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  3. Hotels and other accommodation 055

Hotels and other accommodation 055

To meet our customers' needs in a better way, Nordic Ecolabelling has divided the old criteria document for hotels, restaurants and conferences into two documents:

The product group includes all types of hotels and other accommodation – with or without restaurants and / or conference facilities. 

A company certified by the Nordic Swan Ecolabel meets ambitious environmental requirements and has taken a holistic approach to its environmental work connected to energy, water, food, waste, biological diversity, chemicals and procurement. The hotel has an active and structured approach to reduce its consumption and optimize operations. 

The criteria for a Nordic Swan Ecolabelled hotel and other accomodation include:

  • Limit value for energy use
  • Prohibition of fossil oil or gas for heating. 
  • Energy and CO2-reducing measures to limit the environmental footprint.
  • Limit value for water use 
  • Efficient use of water
  • Limit value for residual waste
  • Effective sorting of waste to ensure recycling of materials and more circular use of resources
  • Implementing routines to prevent food waste.
  • No use of disposable items in daily serving.
  • Strict environmental demands for single use items for catering, take-away and fast food 
  • Reduction of environmental footprint by serving more sustainable food. 
  • Measures to ensure biological diversity on the hotel grounds
  • Use of ecolabelled products for general cleaning, dishwashing and laundry to limit undesirable chemicals.
  • Use of several ecolabelled products and services.
  • Training of employees to include everyone in the environmental work.
    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. 

  • Valid from 1 January 2025 Amount excluding VAT

    Application fee

    Application for a new licence 2 455 EUR
    Application for a renewed licence when the requirements have been tightened 1 227 EUR

    Annual licence fee

    The licence fee for the Nordic Swan Ecolabelled business is based on its turnover The fee is 0.1 % of the business's turnover up to 1,854 million EUR 
    The fee is 0.03 % of the business's turnover for the amount exceeding 1,854 million EUR
    Minimum fee 1 115 EUR per year
    Maximum fee 4 464 EUR per year

    Fee for extension / change of licence

    Fixed fee that is charged depending on how long the work takes.

    Up to 4 hours 418 EUR
    4–8 hours 836 EUR
    8 or more hours 1 673 EUR

    Fee for on-site inspections

    One on-site inspection in the Nordic countries is included when applying for a new or renewed licence.

    Additional on-site inspection within the Nordic countries 557 EUR per visit.
    On-site inspection outside the Nordic region, but within Europe 1 673 EUR per visit.
    Additional fee for on-site inspections lasting longer than one day 1 115 EUR per day.

    Fees for chains

    The fees below apply to chains wherein five or more businesses, all sharing identical brand and similar concepts, are licenced with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel on a national level. This requires that the businesses apply for the licences together in a coordinated way, and they must also keep the coordination during the validity period of the licences.
     

    Valid from 1 January 2025 Amount excluding VAT

    Application fee

    The fees below are invoiced when applying for a new licence.

    Fee for the first business in a chain 2 455 EUR
    Fee for each additional business part of the chain  1 673 EUR


    The fees below are invoiced when applying for a renewed licence when the requirements have been tightened.

    Fee for the first business in a chain 1 227 EUR
    Fee for each additional business part of the chain  836 EUR

    Annual licence fee

    For chains, the annual fee is calculated as a fixed rate of 1 782 EUR per business.

    Fee for extension / change of licence

    Fixed fee that is charged depending on how long the work takes.

    Up to 4 hours 418 EUR
    4–8 hours 836 EUR
    8 or more hours 1 673 EUR

    Fee for on-site inspections

    One on-site inspection in the Nordic countries is included when applying for a new or renewed licence.

    Additional on-site inspection within the Nordic countries 557 EUR per visit.
    On-site inspection outside the Nordic region, but within Europe 1 673 EUR per visit.
    Additional fee for on-site inspections lasting longer than one day 1 115 EUR per day.

    Ecolabelling Sweden AB has no financial profit purpose and is financed through the fees above along with an annual government grant. The company is however liable for VAT according to article 56 of the European Council Directive 2006/112/EC.

    Invoicing is made in SEK with the exchange rate from the first banking day of the year.

    When a business applies for a new licence for the first time, no annual licence fee is invoiced the year of approval. When applying for a renewed licence, both the renewal fee and the annual licence fee will be invoiced.

    Valid from 1 January 2024 Amount excluding VAT

    Application fee

    Application for a new licence 2 384 EUR
    Application for a renewed licence when the requirements have been tightened 1 192 EUR

    Annual licence fee

    The licence fee for the Nordic Swan Ecolabelled business is based on its turnover The fee is 0,1 % of the business's turnover up to 1,8 million EUR 
    The fee is 0,03 % of the business's turnover for the amount exceeding 1,8 million EUR
    Minimum fee 1 083 EUR per year
    Maximum fee 4 334 EUR per year

    Fee for extension / change of licence

    Fixed fee that is charged depending on how long the work takes.

    Up to 4 hours 406 EUR
    4–8 hours 812 EUR
    8 or more hours 1 625 EUR

    Fee for on-site inspections

    One on-site inspection in the Nordic countries is included when applying for a new or renewed licence.

