Criteria development
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel’s requirements are developed in an open process to which everyone has the opportunity to contribute. The process ensures relevant, ambitious and realistic requirements.
The requirements under the Nordic Swan Ecolabel for a specific product group or service are regularly evaluated and tightened to reflect the latest knowledge and developments in the market. This ensures that the Nordic Swan Ecolabel products and services are among the environmentally best on the market.
How are the requirements developed?
The requirements for the individual product groups are drawn up in an open process in consultation with experts from the business community, environmental organisations and the authorities. Proposals for new requirements are open for public consultation where stakeholders have the opportunity to submit their comments.
Nordic Ecolabelling considers the comments from the consultation and uses them to amend the proposal. The purpose is to ensure requirements that are relevant, ambitious and realistic. You can find current proposals for consultation here.
How does the Nordic Swan Ecolabel develop criteria for new areas?
Two to three areas are selected every year for preliminary studies, which lead to a recommendation as to whether criteria should be developed in the area.
New product areas are assessed based on a so-called RPS model (relevance, potential and steerability). You can read more about the RPS model in this factsheet.
If you have an idea for a new area for which you would like the Nordic Swan Ecolabel to develop criteria, feel free to contact Ecolabelling Denmark.
Who adopts the requirements that the Nordic Swan Ecolabel products must meet?
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel requirements are adopted by the Nordic Ecolabelling Board.
The Nordic Ecolabelling Board consists of the chairperson of the national ecolabelling boards in Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark, respectively. The Nordic Ecolabelling Board also decides which new product areas requirements are to be developed within.
Criteria consultations
Find current consultation proposals and find out how to submit responses.
Inspection process
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel is an independent third-party accreditation body, involving extensive inspection activities.
A holistic certification
Today's complex environmental crises require a holistic focus. This is the primary focus of the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.
