How are the requirements set by Nordic Ecolabelling?
Nordic Ecolabelling develops requirements for specific product or service categories. These requirements are based on a life cycle perspective – from raw materials to waste. Often, they focus on products that are widely used and consumed by many people.
Not everything can be awarded the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. Before deciding whether to develop criteria for a specific area, we conduct a preliminary study. This involves assessing whether the product is linked to a significant environmental problem and whether there is potential for improvement. We also evaluate whether the Nordic Swan Ecolabel can drive product development towards a lower environmental impact.
The Nordic countries develop criteria together. In Sweden, the Swedish Ecolabelling Board decides which criteria will apply. The Nordic Ecolabelling Board then determines which product groups and requirements will be implemented across the Nordic region.
We strengthen the requirements
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel's criteria are continuously revised to ensure that certified products remain among the most environmentally sound on the market. After a few years, we review the requirements, evaluating and updating them based on new knowledge, technological advancements, external feedback, and experience. The revised proposal is then sent out for public consultation.
The consultation process
In most cases, employees from all Nordic organisations participate in developing the new proposal. This work is carried out in collaboration with experts, researchers, industry associations, authorities, and others who can contribute specialist knowledge in the field.
Once the proposal has been reviewed during the consultation period, all received response is compiled and assessed. A revised version of the criteria is then presented to each country’s national ecolabelling board, which either approves, rejects, or suggests modifications before approval. The criteria are then submitted to the Nordic Ecolabelling Board, which makes the final decision on their validity.
When new requirements are introduced, companies holding a license must reapply and demonstrate compliance with the updated criteria. This ensures that a Nordic Swan Ecolabel license is not valid indefinitely. In this way, the Nordic Swan Ecolabel drives the green transition forward.