Manufacturing of textiles, hides/skins and leather 039
Nordic Swan Ecolabelled clothes and textiles has documented good quality and must have a reduced environmental impact throughout the life cycle of the textile. UN’s International Labour Conventions (ILO) on workers’ rights must be complied with in the production.
The requirements include products of textile fibers, hides and leather. Clothing, accessories, home textiles and textile fibers, yarn and fabrics for clothing or furnishings textiles can be certified with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.
Examples
Clothing: Sweater, dress, trousers, skirt, jeans, shirt, top, jacket, workwear, uniforms, socks, and underwear.
Accessories: Hat, cap, scarf, belt, bag, handbag, and backpack.
Home textiles: Duvet, pillow, towels, bed linen, curtains, tablecloths and upholstery fabrics.
The requirements include:
- Use of fibers that are either organic, recycled or based on renewable resources and meet specific environmental requirements.
- Environmental and health properties of all chemicals used in the textile production. Among other things, the Nordic Swan Ecolabel forbids the use of substances that are carcinogenic, toxic to reproduction or can damage genetic material. Halogenated flame retardants fluorinated, and antibacterial additives incl. nanoparticles are also forbidden.
- Implementation of a minimum of BAT (best available technology) water and energy efficiency techniques or local production of solar energy in textile production.
- Test of the quality of the textile, e.g., dimensional change, color fastness and abrasion resistance.
- Compliance with UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions on workers’ rights.
Two license types: One for the products themselves and one for the manufacturing
As of version 5.0 of the requirements (effective as of March 1, 2022), there are two license types:
- Product licence
- Manufacturing licence
Each license type requires a separate application and has its own fees.
Product license, for brand/goods owners
To ecolabel clothes, bed linen, a belt or any other textile or leather product, you must apply for a product license. In this case, the criteria that apply to products in the Nordic Swan Ecolabel Portal must be met. You must also specify which manufacturing licenses the product license should be based on.
Manufacturing license
As a rule, it will be the company behind the factory where the goods are produced that applies for a manufacturing license, but it may also be the company that owns the brand. A manufacturing licence entitles the holder to produce goods for product licences within the product range specified in the manufacturing licence. However, a manufacturing license does not give the right to ecolabel the produced goods or claim that they are Nordic Swan Ecolabelled or meet the Swan's requirements.
The criteria for production facilities and processes can be found in the Nordic Ecolabel portal. The product range is specified by declaring the goods in the Portal for supply chain declaration . The product area is defined, among other things, by product type, material and other inputs such as colour and buttons.
In the declaration of a product, the applicant specifies which components that are used for the individual item. The following components can be declared in the Supply Chain Portal by applicants and/or relevant subcontractors: Chemicals, fibre, yarn, fabric, accessories such as buttons, fillings and also leather.
-
Fees for 039 Textile manufacturing licence
Valid until December 31, 2023Amount excluding VAT Application fee
Application for a new licence, including one on-site inspection within the Nordic region * 3 000 EUR (Includes production plant with up to 1 dyeing unit and 1
printing unit)750 EUR for each additional dyeing or printing unit linked to the application
Application for a renewed licence, generation 4 to 5 1 500 EUR (Includes production plant with up to 1 dyeing unit and 1 printing
unit)750 EUR for each additional dyeing or printing unit linked to the
application.Annual licence fee
Licence fee in the Nordics The fee is 0,3 % of the products' turnover in the Nordic countries Minimum fee 2 000 EUR per year Maximum fee 100 000 EUR per year Fixed fee that is added for sales outside the Nordic countries 2 000 EUR per year if the turnover exceeds 300 000 EUR Fee for extension/change of licence
Fixed fee that is charged depending on how long the work takes.
Up to 4 hours 375 EUR 4–8 hours 750 EUR 8 or more hours 1 500 EUR Fee for on-site inspections
One on-site inspection in the Nordic countries is included when applying for a new or renewed licence.
