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Cleaning products 026

Nordic Swan Ecolabelled cleaning products are among the best cleaning products in terms of environmental profile. The whole life cycle of the products is taken into account and strict requirements are set concerning the environmental and health effects of the constituent substances and with regard to packaging. The use phase and raw material extraction are also taken into account in the requirements.

Nordic Swan Ecolabelled cleaning products: 

  • Meet strict requirements concerning environmentally hazardous chemicals, including requirements on ecotoxicity and biodegradability 
  • Meet strict requirements concerning chemicals that are harmful to health, including a ban on the sensitising preservative MI
  • Offer effective cleaning performance with a small amount, so the product lasts longer and conserves the planet’s resources.
  • Packaging requirements contribute to a circular economy, for example by addressing packaging design and material choices.

Below you will find all the necessary documents and background information to apply for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.

    1. Start your application process by reading the criteria document and find out if your product can obtain the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. 
    2. Read your Application Guide.
    3. Request login credentials.
    4. Now you are ready to enter the Nordic Ecolabelling Portal.

     

    Portal sign in                               Get login credentials

     

    Should you wish to transfer your licence, please use this form. 

  • The criteria document for cleaning products is an overall document for the commodity groups:

    • Floor- and All-purpose cleaners
    • Kitchen, glass, mirrors and blank surfaces
    • Outdoor and special cleaning products
    • Sanitary cleaners

    If you have several products within the same commodity group that are manufactured in the same production site, they are considered as one single licence. Application fees are paid per licence while the annual fee is paid across all licences in the product group.

     

    Fees valid from 1 January 2025

    Type of fee Amount
    Application fee including one on-site inspection within the Nordic region *) 3 348 EUR + VAT, however not less than 836 EUR + VAT per formulation/recipe 
    Renewal fee* 1 673 EUR + VAT, however not less than 418 EUR + VAT per formulation/recipe
    More than one inspection visit within the Nordic region** 557 EUR + VAT per visit
    Inspection visits in Europe** 1 673 EUR + VAT per visit
    Inspection visits outside Europe** 2 790 EUR + VAT per visit
    Extension of existing licence*** Extension of existing or changes in licence

    < 4 hours: 418  EUR + VAT
    < 8 hours: 836 EUR + VAT
    ≥ 8 hours: 1 673 EUR + VAT
     

    If the extension includes new formulations/recipes, prices are the same as those applicable to amendments to an existing licence, however not less than 836 EUR + VAT per formulations/recipe.

    Annual licence fee: The annual licence fee for the Nordic Swan Ecolabelled products is based on their turnover in the Nordic countries.

    		 0.3% of turnover + VAT from 0 - 51,5 million EUR.

    0.05% of turnover + VAT from > 51,5 million EUR.
    Minimum fee for Nordic region 2 232 EUR + VAT per year
    Maximum fee for Nordic region No maximum fee

    Fees for sale outside the Nordic region          
    (Only if revenue > 300 000 EUR per year)

    		 2 232 EUR + VAT per year

    * 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 1 115 EUR per extra day. Other extraordinary costs induced by the audit can also be invoiced the applicant.

    *** As for an extension of or amendments to a licence, time consumed in connection with the review process will be invoiced according to the extent of the required task. We make a distinction between entirely administrative tasks that last less than 1 hour, and all other tasks that last between 1 and 4 hours, between 4 and 8 hours and more than 8 hours.

    The recipient is liable for the VAT according to article 56 of the Council Directive 2006/112/EC.
    All information given on this site is subject to a disclaimer for errors and omissions.

     

    The criteria document for cleaning products is an overall document for the commodity groups:

    • Floor- and All-purpose cleaners
    • Kitchen, glass, mirrors and blank surfaces
    • Outdoor and special cleaning products
    • Sanitary cleaners

    If you have several products within the same commodity group that are manufactured in the same production site, they are considered as one single licence. Application fees are paid per licence while the annual fee is paid across all licences in the product group.

