The Nordic Swan Ecolabel is an independent environmental certification scheme created by the Nordic Council of Ministers in 1989 and operated by national ecolabelling organizations in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland. A type I ecolabel under ISO 14024 and EU legislation, the Nordic Swan is recognized as a sign of “excellent environmental performance”.1 This recognition extends beyond Europe, as the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also lists the label among recommended sustainability certifications.2
Third-party laboratory test results are typically required to show that products meet the criteria for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. Measurlabs offers testing for several product groups, including paper and sanitary products, paints and varnishes, and other construction products.
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What are the criteria for obtaining the Nordic Swan Ecolabel?
Exact eligibility criteria for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel are product-specific, but the following general principles apply across the board:
Raw materials must be acquired from sustainable and traceable sources, such as sustainable agriculture, certified forestry, or recycled streams. Safety and circularity objectives must be balanced (e.g., recycled fibers must not be used in high-risk food contact applications, such as baking paper).
Packaging must be recyclable, and plastic packaging must contain a set amount of recycled plastic. Recycling instructions must be displayed clearly on the packaging.
Manufacturing processes must be energy-efficient and minimize environmental emissions. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) measurements are used to assess the environmental impact across various production processes.
Toxic or hazardous chemicals, such as SVHC substances, intentionally added microplastics, or known endocrine disruptors, must not be present unless their use is technically unavoidable. Even then, concentrations must be kept to the minimum required to achieve the desired effect.
Performance and quality must match or exceed those of comparable products.
Compliance is demonstrated through a combination of supplier and manufacturer declarations, emissions calculations, safety data sheets for chemicals, and independent laboratory test results. The following sections summarize the testing-related requirements for selected product groups.
Paper products
Compositional requirements for Nordic Swan Ecolabeled paper are described in several criteria documents: a basic module, a general chemical module, and supplementary modules for copy and printing paper, grease-proof paper, and tissue paper.3 Selected laboratory tests required to show that paper products are eligible for the label are summarized in Table 1.
Table 1: Nordic Swan Ecolabel testing requirements for paper products
Parameter (test method/standard) | Criteria | Applicable products |
1 mg/dm2 | Tissue papers containing recycled fibers | |
1.5 mg/dm2 | Tissue papers containing recycled fibers | |
0.05 mg/kg | Tissue papers containing recycled fibers | |
0.15 mg/kg | Tissue papers containing recycled fibers | |
Migration of bisphenols A, F, and S (EN 645) | 0.05 mg/kg of food (per substance) | Tissue papers containing recycled fibers |
Total organic fluorine (EN ISO 10304-1 or equivalent) | 20 mg/kg | Tissue papers containing recycled fibers, greaseproof papers treated with fluorinated substances |
No growth-inhibiting effect on microorganisms | All tissue papers | |
No migration of optical brighteners, level 4 or 5* | All tissue papers | |
Color fastness (EN 646) | No migration of colorants, level 4 or 5* | All tissue papers |
1,000 ppm on a dry silicone basis (per substance) | Silicone-coated greaseproof papers | |
Biodegradability (OECD 301, 302, or 310) | Readily or inherently biodegradable | Substances used in foam inhibitors, deinking chemicals, and surfactants |
Bioaccumulation (OECD 305) | Bioconcentration factor (BCF) < 500 | Biocides and slimicides used in paper production |
* Level 5 for papers intended for food contact
Additional testing may be required to show that paper intended for food contact complies with applicable legislation and industry guidelines, such as the Framework Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 and German BfR’s recommendations (XXXVI or XXXVI/2, depending on paper type).
Sanitary products
The sanitary product category covers diapers, feminine hygiene products, cotton wool and buds, surgical masks, and other disposable products for absorbing or providing protection against bodily fluids.4 Some of the key testing requirements are summarized in Table 2.
