EU Ecolabel
The EU Ecolabel helps consumers, retailers and businesses make sustainable choices. Some 100,000 products and services across the EU already bear the EU Ecolabel, meaning that they comply with rigorous ecological criteria and have a reduced environmental impact.
EU Ecolabel criteria are defined for a wide range of product groups. Check if your good or service is eligible .
Benefits
The EU Ecolabel offers clear benefits to businesses:
- Earn trust: The EU Ecolabel is a reliable, third-party verified certification.
- Show commitment: Prove your product meets strict environmental standards.
- Business opportunities & cost savings: Recognised in all EU countries, the EU Ecolabel creates opportunities while promoting resource efficiency.
- Strengthen your reputation: Showcase your dedication to sustainability.
Sample story
Sustainability in action: a small business and the EU Ecolabel
Carlos owns a small soap business in Spain and wants to showcase his eco-friendly practices. He discovers the EU Ecolabel and decides to apply. First, he checks if his soaps meet the criteria and contacts his national EU Ecolabel competent body to begin the application process.
He provides detailed information about his products and gets them tested by a certified lab to prove compliance with the EU Ecolabel's strict standards. After his application is reviewed and approved, Carlos signs a licensing agreement. With the EU Ecolabel on his packaging, he notices a boost in customer trust and sales, reinforcing his brand's reputation for sustainability.
How to apply?
There is a 7-step application process. The label is awarded by the relevant national organisation (competent body) that checks your application.
Fees
Fees vary depending on the EU country where the application is submitted and on your business size. You must check the specific fees that apply in your country, however, this what you can generally expect:
A one-off application fee
- €200 - €350 for micro-enterprises;
- €200 - €600 for SMEs and companies from developing countries;
- €200 – €2,000 for all other companies.
Annual fee
You can pay a flat rate:
- €18,750 for micro-enterprises, SMEs, and companies from developing countries.
- €25,000 for all other companies.
Or, you can choose to pay a percentage of sales:
- 0.15% of the annual sales value of the certified product in the EU (for all categories of companies).
Warning
The annual fee is capped. This means the flat rate (either €18,750 or €25,000) represents the maximum annual fee. If 0.15% of your sales is less than this flat rate amount, you pay the lower, percentage-based fee. If it is more, you only pay the flat rate.Discounts
- 25% reduction for SMEs, micro-enterprises, and companies from developing countries.
- 30% reduction for companies registered under EMAS.
- 15% reduction for companies certified under ISO 14001.
Warning
EMAS and ISO discounts are not cumulative—only the higher discount applies.Sample story
Applying the 25% discount
Liam owns a small cosmetics company and wants to certify his eco-friendly shampoos. After applying and being approved, he calculates his annual fee based on 0.15% of his €2 million EU sales, which comes out to €3,000. However, as an SME, Liam qualifies for the 25% discount, reducing his fee to €2,250. The savings make it easier for Liam to invest in further sustainability improvements, which his customers value.
Sample story
Earning an EMAS reduction
Sofia manages a textile manufacturing company that recently achieved EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) registration for its exceptional environmental management practices. When she applies for the EU Ecolabel for her sustainable curtains, she learns that her 30% EMAS discount applies to both the application and annual fees.
For her application fee, normally set at €2,000, she pays only €1,400. Similarly, for the annual fee based on 0.15% of her product sales (€10,000), the discount reduces her payment to €7,000. The savings allow Sofia to reinvest in her sustainability efforts, while the dual certification boosts her brand’s reputation among eco-conscious buyers.
Inspection fees
You may also need to pay inspection fees which cover laboratory testing, audits, or other checks performed by third parties to ensure compliance with the ecolabel criteria. You must pay these fees directly to the service providers conducting the inspections. The specific amount depends on the product category and the complexity of the testing required.
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