The EU Ecolabel is awarded to products with demonstrated environmental excellence. Found on products, goods, and services in the EU, data from 2024 show that Italy, Spain, France, and Germany have the largest number of products awarded with the EU Ecolabel.
The EU Ecolabel Regulation sets the criteria and application process for companies that want to affix the label on their products.
Criteria to award the EU Ecolabel
The primary criterion for assessing a product’s environmental performance is a scientific approach that considers the product’s entire life cycle. Overall, the general aspects to consider are:
- Environmental impact. In particular, the impact on climate change, nature and biodiversity, energy and resource consumption, waste generation, emissions, pollution, and the use as well as release of hazardous substances.
- Replacement of hazardous substances with safer substances.
- Durability and reusability of products.
- Net environmental balance between environmental benefits and burdens.
- Social and ethical aspects.
- Criteria for other environmental labels. Especially, criteria officially recognised, nationally or regionally, EN ISO 14024 type I environmental labels.
- Reduced animal testing.
Most importantly, the specific criteria change from product group to product group. The European Commission establishes criteria for the product groups.
What products can apply for the Ecolabel?
The Ecolabel scheme is voluntary and part of the sustainability policies of the EU. Any goods or services – supplied (for free or payment) for distribution, consumption, or use on the Community market – can apply for the EU Ecolabel.
Products excluded are medicinal products, medical devices, goods containing substances or mixtures classifying as toxic, hazardous to the environment, carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR), and goods containing substances referred to in Article 57 of the REACH Regulation.
Do you want to apply for the Ecolabel for your products? Both EU and non-EU companies can do it! Contact us for more information (here or at prodlaw@obelis.net).
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References:
EUR-Lex (2017). Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the EU Ecolabel (Consolidated Text 14/11/2017). Retrieved on 04/03/2025.
European Commission (2025). Product Groups and Criteria. Retrieved on 31/03/2025.
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