Product ECO Certifications Consulting

EU Energy Label

The mandatory colour-coded label (A–G scale) found on appliances, electronics, and even some vehicles sold in the EU. It rates energy efficiency and often includes extra info like water use, noise level, or repairability score. Not voluntary like the others – it's a legal requirement for most electronic goods.

EU Ecolabel

The European Union's official voluntary label, recognized across all EU/EEA member states. It's awarded to products and services (from cleaning products to hotels) that meet high environmental standards across their whole lifecycle – from raw material extraction through production, use, and disposal. Identified by its green flower logo.

Der Grüne Punkt (Green Dot)

Originally German but now used across many EU countries, this symbol indicates that the packaging producer has contributed financially to a recycling/recovery scheme in that country. It's a packaging-recovery participation mark rather than a proof of recyclability itself, though it's often mistaken for one.

EU Organic Farming Logo (Euroleaf)

The green leaf-made-of-stars logo certifies that food and agricultural products meet strict EU organic farming standards – no synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, GMOs, or unnecessary chemical processing. It's the "does less harm" equivalent for food and packaging tied to agriculture.

OK Compost / TÜV Austria Compostable Mark

Certifies that packaging materials (bioplastics, films, bags) will fully break down in either industrial or home composting conditions within a set timeframe, without leaving toxic residue. Increasingly common on food packaging and mailers as brands move away from conventional plastic.

RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive)

It's an EU legal directive (2011/65/EU, originally 2002/95/EC) that restricts the use of specific hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). It's mandatory for most electronics sold in the EU, not optional.

Do No Significant Harm (DNSH)

Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) is a core principle of the EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities, used to determine whether an economic activity, investment, or project can be classified as environmentally sustainable under EU law. Rather than being a certification stamped on individual products, DNSH functions as a compliance test: an activity must contribute substantially to at least one of six environmental objectives – climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, sustainable use of water and marine resources, transition to a circular economy, pollution prevention and control, or protection of biodiversity and ecosystems – while causing no significant harm to any of the others.

The principle is widely applied in EU sustainable finance regulation, including the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and the EU Green Bond Standard, as well as in eligibility assessments for EU-funded programmes such as the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Its main purpose is to prevent greenwashing, ensuring that activities marketed or funded as "green" don't quietly undermine other environmental goals – for example, a low-carbon manufacturing process that pollutes local water supplies would fail the DNSH test even if it scores well on climate metrics.