Objective

Objective of the EU Ecolabel

The EU Ecolabel focuses on the environmental performance of products and services. As a voluntary labelling scheme, it goes far beyond statutory requirements.

For example, requirements relating to chemicals under the EU Ecolabel are significantly stricter than the corresponding legal regulations. Chemicals subject to mandatory labelling are generally prohibited.

The development of the criteria is based on Article 6 of the EU Regulation. The criteria for the EU Ecolabel are designed to reduce environmental impacts on air, water, soil and biodiversity, thereby contributing to a clean circular economy and a non-toxic environment.

In our product worlds, you will find a wide range of products, including laundry detergents and cleaning products, cosmetic products, textiles, paints and varnishes, as well as services for tourist accommodation establishments 
and campsites. Today, more than 100,000 products and services carry our sustainable environmental label.
 

The EU Ecolabel criteria take into account:

  • Environmental protection:
    In particular impacts on climate change, effects on nature and biodiversity, energy and resource consumption, waste generation, emissions into all environmental media, pollution caused by physical effects, as well as the use and release of hazardous substances.
     
  • Restrictions on chemicals:
    The possibility of substituting hazardous substances with less hazardous alternatives, either through direct substitution or, where possible, through alternative materials or product design.
     
  • Durability:
    The potential to reduce the environmental impact of products by improving their longevity and reusability.
     
  • Fairness:
    Social and ethical aspects, for example references to relevant international conventions and agreements, as well as codes of conduct of the International Labour Organization. 
     
Criteria for the EU Ecolabel


Development and revision of the requirements

The development and revision of the criteria are carried out transparently and with the involvement of experts and relevant institutions. The European Union Ecolabelling Board (EUEB), the European Commission, the Member States and the awarding bodies are consulted.

As a rule, the criteria are reviewed and updated every four years to reflect technical progress. Food and medicinal products cannot be labelled with the European Ecolabel.

Further information on the award procedure can be found here.