After three years of development by representatives of industry, government, environmental and consumer organisations, EU Ecolabel has revealed revised criteria adopted by the Commission on 5 August 2016 and published in the official journal.
The new criteria is stricter, aiming to reward manufacturers whose products have a lower environmental impact in terms of depletion of natural resources and emissions to water, air and soil from manufacturing processes. Products which contribute to sustainable development along their life cycle, are durable, and restrict the presence of hazardous substances are also desirable. The revised criteria introduces stricter requirements regarding labour conditions at the final assembly site.
Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella said: “The EU Ecolabel promotes Europe’s transition to a circular economy, supporting both sustainable production and consumption. Thanks to transparent ecological criteria, consumers can make conscious choices, without compromising on the quality of the products. Similarly, the Ecolabel rewards those manufacturers who choose to design products that are durable and repairable, promoting innovation and saving resources.”
