Ecolabels: Which EU Nations Lead in Sustainable Products?

Italy Leads in Sustainable Goods within the EU

Italy has emerged as a leader in the European Union when it comes to sustainable goods, according to recent data from the European Commission. The country markets nearly 19,000 products that carry the EU Ecolabel, a certification designed to identify products with a lower environmental impact throughout their entire lifecycle.

The Ecolabel was introduced in 1992 to encourage greener industrial practices and help both consumers and businesses make more sustainable choices. Today, over 100,000 goods and services across Europe have this label. Spain follows Italy as the second most prolific country, with around 16,000 Ecolabel-certified products, followed by France (13,000), Germany (10,000), and Portugal (7,000). The reach of the Ecolabel continues to grow, with a 15% increase in licenses since 2024.

Sectors Driving Green Certification

The largest certified sector is paints and varnishes, with approximately 38,000 licenses, which account for more than one-third of all Ecolabels. However, it’s important to note that this does not mean that paints have suddenly become non-polluting. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in traditional paint products can be as harmful to human health as car emissions.

According to Paints for Life, an online platform promoting sustainable paints and coatings, VOCs are present in nearly all traditional and commercially available paints. These compounds can emit toxins into indoor air, which are then inhaled by people in the room. “VOCs are a wide array of gases or fumes that come off of paints and are potentially hazardous from the first moments of exposure till, in some cases, years after, while doing repair works,” the platform explains.

In recent years, developers have started working on less harmful alternatives. One notable example is Airlite, an EU-funded project that developed a paint using nanoparticles instead of toxic chemicals. This innovative paint breaks down VOCs and airborne pollutants while also repelling bacteria, viruses, and mold spores.

Emerging Sectors and New Certifications

The sector with the second-largest number of awarded products is papers, with 28,697 certifications, followed by cleaning items, which have 14,912. Tourism is also seeing growth, with around 900 establishments now meeting Ecolabel standards. More than 60 new licenses were granted in the first part of the year alone.

The list of eligible sectors has expanded further, including pet care products. This came about after a dog shampoo produced in Catalonia became the first in its category to receive the Ecolabel certification.

Costs and Benefits of Ecolabel Certification

Ecolabels fall under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) family, specifically Type I ISO 14024. The certification can be awarded by a public body or a private party, such as NGOs, industry groups, or a combination of stakeholders. Applicants must follow predetermined steps indicated by EU authorities. There is no single EU body awarding the certification; each relevant national body makes the decision.

Getting an Ecolabel is not free of charge. Applications range from €200 to €350 for micro-enterprises, while fees for SMEs go from €200 to €600. For other companies, applications are charged between €200 and €2,000. Some discounts are available, such as a 30% reduction for companies registered under the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and a 15% discount for those certified under ISO 14001. These discounts are not cumulative.

In addition to the application fee, there might also be an annual fee to pay, which can be flat or based on the product’s annual sales within the EU. While the Ecolabel certification itself does not grant tax cuts, being eligible might increase the chances of falling under taxation schemes that reward green practices.