Summary
Details
- Global
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel may be obtained by manufacturers, brand owners, importers, retailers, and service providers whose products or services fall within one of the eligible product categories and successfully meet the applicable certification criteria.
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Background
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel was launched in 1989 to help consumers and professional purchasers identify products and services with a lower environmental impact. Today it is the official ecolabel of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden and is administered by Nordic Ecolabelling, a joint organization operating through national secretariats in each Nordic country.
Unlike labels that focus on a single environmental attribute, the Nordic Swan adopts a life-cycle approach. Criteria are developed separately for each product group and consider environmental impacts from raw material extraction through manufacturing, use, and end-of-life management. Requirements are designed to address multiple sustainability aspects simultaneously, including greenhouse gas emissions, resource efficiency, biodiversity, hazardous substances, durability, and recyclability.
The certification is recognized as a Type I environmental label under ISO 14024, meaning it is voluntary, based on multiple environmental criteria, independently verified, and developed through a transparent stakeholder consultation process.
Certification Requirements
Certification requirements differ by product category but generally require applicants to:
Demonstrate compliance with product-specific environmental criteria.
Assess environmental impacts across the product's life cycle.
Meet requirements relating to climate impact, resource efficiency, hazardous chemicals, circular economy, biodiversity, and product quality.
Submit technical documentation supporting compliance.
Undergo independent third-party assessment.
Permit inspections of production facilities where required.
Reapply and demonstrate continued compliance whenever revised criteria take effect.
Before a licence is granted, applicants must satisfy all applicable criteria and pay the required fees. Nordic Ecolabelling also conducts follow-up activities after certification, with approximately one-third of active licences reviewed annually. Products that no longer meet the certification requirements or fail to comply with the licensing rules may have their licence suspended or withdrawn, preventing further use of the Nordic Swan label.
Current Status
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel remains one of the world's most established environmental certification schemes and continues to expand its coverage across products and services. Over 43,000 certified products and services are reportedly on the market. The certification also continues to gain international recognition. In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency added the Nordic Swan Ecolabel to its Recommendations of Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing, enabling it to be used more readily in U.S. federal sustainable procurement.
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