Product Groups and Criteria
The EU Ecolabel covers a huge range of product groups, from major areas of manufacturing to tourist accommodation services.
Key experts, in consultation with main stakeholders, develop the criteria for each product group in order to decrease the main environmental impacts over the entire life cycle of the product. Because the life cycle of every product and service is different, the criteria are tailored to address the unique characteristics of each product type.
Every four years on average, the criteria are revised to reflect technical innovation such as evolution of materials, production processes or in emission reduction and changes in the market. Because of this, you and your customers can be sure that EU Ecolabel continues to stand for the highest environmental performance.
For more information on the criteria setting process, please see Section 3.1.
Why not check the criteria for your product? You can find out the criteria for your product group, helpful guidance for applying for the label and other relevant documents from the table below.
Beauty Care
Soaps, shampoos and hair conditioners
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 21 June 2007 Under revision |
|---|---|
| Valid until | 31 December 2013 Validity prolonged: |
| Application pack / User manual | Application pack |
| Revision | On-going. For more information: http://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/soaps_and_shampoos |
| Miscellaneous | Latest version of the Detergent Ingredient Database (DID-list) Part A
|
| Fact sheet | Soaps, shampoos and hair conditioners |
Cleaning Up
All-purpose cleaners
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 28 June Corrigendum |
|---|---|
| Validity | 28 June 2015 |
| Application pack / User manual | User manual Performance Declaration Raw Materials |
| Revision | Not started |
| Miscellaneous | Latest version of the Detergent Ingredient Database (DID-list) Part A
|
| Fact sheet | All-purpose cleaners |
Detergents for dishwashers
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 28 April 2011 Amendment |
|---|---|
| Validity | 28. Apr 2015 |
| Application pack / User manual | User Manual Calculation sheet |
| Revision | Not started |
| Miscellaneous | Latest version of the Detergent Ingredient Database (DID-list) Part A
|
| Fact sheet | Detergents for dishwashers |
Industrial and Institutional Automatic Dishwasher Detergents
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 14 November 2012 |
|---|---|
| Validity | 14 November 2016 |
| Application pack / User manual | User manual Excel file |
| Revision | Not started |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Fact sheet | I&I Automatic Dishwasher Detergents |
Hand dishwashing detergents
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 24 June 2011 |
|---|---|
| Validity | 24 June 2015 |
| Application pack / User manual | User Manual Calculation sheet Declaration Raw Materials |
| Revision | Not started |
| Miscellaneous | Latest version of the Detergent Ingredient Database (DID-list) Part A
|
| Fact sheet | Hand dishwashing detergents |
Laundry detergents
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 28 April 2011 Amendment |
|---|---|
| Validity | 28 April 2015 |
| Application pack / User manual | User Manual Calculation sheet |
| Revision | Not started |
| Miscellaneous | Latest version of the Detergent Ingredient Database (DID-list) Part A
|
| Fact sheet | Laundry detergents |
Industrial and Institutional Laundry detergents
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 14 November 2012 |
|---|---|
| Validity | 14 November 2016 |
| Application pack / User manual | User manual Excel file |
| Revision | Not started |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Fact sheet | I&I Laundry Detergents |
Clothing
Textiles
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 9 July 2009
Please note that in the EU Commission Decision 2009/567/EC there are errors in the German version. More details. Corrigendum of FI version Corrigendum of DE version |
|---|---|
| Validity | 10 July 2013 Validity prolonged: / |
| Application pack / User manual | Application pack |
| Revision | Revision: on-going. For more information: http://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/textiles |
| Miscellaneous | Overlap criteria okotex |
| Fact sheet | Textiles |
Footwear
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 9 July 2009 Corrigendum of DE version |
|---|---|
| Validity | 10 July 2013 |
| Application pack / User manual | Application guide |
| Revision | Will begin in the second half of 2012 |
| Miscellaneous | Ecolabel footwear website |
| Fact sheet | Footwear |
Do-It-Yourself
Paints and varnishes