    Fees valid from 1 January 2024

    Type of fee Amount
    Application fee including one on-site inspection within the Nordic region *) 3 251 EUR + VAT, however not less than 812 EUR + VAT per formulation/recipe 
    Renewal fee* 1 625 EUR + VAT, however not less than 406 EUR + VAT per formulation/recipe
    More than one inspection visit within the Nordic region** 541 EUR + VAT per visit
    Inspection visits in Europe** 1 625 EUR + VAT per visit
    Inspection visits outside Europe** 2 709 EUR + VAT per visit
    Extension of existing licence*** Extension of existing or changes in licence

    < 4 hours: 406  EUR + VAT
    < 8 hours: 812 EUR + VAT
    ≥ 8 hours: 1 625 EUR + VAT
     

    If the extension includes new formulations/recipes, prices are the same as those applicable to amendments to an existing licence, however not less than 812 EUR + VAT per formulations/recipe.

    Annual licence fee: The annual licence fee for the Nordic Swan Ecolabelled products is based on their turnover in the Nordic countries.

    		 0.3% of turnover + VAT from 0 - 50 million EUR.

    0.05% of turnover + VAT from > 50 million EUR.
    Minimum fee for Nordic region 2 167 EUR + VAT per year
    Maximum fee for Nordic region No maximum fee

    Fees for sale outside the Nordic region          
    (Only if revenue > 300 000 EUR per year)

    		 2 167 EUR + VAT per year

    * 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 1 083 EUR per extra day. Other extraordinary costs induced by the audit can also be invoiced the applicant.

    *** As for an extension of or amendments to a licence, time consumed in connection with the review process will be invoiced according to the extent of the required task. We make a distinction between entirely administrative tasks that last less than 1 hour, and all other tasks that last between 1 and 4 hours, between 4 and 8 hours and more than 8 hours.

    The recipient is liable for the VAT according to article 56 of the Council Directive 2006/112/EC.
    All information given on this site is subject to a disclaimer for errors and omissions.

     

    The criteria document for cleaning products is an overall document for the commodity groups:

    • Floor- and All-purpose cleaners
    • Kitchen, glass, mirrors and blank surfaces
    • Outdoor and special cleaning products
    • Sanitary cleaners

    If you have several products within the same commodity group that are manufactured in the same production site, they are considered as one single licence. Application fees are paid per licence while the annual fee is paid across all licences in the product group.

  • In the criteria document, you can read about how to document and verify compliance for each requirement. You can also find other application documents here.

  • Information on the latest version of the criteria for cleaning products

    6.14 ⇛ 6.15: Adjustment and prolongation of requirements

    On 15 October 2024 Nordic Ecolabelling decided to adjust requirement O7 by exempting acetic acid from exclusion of VOC. On 10 December 2024 it was decided to prolong the validity of the criteria until 31 August 2027. The new version is called 6.15.

    6.13 ⇛ 6.14: Adjustment of requirements

    On 13 August 2024 Nordic Ecolabelling decided to allow IFS standard for Household and Personal care as an alternative to ISO9001 (Appendix 1). The new version is called 6.14.

    6.12 ⇛ 6.13: Adjustment of requirements

    On 24 October 2024 Nordic Ecolabelling decided to change the transition period of the requirement O26B Labels for rigid plastic packaging until 2024-12-31.

    6.11 ⇛ 6.12: Adjustment of requirements

    An adjustment in the requirement for micro-organisms (O10) where it is no longer mandatory to state on the label/product information sheet that "the products should not be used in places where immunocompromised people stay". Furthermore, a requirement is introduced that it must be checked that the product is not contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms.

    The new version is called 6.12 and is valid to 31 December 2025.

    6.10 ⇛ 6.11: Prolongation of the validity of the criteria

    The validity of the criteria has been prolonged with 12 months . The new version is called 6.11 and is valid until December 31, 2025.

    6.9 ⇛ 6.10: Adjustment of requirements

    On October 18, 2022, Nordic Ecolabelling decided to adjust requirement O27 and change the permitted amount of EVOH in flexible plastic bags from 2% to 5%.

    The new version is called 6.10 and is valid to 31 December 2024.

    6.8 ⇛ 6.9: Adjustment of requirements

    • Time-limited exemption from the monomaterial requirement (O27) for pouches in closed-system dosing until 31 December 2023;
    • Exemption is made for TPE-PE in fittings for pouches in closed-system automatic dosing;
    • Clarification that products containing microorganisms are only for the professional market and only for indoor use.

    The new version is called 6.9 and is valid to 31 December 2024.

