The overriding vision for ecolabels is a sustainable society. The Nordic Ecolabelling system is a voluntary, positive labelling of products and services with a common registered trademark: Nordic Ecolabel. In the same way the EU Ecolabel works on an European level.

Ecolabelling is based on the following principles:

• specific criteria for different product groups 
• an openness for all interested parties in the work processes
• licencing of Nordic Ecolabel and EU Ecolabel products after application
• common acceptance of licenced products within the Nordic and European national ecolabelling organisations

Nordic Ecolabel – the official Nordic Ecolabel
In 1989 the Nordic Council of Ministers initiated the Nordic Ecolabel. The purpose was to give consumers in the Nordic countries a tool to make environmentally-sound product choices. Today there are 63 product groups and over thousands of Nordic Ecolabelled products and services on the Nordic market. 

EU Ecolabel – the European Ecolabel
The EU Commission initiated in 1992 the EU Ecolabel (formerly known as the EU Flower). Criteria are developed by responsible bodies in the EU membership states on consignment by the EU Commission.  EU Ecolabel works in a similar way as the Nordic Ecolabel and is also a Type 1 ecolabel with the criteria continually being revised. Today there are 26 product groups that can be EU Ecolabelled.. Since the Nordic Ecolabel is more well-established in the Nordic countries there are fewer EU Ecolabelled products on the Nordic market but more on the European market. 

In Sweden it is the company Ecolabelling Sweden that is responsible for both the Nordic Ecolabel and the EU Ecolabel. It issues licences, does controls and markets both Ecolabels. The Swedish Ecolabelling Board is the responsible body for both Ecolabels.