The EU Ecolabel is a voluntary scheme that may be applied to goods and services that are supplied for consumption, use or distribution in the European Union market. There are currently more than 17,000 products and services that display the label across a breadth of different product types. This includes everything from soaps to shoes and paints to paper. You can even find EU Ecolabelled campsites and hotels.
To be awarded the EU Ecolabel, products and services have to comply with environmental criteria that are set by panels of stakeholders and assessed by independent experts. The label ensures that the best decisions for the environment are made at every point of the product’s life, while delivering high-performance products and value for money. This includes every stage of the product’s life, from the extraction of raw materials, to production, packaging and transport, right through to how the product is used and disposed. It should not be confused with the obligatory Ecodesign regulations or energy efficiency regulations.
The EU Ecolabel is managed by the European Commission and the Member States of the EU. This has helped to establish its reputation as a reliable environmental label.