The EU Ecolabel Is A Practical Tool For Linking Circularity Objectives To Everyday Market Choices

Established in 1992, the European Union (EU) Ecolabel is a world-renowned voluntary label that promotes environmental excellence through standardized processes and science-based criteria. As the European Commission transitions to a circular economy — moving away from the traditional linear model of ‘take, make, use, dispose’ toward one in which products and materials remain in circulation and waste is minimized — the EU Ecolabel considers the environmental impacts across a product’s entire lifecycle.

The EU Ecolabel is awarded to high-quality, best-in-class goods and services placed on the EU market based on their environmental performance. According to statistics from the European Commission, the most popular Ecolabel product categories by number of certified products include paints and varnishes, paper products, cleaning products, and clothing and textiles. Notably, an estimated 61 percent of companies with EU Ecolabel-awarded products are registered as small and medium-sized