Ecolabelling
Various labelling schemes
There are various industry-specific labelling schemes, suppliers' labelling schemes and third party certified labelling schemes. The various labelling schemes use different criteria which must be met in order to be allowed to use their label. The period of validity of the various ecolabels also varies.
You can see some examples of labelling schemes below:
The Nordic Swan and the EU Flower.
The Nordic Swan mark is the official Nordic ecolabel. The ecolabel imposes requirements concerning the entire lifecycle of a product. Different environmental requirements apply within different product groups. For example, different requirements apply for the right to use the Nordic Swan label on skincare products and paper products.
The scheme is run by the Stiftelsen Miljømerking foundation. If you are considering applying for the right to use the Nordic Swan label on your product, it may be a good idea to contact the foundation at an early stage. All communication will be treated confidentially, so you will not risk any negative publicity if it becomes apparent that your product does not meet the applicable requirements.
If you intend to market your products or services on the European market, it might be a good idea to consider the EU's official Flower ecolabel.
The Eco-lighthouse
The Eco-lighthouse is used by businesses who want to document their environmental awareness and demonstrate corporate social responsibility. To obtain certification as an Eco-lighthouse, you must undergo a certification process lasting between three and six months. The enterprise must establish an internal environmental group and undergo an internal environmental analysis. Different criteria apply to the different industries. Enterprises must be re-certified every three years. The scheme is run by the Eco-lighthouse Foundation.
ISO 14001 Standard for systematic environmental management
ISO 14001 is the internationally recognized standard for environmental management systems (EMS).
The standard specifies the requirements for proactively identifying and understanding the environmental aspects of a company's activities, products and services and their associated environmental impacts.