Sustainable Development Goals
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel actively contributes to several of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. In particular to SDG 12 on ensuring responsible consumption and production.
The world faces a wide range of challenges that must be addressed if we are to achieve more sustainable development.
That's why in 2015 the UN adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets to help solve the world's biggest problems by 2030. The SDGs can be seen as the world’s joint working plan to eradicate poverty, fight inequality and stop climate change by 2030. To achieve these goals, everyone has a role to play: governments, the private sector, the public sector and each individual.
The Nordic countries are generally well positioned to achieve most of the Sustainable Development Goals. When it comes to theUN’s 12th Sustainable Development Goal of ensuring responsible consumption and production, the Nordic countries are only halfway there.There is therefore an urgent need for action, and both companies and purchasers can make a difference by working with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel contributes to SDG 12
The 12th Sustainable Development Goal is, among other things, concerned with how we can reuse more resources, avoid wasting resources, limit waste and avoid unwanted chemicals. These are just some of the initiatives that the Nordic Swan Ecolabel focuses on, and which make the Nordic Swan Ecolabel a powerful tool in working with both the circular economy and the 12th Sustainable Development Goal.
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel works to reduce the overall environmental impact of production and consumption. The Nordic Swan Ecolabel therefore considers all relevant environmental parameters throughout the product’s life cycle when setting requirements for the individual product groups. This ensures more environmentally sustainable production and control back in the supply chain – and also ensures more environmentally friendly products for the end user.
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel supports several Sustainable Development Goals
In addition to goal 12, the Nordic Swan Ecolabel has a strong focus on the following sustainable development goals:
Goal 3: Well-being
Through strict requirements for chemicals, the Nordic Swan Ecolabel contributes to reducing the amount of harmful substances and thus promoting a healthy life for everyone. This applies to both substances that come into direct contact with humans and substances that pollute air, soil and water.
Read more about the Nordic Swan Ecolabel and chemicals.
Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation
Within selected product groups, the Nordic Swan Ecolabel sets requirements for responsible water consumption. At the same time, the label sets requirements for reduced use of unwanted chemicals and treatment of wastewater to prevent pollution of the aquatic environment.
Goal 13: Climate action
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel focuses on limiting the use of fossil energy sources and promoting the use of renewable energy. At the same time, the Nordic Swan Ecolabel promotes resource efficiency in product systems and also focuses on limiting other emissions that contribute to climate impact, including various chemical substances and particles. The Nordic Swan Ecolabel also supports the preservation of natural areas that counteract climate change.
Read more about the Nordic Swan Ecolabel and climate.
Goal 14: Marine life
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel sets strict requirements for chemicals and thereby reduces the discharge of harmful chemicals to the sea.
Goal 15: Life on land
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel works to counteract the deterioration of natural habitats, stop the loss of biodiversity and protect and prevent the extinction of endangered species.
Read more about the Nordic Swan Ecolabel and biodiversity
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel focuses primarily on the environment, but also emphasises health and social aspects where relevant.
- You can see how far Denmark has come in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the Sustainable Development Report