Nordic swan
The Nordic Ecolabel or Nordic swan is the official sustainability ecolabel for the Nordic countries, introduced by the Nordic Council of Ministers. This is done by a voluntary license system where the applicant agrees to follow a certain criteria set outlined by the Nordic Ecolabelling in cooperation with stakeholders. These criteria include environmental, quality and health arguments. The criteria levels promote products and services belonging to the most environmentally sound and take into account factors such as free trade and proportionality (cost vs. benefits).
The Nordic Ecolabel now covers 67 different product groups, from hand soap to furniture to hotels. Products must verify compliance using methods such as samples from independent laboratories, certificates and control visits. The label is usually valid for three years, after which the criteria are revised and the company must reapply for a license.
The Nordic Ecolabel first appeared in the United States through a small offering of Nordic products. KCK Industries recognized the value of branding quality eco-friendly products and through a partnership with ABENA introduced Bambo Nature, an environmentally friendly baby diaper. The success of this offering has led to the expansion of the ecolabel in the U.S.
External links
- Information about the Ecolabel from the Nordic Council of Ministers
- Official site for the Nordic Ecolabel