Additional on-site inspection within the Nordic countries 500 EUR per visit On-site inspection outside the Nordic region, but within Europe 1 500 EUR per visit On-site inspection outside Europe 2 500 EUR per visit Additional fee for on-site inspections lasting longer than one day 1 000 EUR per day
Fees for 112 Textile product licence (brand owner)
Valid until December 31, 2023Amount excluding VAT Application fee
Application for a new licence, received before end of 2022 1 500 EUR
Free of charge for brand owners who are licence holders on 039 Textiles, generation 4, if they
apply for renewal of their licence on the same date.New application from 2023 3 000 EUR Application for a renewed licence N/A
Annual licence fee
The licence fee for the Nordic Swan Ecolabelled products is based on their turnover in the Nordic countries No fee in 2022 & 2023 Fixed fee that is added for sales outside the Nordic countries No fee in 2022 & 2023 Fee for extension/change of licence
Fixed fee that is charged depending on how long the work takes.
Up to 4 hours 375 EUR 4–8 hours 750 EUR 8 or more hours 1 500 EUR Fees for 039 Textile manufacturing licence
Valid from January 1, 2024Amount excluding VAT Application fee
Application for a new licence, including one on-site inspection within the Nordic region * 3 000 EUR (Includes production plant with up to 1 dyeing unit and 1
printing unit)750 EUR for each additional dyeing or printing unit
linked to the applicationApplication for a renewed licence 1 500 EUR (Includes production plant with up to 1 dyeing unit and 1 printing
unit)750 EUR for each additional dyeing or printing unit linked to the
application.Annual licence fee
Annual licence fee, global 2 000 EUR per year Fee for extension/change of licence
Fixed fee that is charged depending on how long the work takes.
Up to 4 hours 375 EUR 4–8 hours 750 EUR 8 or more hours 1 500 EUR Fee for on-site inspections
One on-site inspection in the Nordic countries is included when applying for a new or renewed licence.
Additional on-site inspection within the Nordic countries 500 EUR per visit On-site inspection outside the Nordic region, but within Europe 1 500 EUR per visit On-site inspection outside Europe 2 500 EUR per visit Additional fee for on-site inspections lasting longer than one day 1 000 EUR per day
Fees for 112 Textile product licence (brand owner)
Valid frpm January 1, 2024Amount excluding VAT Application fee
New application 3 000 EUR Application for a renewed licence 1 500 EUR
Annual licence fee
Annual licence fee, Nordics 0,15 % of the products turnover in the Nordic countries up to 30 million EUR.
0,05% of the turnover that exceeds 30 million EURMinimum licence fee, Nordics 2 000 EUR per year Fixed fee that is added for sales outside the Nordic countries 2 000 EUR per year if the turnover exceeds 300 000 EUR of Nordic Swan Ecolabelled products,
sold outside the NordicsFee for extension/change of licence
Fixed fee that is charged depending on how long the work takes.
Up to 4 hours 375 EUR 4–8 hours 750 EUR 8 or more hours 1 500 EUR Ecolabelling Sweden AB has no financial profit purpose and is financed through the fees above along with an annual government grant. The company is however liable for VAT according to article 56 of the European Council Directive 2006/112/EC.
Invoicing is made in SEK with the exchange rate from the first banking day of the year.
When both the applicant and the manufacturer are micro-enterprises, the application fee is reduced by 50%. A micro-enterprise is in this context defined as an enterprise with less than 10 employees and an annual turnover (of both ecolabelled and not ecolabelled products) below 2 million EUR.
-
-
Criteria documentNorwegian / 4.15
-
Writable declarationsNorwegian / 4.15
-
Criteria documentDanish / 5.0
-
Criteria documentEnglish / 5.0
-
Criteria documentEnglish / 4.15
-
Declaration for dyes and pigmentsEnglish / 4.15
-
Writable declarationsEnglish / 4.15
-
Folder structureEnglish / 4.15
-
-
-
Background documentNorwegian / 4.15
-
Background documentDanish / 5.0
-
Background documentEnglish / 4.15
-
Background documentEnglish / 5.0
-
-
-
Compilation of hearing statementsNorwegian / 4.15
-
Compilation of hearing statementsEnglish / 5.0
-
-
Information on the latest version of the criteria for textiles, hides and leather
4.14 ⇛ 5.0: New criteria generation
The Nordic Ecolabelling Board has decided on a new generation. The new generation, 5.0, will take effect on 1nMarch 2022 and is valid until on 1 May 2026.
