The Nordic Ecolabel is the Nordic countries official environmental Ecolabel. We look at the entire environmental impact of a printing company’s activity, not just the single (individual) printing objects. In that way, the Nordic Ecolabel can contribute to a better work environment, reduce the use of chemicals and create less impact on the climate.

Our criteria are a guidance tool for a company’s environmental work since we have analyzed which printing processes give the greatest environmental impacts. These requirements can also contribute to lower costs for waste and paper, for example less waste paper.

Is it the printing company or the print object that gets Nordic Ecolabelled?

Since 2007 the Nordic Ecolabel comprises the entire printing company – everything from the choice of paper to good routines for environmental work. It is also requested by us that you use a paper approved by the Nordic Ecolabel. There are lists of these on our homepage www.svanen.nu.

The printing object (for example a newspaper, a brochure, a magazine) will be a product produced according to the Nordic Ecolabel criteria. Therefore we encourage all printing companies to use the Nordic Ecolabel logo on each printed product.

How can Nordic Ecolabelled companies contribute to a better environment?

The Nordic Ecolabel logo on a printing object is a symbol that ensures that the entire printing production is environmentally reviewed from paper, printing and the finished product.

This environmental analysis consists of:

• The paper in the printing object must fulfil the Nordic Ecolabel criteria.
• No wooden raw material from forests with high biological or those that have a high social protective value.
• At least 20 per cent of the raw material must come from certified sustainable forests(for example FSC-labelled).
• The raw material should contain more then 75 percent recycled paper.
• Low energy costs, cleaning discharges, environmental criteria for chemicals and waste management in the paper and pulp materials.
• The printed object is recyclable.
• Printing colours, glue, varnish, laminate and toner are environmentally sound.
• The printing company only uses a minimum of solvents and cleaning detergents.
• The discharges from phototypes, plates, and printing are strongly reduced.
• All waste and discharges are environmentally managed or recycled