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 13 August 2008 for indoor paints and varnishes Under revision Please note: Current criteria valid until 18 August 2012 Commission Decision of 13 August 2008 for outdoor paints and varnishes Under revision Please note: Current criteria valid until 18 August 2012 Please note that in the EU Commission Decision 2009/543/EC there are errors in the Danish version. More details. |
|---|---|
| Validity | 30 June 2013 Validity prolonged: Commission Decision of 14 November 2011 |
| Application pack / User manual | Guidance notes Application form Standard contract and conditions for use of the Flower Annex to the contract - request for statistical data form |
| Revision | On-going. For more information: http://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/paints |
| FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions for this product group |
| Miscellaneous | Life Cycle Analysis of 11 indoor decorative paints |
| Fact sheet | Paints and varnishes |
Electronic Equipment
Personal computers
| Current criteria | Commission decision of 9 June 2011 |
|---|---|
| Validity | 9 June 2014 |
| Application pack / User manual | Guidance notes Application form Standard contract and conditions for use of the Flower |
| Revision | Not started |
| FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions for this product group |
| Fact sheet | Personal computers |
Portable computers
| Current criteria | Commission decision of 6 June 2011 |
|---|---|
| Validity | 6 June 2014 |
| Application pack / User manual | Guidance notes Application form Standard contract and conditions for use of the Flower |
| Revision | Not started |
| Fact sheet | Portable computers |
Televisions
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 12 March 2009 |
|---|---|
| Validity | 31 October 2013 |
| Application pack / User manual | Guidance notes Application form Standard contract and conditions for use of the Flower |
| Revision | Not started |
| FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions for this product group |
| Miscellaneous | Final report |
| Fact sheet | Televisions |
Coverings
Wooden coverings
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 26 November 2009 Corrigendum |
|---|---|
| Validity | 27 December 2013 |
| Application pack / User manual | User manual |
| Revision | Not started |
| Miscellaneous | Final report, December 2008 |
| Fact sheet | Wooden coverings |
Hard coverings
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 9 July 2009 |
|---|---|
| Validity | 10 July 2013 |
| Application pack / User manual | User manual |
| Revision | Not started |
Textile coverings
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 30 November 2009 Please note that in the EU Commission Decision 2009/967/EC there are errors is in the Italian version. More details. |
|---|---|
| Validity | 1 December 2013 |
| Application pack / User manual | User manual |
| Revision | Not started |
| Miscellaneous | Final report, December 2008 |
| Fact sheet | Textile coverings |
Furniture
Wooden furniture
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 30 November 2009 Corrigendum |
|---|---|
| Validity | 1 December 2013 |
| Application pack / User manual | Application pack |
| FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions for this product group |
| Revision | Not started |
| Miscellaneous | Final report, October 2004 Raising the environmental quality of furniture: A strategy which also raises the value of the EU Eco-label - Discussion paper by the United Kingdom |
| Fact sheet | Wooden furniture |
Gardening
Growing media* and soil improvers
*materials in which plants can grow (excluding soil)
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 3 November 2006 for Soil improvers Commission Decision of 15 November 2006 for Growing media |
|---|---|
| Validity | 31 December 2013 - Soil improvers 31 December 2013 - Growing media Validity prolonged: Commission Decision of 14 November 2011 |
| Application pack / User manual | Soil improvers Growing media |
| Revision | Not started |
| Fact sheet | Soil improvers |
Household appliances
Light bulbs
| Current criteria | Commission decision of 6 June 2011 |
|---|---|
| Validity | 6 June 2013 |
| Application pack / User manual | Guidance notes Application form Standard contract and conditions for use of the Flower |
| Revision | www.eco-lighting-project.eu |
| Fact sheet | Light bulbs |
Heat pumps
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 9 November 2007 |
|---|---|
| Validity | 31 December 2013 Validity prolonged: |
| Application pack / User manual | Application pack |
| Revision | On-going. This product group will be expanded to Hydronic central heating generators. For more information: http://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/heating/index.html |
| Miscellaneous | Report - Heat Pumps, Technology and environmental impact Presentation - Heat Pumps, Technology and environmental impact |
| Fact sheet | Heat pumps |
Lubricants
Lubricants
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 24 June 2011 |