Table 2: Nordic Swan Ecolabel testing requirements for sanitary products
Parameter/test | Criteria/maximum concentration | Applicable products and materials |
Polybrominated biphenyls, diphenyl ethers, phthalates, organotin compounds, lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium VI | 100 ppm as impurities | Additional components and primary packaging containing recycled plastic |
Transfer of antimicrobial components (EN 1104) | No growth-inhibiting effect on microorganisms | Cellulose pulp, paper, cardboard |
Aerobic microorganisms | 1,000 per gram | Tampons |
Free formaldehyde content (EN 16000-10 or equivalent) | 10 ppm | Hardened adhesives |
Cyclosiloxanes D4, D5, and D6 | 800 ppm | Cured silicone |
1,000 ppm of unreacted acrylic acid and crosslinkers | Superabsorbent polymers (SAP) | |
Water-soluble extracts | 10% w/w | Superabsorbent polymers (SAP) |
Metal impurities (Sb, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, Hg, Ni, Se, Ag, Sn, Zn) | 4–1,500 ppm, depending on the substance | Paper colorants |
Heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cr VI, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se) | 0.01–2 ppm, depending on the substance | Polyurethane foam |
Phthalates/plasticizers (DINP, DNOP, DEHP, DIDP, BBP, DBP) | 0.01% w/w (sum) | Polyurethane foam |
Primary aromatic amines (TDA and MDA) | 5 ppm per substance | Polyurethane foam |
Organotin compounds (TBT, DBT, MBT, TeBT, MOT, DOT, TcyT, TPhT) | 500 ppb (sum), 50 ppb for TBT, 100 ppb for DBT and MBT | Polyurethane foam |
Additional tests may be required to demonstrate compliance with performance criteria, for example, regarding absorption capacity.
Paints and varnishes
Paints and varnishes are an example of a product category where certain hazardous chemicals cannot be completely avoided for technical reasons. However, to qualify for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, their concentrations must typically be lower than the legal maximum. VOC content limits are a good example, as the Nordic Swan criteria are considerably stricter than maximum levels specified in the EU Paints Directive.5
Table 3: Nordic Swan Ecolabel testing requirements for paints and varnishes
Parameter (test method/standard) | Criteria | Applicable products and materials |
Isothiazolinone content (HPLC) | Max. 100 ppm to 1,500 ppm, depending on product type* | Paints and varnishes (final product) |
Total preservative content (HPLC) | Max. 200 ppm to 5,000 ppm, depending on product type* | Paints and varnishes (final product) |
Formaldehyde emissions (EN 16516) | ≤ 0.06 mg/m3 after 28 days | Indoor paints and varnishes |
Formaldehyde content (HPLC) | ≤ 25 mg/kg | All paints and varnishes (final product) |
VOC emissions (EN 16516, EN 16402, or equivalent) | ≤ 0.001 mg/m3 to carcinogenic VOCs, ≤ 0.3 mg/m3 for total VOCs | Indoor paints and varnishes |
VOC and SVOC content (ISO 11890-2) | ≤ 10–80 g/L for VOCs and ≤ 30–60 g/L for SVOCs, depending on the product | Ready-to-use paints and varnishes |
Wet scrub resistance (EN 13300 and EN ISO 11998) | Class 1 or class 2 | Paints with claims about wet scrub resistance |
Anti-corrosion protection (ISO 12944-6 or ISO 12944-9) | Depends on corrosivity category** | Anti-corrosion paints |
* Lower limits apply to anti-corrosion paints and indoor paints and varnishes, and higher limits to outdoor and industrial paints.
** See Requirement O33 of the criteria document for paints and varnishes for details.
Additional performance tests and criteria for passing them are described in section 1.4 of the criteria document. The requirements vary by product type, for example, with resistance to weathering and fungal growth expected from outdoor paints, and adhesion from primers.