    6.7 ⇛ 6.8: Adjustment of requirements

    Nordic Ecolabelling decided on 29 March 2022 to adjust requirements O11 and O21 by also exempting H411 classified suffactants from the requirement. The new version is called 6.8 and is valid until 31 December 2024.

    6.6 ⇛ 6.7: Prolongation and adjustment of requirements

    The validity of the criteria document has been prolonged with 14 months and requirement O26 has been adjusted. The new version is called 6.7 and is valid until 31 December 2024.

    6.5 ⇛ 6.6: Adjustment of requirements

    • Clarification of packaging requirements for concentrated products for refilling RTU bottles that are always diluted at least 10 times by the user of the finished product.
    • Plastic packaging larger than 200 liters is exempt from the requirement for recycling design (O26).

    The new version is called 6.6.

    6.4 ⇛ 6.5: Prolongation and adjustment of requirements

    The validity of the criteria document has been prolonged and requirement O26 has been adjusted. The new version is called 6.5 and is valid until 31 October 2023.

    6.3 ⇛ 6.4: Adjustment of requirements

    Requirement O7 has been clarified with regard to denaturants in ethanol in the VOC exemption. Furthermore, metal parts are allowed in pumps since requirement O27 har been adjusted. The new version is called 6.4.

    6.2 ⇛ 6.3: Adjustment of requirements

    For requirement O27, it has been decided on a transition period for monomaterial in pouches. The new version is called 6.3.

    6.1 ⇛ 6.2: Adjustment of requirements

    The packaging requirements O26, O27 and O28 have been harmonized with the corresponding requirements in 006 Textile detergent. Adjustment of requirements regarding super concentrates and updating of product group demarcation and overall text on ecotoxicity and biodegradability. The efficiency test has also been adjusted. The new version is called 6.2.

    6.0 ⇛ 6.1: Adjustment of requirements

    In requirement O7, an exception for perfumes in the subgroup VOC has been added. The new version is called 6.1.

    6.0: New generation of criteria

    A new generation of criteria for Celaning Products has been adopted. The new version 6.0 is valid until 31 October 2022.

    5.6 ⇛ 5.7: Prolongation of criteria's validity

    The criteria's validity has been prolonged with 3 months but only for film forming floor vare products. The new version 5.7 is valid until February 28th 2021.

    5.5 ⇛ 5.6: Prolongation of criteria's validity

    The criteria's validity has been prolonged with 6 months. The new version 5.6 is valid until November 30th 2020.

    5.4 ⇛ 5.5: Prolongation of criteria's validity

    The criteria's validity has been prolonged with 7 months. Also, requirement R20 Take-back system was removed. The new version 5.5 is valid until May 31st 2020.

    5.3 ⇛ 5.4: Alteration and prolongation of criteria's validity

    At the Nordic Ecolabelling board meeting on 8 November 2016 it was according to evaluation decided to add outdoor window cleaners, oven cleaners and wash polish/wash-and-wax care products to the product group definition. References to the outdated legislation were also removed. Nordic Swan Ecolabelling's Criteria Group decided per capsulam on 21 December 2016 to extend the criteria by 9
    months. The new version is called 5.4 and is valid until 31 October 2019.

    5.2 ⇛ 5.3: Prolongation of criteria's validity

    The criteria's validity has been prolonged with 9 months. Also, requirement R27 Marketing was removed. The new version 5.3 is valid until December 31st 2017.

    5.1 ⇛ 5.2: New definition of the product group

    The definition of the product group "Cleaning products" has been changed since it is now possible to ecolabel also cleaning products for the professional market containing microorganisms. Therefor, changes has been made to requirements R5 and appendix 3, 4 and 5 and inclusion of a new requirement, R14: About microorganisms. Editiorial adjustments of requirements R12 and R19 has been done at the same time. The new version is valid until March 31st 2017.

    5.0 ⇛ 5.1: Clarification of the definition of foam products

    • R5: Foam products are considered Ready-to-use products, but are not considered spray products and must therefore fulfil criteria as RTUs.

  • In the background document below you will find reasoning and facts behind the specific requirements in the criteria document.

    Here you can also read the comments, requirement for requirement, from the public hearing.

    If the documents are in a Nordic language, you can get help in understanding the sections you need by contacting the product specialist in your chosen country below.