Why are some products Nordic Swan Ecolabelled and others not?

The Nordic Swan Ecolabel is a voluntary, positive certification. This means that companies themselves decide whether they want to Nordic Swan Ecolabel their goods or services. And that products or services that carry the Nordic Swan Ecolabel are checked and approved according to our requirements and are therefore a better choice for the environment – a positive certification.

It is the companies that come to us – we do not actively seek out products and services we believe to be environmentally friendly and award them the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. What you, as a consumer, can trust is that Nordic Swan Ecolabelled products and services meet strict requirements that have been verified by Nordic Ecolabelling. Of course, there are also other products and services that are environmentally adapted or claim to be. However, they have not undergone our controls, so it is up to you to assess how environmentally friendly they truly are.

How does a product or service obtain the Nordic Swan Ecolabel?

Before a product or service is awarded the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, we verify that it meets our requirements. We request certificates and documentation as well as extensive tests from independent laboratories. We then carry out an inspection visit to the production facility or premises to be Nordic Swan Ecolabelled. After approved inspections, the company receives a licence that gives them the right to use the Nordic Swan Ecolabel on their product or service for a limited time. The requirements are then tightened and companies must apply again.

How do I see if a product is Nordic Swan Ecolabelled?

Most products have the Nordic Swan Ecolabel logo with an eight-digit licence number on their packaging. On services such as hotels and restaurants, a certificate is often displayed on the wall. Many companies that have Nordic Swan Ecolabelled products also use the Nordic Swan Ecolabel in their marketing.