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Home > Advocacy > Global Policies > European Union Legislation > Eco-label Scheme
Eco-label Scheme

The European Ecolabel is a voluntary scheme, established in 1992,
to encourage businesses to market products and services that are
kinder to the environment.

Products and services awarded the Ecolabel carry the flower logo, allowing consumers (including public and private purchasers) to identify them easily. The criteria are agreed at European Union level, following wide consultation with experts and the label itself is only awarded after verification that the product meets the predetermined high environmental and performance standards.


How the Eco-Label Works
Ecolabel criteria are not based on one single factor, but on studies which analyze the impact of the product or service on the environment throughout its life-cycle, starting from raw material extraction in the pre-production stage, through to production, distribution and disposal. To ensure the credibility of the award, the EUEB evaluates products based on 7 general criteria:
  • Products are environmentally strong
  • Products are based on good science
  • Consumer health is key factor during manufacturing process
  • Meets product performance requirements
  • Products are developed transparently and cost-effectively, with the participation of stakeholders
  • Products are reasonably attainable
  • Products are up-to-date
However, there are also specific award criteria for each product section. For example, “ecological criteria for each product are defined on the basis of life cycle considerations (LCC) taken from a ‘cradle-to-grave’ view of the environmental impacts of a product group.”


Heat Pumps
Heat Pumps have an Ecolabel category. It can be awarded to electrically driven, gas driven or gas absorption heat pumps with the purpose of space heating or the opposite process space cooling, with a maximum heating capacity of 100 kW. Heat pumps exclusively providing hot water for sanitary use, and those only extracting heat from a building are excluded.

The logo on Heat Pumps tells you:
  • The product has improved energy efficiency during heating and cooling modes.
  • The product reduces or prevents the risks for the environment and for human health related to the use of hazardous substances.
  • The product has a lower global warming impact.
  • It contains instructions for correct environmental use.

For more information on the Ecolabel Scheme, visit: