Nordic Swan Ecolabelled clothes and textiles has documented good quality and must have a reduced environmental impact throughout the life cycle of the textile. UN’s International Labour Conventions (ILO) on workers’ rights must be complied with in the production.
The requirements include products of textile fibers, hides and leather. Clothing, accessories, home textiles and textile fibers, yarn and fabrics for clothing or furnishings textiles can be certified with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.
Examples
- Clothing: Sweater, dress, trousers, skirt, jeans, shirt, top, jacket, workwear, uniforms, socks, and underwear.
- Accessories: Hat, cap, scarf, belt, bag, handbag, and backpack.
- Home textiles: Duvet, pillow, towels, bed linen, curtains, tablecloths and upholstery fabrics.
Baby products made of textiles that also contain other materials such as strollers and car seats are covered by the requirements for baby products with textiles.
The requirements include:
- Use of fibers that are either organic, recycled or based on renewable resources and meet specific environmental requirements.
- Environmental and health properties of all chemicals used in the textile production. Among other things, the Nordic Swan Ecolabel forbids the use of substances that are carcinogenic, toxic to reproduction or can damage genetic material. Halogenated flame retardants fluorinated, and antibacterial additives incl. nanoparticles are also forbidden.
- Implementation of a minimum of BAT (best available technology) water and energy efficiency techniques or local production of solar energy in textile production.
- Test of the quality of the textile, e.g., dimensional change, color fastness and abrasion resistance.
- Compliance with UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions on workers’ rights.
Information about the application process
Downloads
Other documents
Two types of licence: Manufacturing and product
As of version 5.0 of the requirements (valid as of March 1, 2022), there are two licence types:
- Product licence
- Manufacturing licence
Each licencetype requires a separate application. Fees are calculated per licence type. To get a Nordic Swan Ecolabelled product, you must have a product licence.
Product licence for product/brand owners
If you want to ecolabel a garment or another textile product with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, you must apply for a product licence. In the application process, you must answer all product licence requirements for the products you want to ecolabel in the Nordic Ecolabelling Portal. You must also state which production licence(s) the product licence is to build on.
Manufacturing licence for manufacturers
Generally it will be the factory where the textiles are manufactured that applies for a manufacturing licence. A manufacturing licence gives the right to produce for product licences within the product area specified in the manufacturing licence. A manufacturing licence does not give the right to communicate that any product is Nordic Swan Ecolabelled or meets the requirements of the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.
How to apply
4 steps on how to get a Nordic Swan Ecolabel certification.
The application is to be submitted in the Nordic Ecolabelling Portal.
For sub suppliers
The Supply Chain Declaration Portal is where suppliers can help their customers to obtain the Nordic Swan Ecolabel by declaring the properties of their items, for example chemicals, raw materials, and other products.
Want to know more about certification with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel?
Contact us and we will help you: kon@svanemerket.no
Please state which product you are considering eco-labeling with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.
What does it cost?
When you apply for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, you must pay a fee. Additionally, when you have a certification, you must pay an annual licence fee. Both application fees and annual license fees are calculated per license type:
- Product license (for brand owners)
- Manufacturing licenses (for manufacturers)
Application fees
| Application fees product licences (brand owners) | Fee ex VAT |
|---|---|
| New application received in 2023 | 3 114 EUR |
| Control visits | Control visits are not carried out as standard. If deemed necessary, it is billed at the same rates as for production licenses (see table below). |
| Extension or changes in licence, depends on our time used in the review process: < 4 hours: < 8 hours: ≥ 8 hours: | 389 EUR 778 EUR 1 557 EUR |
| Application fees manufacturing licences | Fee ex VAT |
|---|---|
| New application* | 3 114 EUR (Includes production plant with up to 1 dyeing unit and 1 printing unit). 778 EUR for each additional dyeing or printing unit linked to the application |
| Extension or changes in licence, depends on our time used in the review process: < 4 hours: < 8 hours: ≥ 8 hours: | 389 EUR 778 EUR 1 557 EUR |
| Inspection visit within the Nordic region | Included in the application fee Additional inspection visit 519 EUR |
| Inspection visits in Europe** | 1 557 EUR 1 038 EUR per extra day |
| Inspection visits outside Europe** | 2 595 EUR 1 038 EUR per extra day |
| Renewal fee Application for renewal before the license has expired | 1 557 EUR (Includes production plant with up to 1 dyeing unit and 1 printing unit). 778 EUR for each additional dyeing or printing unit linked to the application |
| Renewal fee Application for renewal after the license has expired | 3 114 EUR (Includes production plant with up to 1 dyeing unit and 1 printing unit). 778 EUR for each additional dyeing or printing unit linked to the application |
Licence fees until December 31st 2023
| Annual licence fees product licences (brand owners) | Fee ex VAT |
|---|---|
| For sales in the Nordic countries | No fee in 2023 |
| For sales outside the Nordics | No fee in 2023 |
| Annual licence fees manufacturing licences | Fee ex VAT |
|---|---|
| For sales in the Nordic countries | 0,3% of the Nordic Swan Ecolabelled products’ turnover in the Nordic countries |
| Minimum fee the Nordics | 2 076 EUR |
| Maximum fee the Nordics | 100 000 EUR |
| For sales outside the Nordics (if the Nordic Swan Ecolabelled products have a turnover of more than 300 000 EUR outside the Nordic region) | 2 076 EUR |
Licence fees until from and including January 01st 2024
* When both the applicant and the manufacturer are micro-enterprises, the fee is reduced by 50%. A micro-enterprise is in this context defined as an enterprise with less than 10 employees and an annual turnover (of both ecolabelled and not ecolabelled products) below 2 million EUR.
** Where audits requires more than one day away from the office including travelling, Nordic Ecolabelling can invoice an additional fee of 1 000 EUR per extra day. Other extraordinary costs induced by the audit can also be invoiced the applicant.
| Annual licence fees product licences (brand owners) from January 1st 2024 | Fee ex VAT |
|---|---|
| For sales in the Nordic countries | 0,15% of the Nordic Swan Ecolabelled products’ turnover in the Nordic countries up to 30 million EUR. 0,05% of the turnover that exceeds 30 million EUR. |
| Minimum fee the Nordics | 2 076 EUR |
| For sales outside the Nordics (if the Nordic Swan Ecolabelled products have a turnover of more than 300 000 EUR outside the Nordic region) | 2 076 EUR |
| Annual licence fees manufacturing licences from January 1st 2024 | Fee ex VAT |
|---|---|
| Global fee | 2076 EUR |
* When both the applicant and the manufacturer are micro-enterprises, the fee is reduced by 50%. A micro-enterprise is in this context defined as an enterprise with less than 10 employees and an annual turnover (of both ecolabelled and not ecolabelled products) below 2 million EUR.
** Where audits require more than one day away from the office including travelling, Nordic Ecolabelling can invoice an additional fee of 1 038 EUR per extra day. Other extraordinary costs induced by the audit can also be invoiced the applicant.