Nordic Swan Certification | Nordic Ecolabel

The Nordic Ecolabel or Nordic swan is the official sustainability ecolabel for the Nordic countries, introduced by the Nordic Council of Ministers. This is done by a voluntary license system where the applicant agrees to follow certain criteria set outlined by the Nordic Ecolabelling in cooperation with stakeholders. These criteria include environmental, quality, and health arguments. The criteria levels promote products and services belonging to the most environmentally sound and take into account factors such as free trade and proportionality (cost vs. benefits).

The Nordic Ecolabel now covers 67 different product groups, from hand soap to furniture to hotels, textiles, and leather. Products must verify compliance using methods such as samples from independent laboratories, certificates, and control visits. The label is usually valid for three years, after which the criteria are revised and the company must reapply for a license.

The Nordic Ecolabel stands for:

• It is the official Nordic Ecolabel in all Nordic countries (Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, and Norway.
• The Nordic Ecolabel has stringent environmental, function, quality, and climate criteria.
• Criteria are continually revised and improved.
• Nordic Ecolabelled products and services have fulfilled Nordic Ecolabel criteria and are approved and third-party controlled.
• Nordic Ecolabelled products and services contribute to sustainable consumerism.
• Nordic Ecolabel´s vision is a sustainable society.

The EU Ecolabel stands for:

• It is the official Ecolabel in all EU countries.
• It has stringent environmental, function, quality, and climate criteria.
• Criteria are continually revised and improved.
• EU Ecolabelled products and services have fulfilled EU Ecolabel criteria and are approved and third-party controlled.
• EU Ecolabelled products and services contribute to a sustainable consumerism

Unfortunately, there is no worldwide ecolabelling scheme but Nordic Ecolabel and EU Ecolabel are well-known. There are several national labels and then there is the Nordic Ecolabel for the five Nordic countries and the EU Ecolabel for Europe.. However, for some products, the environmental criteria are harmonized between different labeling schemes. You may read more about ecolabels at: www.globalecolabelling.net.

Source:http://www.svanen.se