Products and services must be more environmentally friendly throughout their entire life cycle than comparable products on the market. This includes criteria such as resource efficiency, energy consumption, emissions, waste management and the use of environmentally friendly substances.
- Health and safety aspects: The products and services must not contain any substances that are harmful to human health or the environment according to current scientific knowledge.
- Guarantee of quality and performance: The products must offer the same or better performance than comparable products on the market. You must not compromise on functionality or quality in order to meet environmental standards.
- Transparency and consumer information: Manufacturers must provide clear and understandable information about the environmental performance of their product so that consumers can make informed decisions.
- Verifiability and compliance: Compliance with the criteria is monitored through independent audits and certifications to ensure that the EU Ecolabel is justified and enjoys consumer confidence.
Emission requirements from the award criteria
EU Ecolabel: Certification body
The certification body for the EU Ecolabel is the European Union itself. The EU Ecolabel is awarded and managed by the European Commission. The European Commission defines the award criteria and monitors compliance with these criteria through independent audits and certifications.
Costs for the EU Ecolabel
Is the EU Ecolabel mandatory?
The EU Ecolabel is a voluntary environmental label. This means that companies and manufacturers are free to decide whether they want to have their product or service certified for the EU Ecolabel. There is no legal obligation to use the EU Ecolabel.
However, the European Commission promotes the EU Ecolabel as an instrument for promoting environmentally friendly products and services on a voluntary basis. Consumers can therefore recognize products that carry the EU Ecolabel as being more environmentally friendly without this being a legal requirement.
Recognition of the EU Ecolabel in other certification systems
The EU Ecolabel can be conducive to other certification systems, as it supports similar goals of sustainability and environmental friendliness. The EU Ecolabel website mentions that in many cases the EU Ecolabel can be used as a criterion or reference in other certification systems such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method). These systems often take into account existing ecolabels and certifications to support their validity and environmental performance.
The EU Ecolabel is also listed as a recognized standard on the DGNB website.
Source: EU – Ecolabel