4.13 ⇛ 4.14: Prolongation of the validity of the criteria
The validity of the criteria has been prolonged by 6 months to 31 May 2023. The new version is called 4.14.
4.12 ⇛ 4.13: Prolongation of the validity of the criteria
The validity of the criteria has been prolonged by 11 months to 30 November 2022. The new version is called 4.13.
4.11 ⇛ 4.12: Prolongation of the validity of the criteria
The validity of the criteria has been prolonged by 12 months to 31 December 2021. The new version is called 4.12.
4.10 ⇛ 4.11: Adjustment of criteria
Requirement O2 regarding metal in belts has been adjusted. The new version is called 4.11.
4.9 ⇛ 4.10: Adjustment of criteria
Requirement O69 has been given a dimensional change for woven products for quilts and pillows. The new version is called 4.10.
4.8 ⇛ 4.9: Adjustment of criteria
Adjustments have been made to requirements O2 and O82. The new version is called 4.9.
4.7 ⇛ 4.8: Adjustment and prolongation of criteria
It was decided to remove requirement O91 Recycling and return system. Furthermore the validity of the requirements has been prolonged with 24 months to 31 December 2020. The new version is called 4.8.
4.6 ⇛ 4.7: Adjustment of criteria
It was decided to implement Nordic Ecolabelling’s new forestry requirements as an alternative to the present forestry requirements. The new version is called 4.7.
4.5 ⇛ 4.6: Adjustment of criteria
An adjustment has been introduced to requirement O35 regarding the use of metal complex dyes for more fiber types. The new version is called 4.6.
4.4 ⇛ 4.5: Adjustment of criteria
An adjustment has been introduced to requirement O35 regarding the use of metal complex dyes. The new version is called 4.5.
4.3 ⇛ 4.4: Adjustment of criteria
Requirement O3 has been adjusted regarding glufosinate. The new version, 4.4, is valid until December 31st 2018.
4.2 ⇛ 4.3: Adjustment and prolongation of criteria
- Requirements R71 and R72 have been altered for indigo dyed denim.
- The validity of the criteria has been prolonged with 24 months.
The new version, 4.3, is valid until December 31st 2018.
4.1 ⇛ 4.2: Adjustment of criteria
- Requirement K31 regarding dyes, colorants and pigments has been adjusted.
The new version, 4.2, is valid until December 31st 2016.
4.0 ⇛ 4.1: Adjustment of criteria
- Requirement K23, regarding heavy metals on details of the fabric, has been eased.
- M8 - regarding marketing - has been removed.
The new version, 4.1, is valid until December 31st 2016.
-
In order to use the Nordic Swan Ecolabel in your marketing, you must have a valid Nordic Swan Ecolabel licence. Please log in to The Nordic Ecolabelling Portal to apply for a licence. You are free to use the Nordic Swan Ecolabel in all of your marketing from the date of approval until your licence expires.
Go to The Nordic Ecolabelling Portal and start your application process!
If this is the first time you apply, an authorised signatory in your company must approve the terms and conditions for the Nordic Ecolabelling Portal. Then you will get a login to the portal and the right to assign access to other colleagues.
Please, fill in the power of attorney.
When you have filled in the power of attorney, you will receive an e-mail from us with your login credentials.
Start by going through the requirements and fees that apply to your specific product group. These can be found above.
In some cases, you must use our separate application form. For example, the form must be used in cases where the producer and licensee are two separate companies, or if you wish to cancel a licence. Please contact your advisor in these cases, or if you are unsure what applies to you. The form to be used in these special cases can be downloaded here.
For more details on the application process, please head to our application guide: "Application step by step".
Good luck with your application!
Contact me for more information
-
Ulf Eriksson Advisor +46 (0)8-55 55 24 44 ulf.eriksson@svanen.se
![]()