|---|---|
| Validity | 24 June 2015 |
| Application pack / User manual | User manual Application form |
| Revision | Not started |
| Miscellaneous | Translations of the German performance test for Chain Saw Oils OSPAR list of chemicals for Priority action List of priority substances in the field of water policy Lubricant Substance Classification list (LuSC-list) |
| Fact sheet | Lubricants |
Other Household Items
Mattresses
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 9 July 2009 Under revision |
|---|---|
| Validity | 10 July 2013 |
| Application pack / User manual | Assessment procedure |
| Revision | On-going. For more information: http://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/mattresses/ |
| Miscellaneous | Summary of the criteria Bed mattresses LCA |
| Fact sheet | Mattresses |
Paper Products
Newsprint paper
| Current criteria | |
|---|---|
| Validity | 12 July 2015 |
| Application pack / User manual | User Manual |
| Revision | Not started yet |
| Fact sheet | Newsprint Paper |
Printed paper
| Current criteria | |
|---|---|
| Validity | 16 August 2015 |
| Application pack / User manual | User Manual Declarations Check-List |
| Revision | Not started yet |
| Fact sheet | Printed paper |
Copy and graphic paper
| Current criteria | Commission decision of 7 June 2011 |
|---|---|
| Validity | 7 June 2015 |
| Application pack / User manual | User manual |
| Revision | Not started yet |
| Fact sheet | Copy and graphic paper |
Tissue paper
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 9 July 2009 Corrigenda of |
|---|---|
| Validity | 10 July 2013 |
| Application pack / User manual | User manual |
| Revision | Not started |
| Fact sheet | Tissue Paper |
Holiday Accommodation
Campsite services
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 9 July 2009 |
|---|---|
| Validity | 10 July 2013 |
| Application pack / User manual | Users manual Verification forms We have chosen digital documents for verification forms in order to let the applicant fulfil directly the documents and save a lot of paper. The verification forms are in excel in open office program. In case you do not have this program you can download the program freely from the following site: www.openoffice.org. |
| Fact sheet | Campsite services |
Tourist accommodation services
| Current criteria | Commission Decision of 9 July 2009 Corrigendum of DA version |
|---|---|
| Validity | 10 July 2013 |
| Application pack / User manual | Users manual Verification forms We have chosen digital documents for verification forms in order to let the applicant fulfil directly the documents and save a lot of paper. The verification forms are in excel in open office program. In case you do not have this program you can download the program freely from the following site: www.openoffice.org. |
| FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions for this product group |
| Miscellaneous | EU Ecolabel Tourism Website: http://www.traintoecolabel.org LIFE project "Green Flag for Greener Hotels", January 2001: Final summary and final report LIFE project "Ecolabels for sustainable tourism in Europe": www.yourvisit.info The German umbrella label "Viabono" for sustainable tourism: www.viabono.de |
| Fact sheet | Tourist accommodation services |
Products Groups under Development
| Category | Criteria development information |
| Food and feed products? | The Commission has undertaken a study on the feasibility of developing Ecolabel criteria for food and feed products.Read the final report of the feasibility study and the opinion of the European Union Ecolabelling Board. Based on these two inputs the Commission is currently considering how best to proceed. A decision will not be finalised until after the publication of the EU Communication on Sustainable Food, planned for 2013. As soon as any definitive decision is made, it will be published here. In the meantime, no criteria development will be launched for food and feed products. |
| Office Buildings | http://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/buildings/index.html |
| Converted Paper | Background Report – May 2013 |
| Hydronic Central Heating Generators | http://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/heating/index.html |
| Imaging Equipment | http://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/imaging-equipment/index.html |
| Sanitary products | http://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/sanitaryproducts/ |
| Taps and Showerhead | http://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ecotapware/ |
| Toilets and Urinals | http://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/toilets/index.html |
Discover more about the criteria development and revision. You’ll find out how to suggest a new product or service group to be included in the scheme or how to apply to lead the development/revision process.