Chemical building products
Nordic Swan Ecolabel’s chemical building product category covers adhesives, sealants, fillers, impregnating agents for tiles and concrete, mortars, plasters, and other liquid or non-hardened construction products for both indoor and outdoor use.6 Similar to paints and varnishes, some chemicals with a hazard classification are typically present in such products, but concentrations must be kept to a minimum.
Table 4: Nordic Swan Ecolabel testing requirements for chemical building products
Parameter (test method/standard) | Compliance criteria | Applicable products and materials |
Methanol content | ≤ 0.1% | Sealants and adhesives containing methanol |
Isothiazolinone content (HPLC) | Max. 300 ppm to 500 ppm, depending on product type | Adhesives, sealants, fillers, and impregnating agents (final product) |
Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate (HPLC) | ≤ 100 ppm | Adhesives, sealants, fillers, and impregnating agents (final product) |
Total preservative content (HPLC) | Max. 500 ppm to 700 ppm, depending on product type | Adhesives, sealants, fillers, and impregnating agents (final product) |
Formaldehyde content (HPLC) | ≤ 25 mg/kg | Fillers, adhesives, sealants (final product) |
Formaldehyde emissions (EN 16516) | ≤ 0.06 mg/m3 after 28 days | Indoor fillers, adhesives, and sealants |
VOC emissions (EN 16516, EN 16402, or equivalent) | ≤ 0.001 mg/m3 to carcinogenic VOCs, ≤ 0.06 mg/m3 for total VOCs | Indoor adhesives, sealants, fillers, impregnating agents, plasters, and mortars |
Additional quality tests are described under requirements O18 (adhesives), O22 (sealants), O26 (fillers), and O30 (impregnating agents).
Other construction products
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel can be granted to several additional categories of construction products and building materials, including wood for outdoor use, exterior panels and cladding, floor coverings, interior panels, windows, and doors.7 Some of the key testing requirements that apply to these products include the following:
Halogenated (incl. brominated and chlorinated) flame retardants in recycled composites, mineral wool, and recycled fibers for floor coverings
Phthalates and PAH compounds in recycled plastic, rubber, mineral wool, composites, and fibers
1,3-butadiene and nitrosamines in rubber and latex
Asbestos in recycled mineral wool
Furfuryl alcohol and acetic acid anhydride content in durable wood products
Chlorophenols, selected PFAS compounds, and organic fluorine in recycled fibers
Heavy metals (cadmium, lead, mercury, chromium IV, arsenic) in multiple product types, with testing most often required for recycled materials
Formaldehyde emissions from wood-based panels (EN 717-1) and VOC emissions from several types of construction materials (EN 16516)
Products must also comply with the EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and thus meet performance requirements specified in the applicable harmonized standard or European Assessment Document. Additionally, dust (inhalable and respirable fractions) and chemical emissions to indoor air may need to be monitored to ensure safe limits for workplace exposure are not exceeded during production.
Your partner for product testing related to the Nordic Swan Ecolabel
Measurlabs offers a wide range of testing services to show that products comply with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel’s performance and chemical composition criteria. Tests are performed at our ISO 17025-certified and GLP-approved partner laboratories to ensure that result quality meets the labeling organization’s expectations. Tell us about your testing needs using the form below, and one of our experts will get back to you in one business day.
References:
1 Directive (EU) 2024/825 as regards empowering consumers for the green transition states that products compliant with national or regional ISO 14024 type I ecolabeling schemes have “recognised excellent environmental performance”.
2 United States Environmental Protection Agency: EPA Releases Final Updates to Recommendations to Help Buyers Find Sustainable Products
3 See basic and chemical modules, and modules for grease-proof paper, copy and printing paper, and tissue paper.
4 See criteria for sanitary products. Basic and chemical modules for paper also apply.
5 See criteria for paints and varnishes and Directive 2004/42/EC, Annex II.
6 See criteria for chemical building products.
7 Criteria for durable wood, exterior panels and cladding, floor coverings, interior panels and mouldings, and windows and external doors.