Nordic Ecolabel

Website:

www.svanen.nu  

Target:

The Nordic Ecolabel's goal is a sustainable society through sustainable consumerism. To be able to reach that goal it is important that more consumers choose ecolabelled products and that more companies brand their products and services with the Nordic Ecolabel. The Nordic Ecolabel indicates that the products burden the environment less than other corresponding products, without compromising performance characteristics. The licence for using the Nordic Ecolabel can be applied by producers, importers or retailers.

Product/service group:

The Nordic Ecolabel now covers 66 different product groups, for which it is felt that ecolabelling is needed and will be beneficial. These days, everything from detergents to furniture and hotels can carry the Nordic Ecolabel.

Awarding Institution & criteria:

The label is usually valid for three years, after which the criteria are revised and the company must reapply for a licence. In this way, the Nordic Ecolabel ensures that products better suited to the environment are constantly being developed.

Control mechanisms:

The Nordic countries work together using the Nordic Ecolabel. This work is co-ordinated by the Nordic Ecolabelling Board, NMN, which has produced a set of regulations.

NMN determines which products can be covered by the Nordic Ecolabel and the criteria they must meet. Decisions taken by NMN must always be unanimous.

Groups of experts from the Nordic countries develop proposals for criteria. The group representatives come from government, environmental organisations, trade and industry. Before NMN finalises the proposals, they are sent out for review.

Once a criteria document has been finalised, businesses can apply for the right to use the label on a product which falls into this category. The national offices manage licence applications and grant licences.

Charges: (Sweden)

Application fee; 18,000 SEK.
Annual charge of 0.3% on the turnover.
Minimum fee; SEK 12,000.
Maximum fee; SEK 350,000.

Relevance on the market:

The Nordic Ecolabel is the official ecolabel for the Nordic countries, introduced by the Nordic Council of Ministers in 1989.

The Nordic Ecolabel logo is well-known. 67 % of people in the Nordic countries understand the logo. So the label is a way of communicating that you are a company which takes responsibility for the environment through environmentally-friendly products.

77 % of Swedes consider that the Nordic Ecolabel makes a brand extremely reliable.