What is the EU Ecolabel?
THEEU Ecolabel is the official trademark ofEuropean Union What certifies products and services with reduced environmental impact for a long time their entire life cycle, from production to disposal. Obtaining this recognition represents a guarantee of quality for the consumer and a added value In perspective ESG for businesses.
Established in 1992 with EEC regulation no. 880, today the trademark is governed by EC regulation no. 66/2010 and is valid in all Member countries of the European Union And of the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein).
To date, in addition 100,000 products and services on the European market have obtained the Ecolabel certification, demonstrating the growing attention of companies to solutions sustainable, Transparent and Verified.
How does the EU Ecolabel work?
Initially created to promote a more sustainable tourism, the Ecolabel brand is now applied to many categories of products and services.
In practice, it is avoluntary ecological label, based on criteria Strict and scientifically validated, which evaluates the entire life cycle of the product, from production to disposal.
La Ecolabel certification is released by a independent body, to ensure transparency and credibility. The goal is to reward and encourage the development of durable goods, repairable, recyclable and with a reduced environmental impact.
To obtain the trademark, the product or service must belong to one of the categories for which the European Commission He defined specific criteria, published on Official Journal of the EU. These criteria are based onlife cycle analysis (“from the cradle to the grave”) and consider every phase: extraction of raw materials, production, packaging, distribution, use and end of life.
Among the environmental aspects examined are:
- emissions into the atmosphere and discharges into water;
- use of hazardous chemicals;
- waste production;
- energy consumption and energy sources;
- water consumption;
- noise pollution;
- protection of biodiversity;
- environmental safety.
To these are added criteria related to product performance and, if relevant, also social aspects Ed ethical.
The definition of the criteria is a shared process at European level: starts from technical analyses carried out by Joint Research Center (JRC) of Seville and is discussed with the EU Eco-Label Committee (CUEME), which involves representatives of member States, NGOs, consumer and producer associations, traders and unions.
What are the products that can obtain the Ecolabel mark?
Today, the products and services that can obtain theEU Ecolabel cover numerous categories, including:
- footwear;
- clothing and fabrics;
- cleaning products;
- decor;
- paper and household items;
- personal care products;
- lubricants;
- electronic equipment;
- DIY material;
- cladding and flooring;
- gardening items;
- accommodation facilities;
- indoor cleaning services.
How to obtain the EU Ecolabel in 6 steps
Get the EU Ecolabel It's a structured and transparent process, which in Italy involves the Ecolabel Committee and ISPRA (Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research).
Let's see what are the steps to follow.
- Application and pre-registration on ECAT
The applicant completes and submits the application for the granting of the trademark through the ECAT platform (the European Ecolabel catalog). In this phase, it is essential to verify that the product falls within the allowed categories and that it meets the established criteria. - ISPRA technical check
The ISPRA technical secretariat checks the completeness of the application and compliance with the technical requirements, initiating the investigation. - Resolution of the Ecolabel Committee
Once the investigation is over, the application is examined by the Ecolabel Committee, which decides on the award of the license. - Conclusion of the license agreement
If the resolution is positive, the applicant and the Chairman of the Committee enter into the license agreement. - Issuance of the Ecolabel Certificate
Once a signed contract, the Committee officially issues the EU Ecolabel certificate. - Registry update and visibility
ISPRA updates the ECAT catalog and the National Ecolabel Register. Once this process has been completed, the product is officially certified.
How much does it cost to obtain the Ecolabel?
Obtaining the EU Ecolabel involves costs that are proportionate to the size of the company.
Let's see what the two cost items are to obtain the trademark.
- Investigative rights (to be paid to ISPRA, which takes care of the technical and administrative part):
- large companies: 1,200€;
- SMES: 600€;
- microenterprises: 350€.
- Annual fee for the use of the brand (to be paid to the Provincial State Treasury):
- for products It is calculated 0.15% of annual revenue deriving from the sale of Ecolabel products in the European Union (calculated on the ex-works price), within the limits set for each business category;
- for services (e.g. tourist facilities) it is calculated the 0.075% of annual turnover, calculated based on the average price of an overnight stay multiplied by the number of nights, always according to the thresholds set by category.
The 5 advantages for companies of obtaining the EU Ecolabel
Choose to certify a product or service with the EU Ecolabel it's not just a matter of corporate sustainability, but also a Strategic lever to keep a competitive advantage vis-a-vis other companies.
Let's see together in detail what these advantages are.
- Increased consumer confidence
EU Ecolabel is an official, transparent certification verified by independent bodies. Achieving this brand reinforces the credibility of the product in the eyes of customers, partners and stakeholders. - Concrete and demonstrable environmental commitment
Having the Ecolabel means complying with strict environmental criteria, based on scientific analysis and constantly updated. - Recognition in other European countries
The brand is recognized in all countries of the European Union and in the European Economic Area, facilitating access to new markets and participation in public tenders or tenders that reward or require ESG certifications. - Greater efficiency and savings
Respecting the Ecolabel criteria also means optimizing processes and consumption using less energy and producing less waste. In many cases, this translates directly into a reduction in operating costs. - Competitive advantage
Communicating the achievement of the EU Ecolabel strengthens the company's reputation and differentiates the product in a market that is increasingly attentive to sustainability.
