The European Ecolabel: a label protecting the environment for 30 years

The eco-label is a European eco-label which was adopted by the Council of the European Union on 23 March 1992. The regulation currently in force is the one adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on 25 November 2009. It applies to all the countries of the European Union as well as Switzerland, Turkey, Iceland and Norway.

What does this label mean?

The European eco-label enables consumers to find the products that are most protective of health and the environment. This includes products that contain fewer toxic substances, but also products that have a lower life cycle and use less energy and generate less waste.

This label is an easily recognizable tool for consumers committed to environmental protection.

Although food products are not concerned, this label applies to some 83,590 labeled products classified in more than 32 categories of products and services (furniture, DIY, office automation, clothing...).

The products in question are certified by an independent body using criteria developed by professionals, consumer and environmental organizations and public authorities.

The objectives of the European Ecolabel

Firstly, this eco-label was adopted in order to help European consumers identify the most environmentally friendly products.

The primary purpose of the eco-label is to promote products and services with a lower environmental impact.

From this first goal flows other objectives:

• encourage producers to sell products that are more respectful of health and the environment;
• reduce the impacts of product production and consumption on health, the environment and natural resources;
• enable products to be produced and consumed sustainably.

These objectives allow a standardization at European level on the design of a product or service protecting the environment. You can download the infographic Why rely on the European Ecolabel?

Go to Ecolabels.fr to find an eco-labeled product or service.