    Additional on-site inspection within the Nordic countries 541 EUR per visit.
    On-site inspection outside the Nordic region, but within Europe 1 625 EUR per visit.
    Additional fee for on-site inspections lasting longer than one day 1 083 EUR per day.

    Fees for chains

    The fees below apply to chains wherein five or more businesses, all sharing identical brand and similar concepts, are licenced with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel on a national level. This requires that the businesses apply for the licences together in a coordinated way, and they must also keep the coordination during the validity period of the licences.
     

    Valid from 1 January 2024 Amount excluding VAT

    Application fee

    The fees below are invoiced when applying for a new licence.

    Fee for the first business in a chain 2 384 EUR
    Fee for each additional business part of the chain  1 625 EUR


    The fees below are invoiced when applying for a renewed licence when the requirements have been tightened.

    Fee for the first business in a chain 1 192 EUR
    Fee for each additional business part of the chain  812 EUR

    Annual licence fee

    For chains, the annual fee is calculated as a fixed rate of 1 731 EUR per business.

    Fee for extension / change of licence

    Fixed fee that is charged depending on how long the work takes.

    Up to 4 hours 406 EUR
    4–8 hours 812 EUR
    8 or more hours 1 625 EUR

    Fee for on-site inspections

    One on-site inspection in the Nordic countries is included when applying for a new or renewed licence.

    Additional on-site inspection within the Nordic countries 541 EUR per visit.
    On-site inspection outside the Nordic region, but within Europe 1 625 EUR per visit.
    Additional fee for on-site inspections lasting longer than one day 1 083 EUR per day.

    Ecolabelling Sweden AB has no financial profit purpose and is financed through the fees above along with an annual government grant. The company is however liable for VAT according to article 56 of the European Council Directive 2006/112/EC.

    Invoicing is made in SEK with the exchange rate from the first banking day of the year.

    When a business applies for a new licence for the first time, no annual licence fee is invoiced the year of approval. When applying for a renewed licence, both the renewal fee and the annual licence fee will be invoiced.

  • In the criteria document, you can read about how to document and verify compliance for each requirement.

  • 5.5 ⇛ 5.6: Adjustment of criteria

    On 5 March 2024 Nordic Ecolabelling decided to adjust the requirement for annual follow up, to make it clearer and more flexible. On 28 May 2024 Nordic Ecolabelling decided to adjust the Swedish and the Norwegian limit value for organic food and drink. The limit value for the year 2024 was lowered, and the level for 2023 is maintained. The new version is called 5.6.

    5.4 ⇛ 5.5: Adjustment of criteria

    On 14 November 2023, Nordic Ecolabelling decided to adjust two requirements. The requirement "Prohibition of PVC/PVDC in plastic film" has been adjusted and the ban applies from 1 January 2025. In addition, the requirement for "Granules for washing up" has been adjusted and the ban applies from 1 April 2024. Granules used after this date must be documented degradable in soil according to the ISO standard 17556:2019. 

    The new version is called 5.5 and is valid until December 31, 2026.

    5.3 ⇛ 5.4: Adjustment of criteria

    Adjustments are made in requirement O24 (regarding slippers) and in O37 and O40 (both regarding ozone water).

    The new version is called 5.4 and is valid until December 31, 2026.

    5.2 ⇛ 5.3: Adjustment of criteria

    Adjustments has been made in several requirements in order to adapt the criteria to German and Polish businesses. In addition, the requirement O40 (Prohibited substances) is adjusted with clarifications regarding how the requirement can be documented.

    The new version is called 5.3 and is valid until December 31, 2026.

    5.1 ⇛ 5.2: Adjustment of criteria

    Adjustment has been made in requirement O24 where it is now permitted to use capsules that consist of 100% renewable material, provided that material recycling of the capsules is ensured. A clarification that portion packs are permitted for room service has also been added.

    The new version is called 5.2 and is valid until December 31, 2026.

    5.0 ⇛ 5.1: Adjustment of criteria

    Adjustments have been made in the following requirements:

    • O22 Prevention of food waste
    • O40 Prohibited substances

    The new version is called 5.1 and is valid until December 31, 2026.

    5.0: New criteria version

    A new version of Nordic Ecolabel's criteria for hotels and other accomodation have been published. (Criteria for Food services and Conference facilities is from now on a new product group.) The most important changes in this version are:

    • Limit value for energy use
    • Prohibition of fossil oil or gas for heating.
    • Energy and CO2-reducing measures to limit the environmental footprint.
    • Limit value for water use
    • Efficient use of water
    • Limit value for residual waste
    • Effective sorting of waste to ensure recycling of materials and more circular use of resources
    • Implementing routines to prevent food waste.
    • No use of disposable items in daily serving.
    • Strict environmental demands for single use items for catering, take-away and fast food
    • Reduction of environmental footprint by serving more sustainable food.
    • Measures to ensure biological diversity on the hotel grounds
    • Use of ecolabelled products for general cleaning, dishwashing and laundry to limit undesirable chemicals.
    • Use of several ecolabelled products and services.
    • Training of employees to include everyone in the environmental work.

    The new version, 5.0, is valid until 31 December 2026.

    4.7 ⇛ 4.8: Prolongation of the validity of the criteria

    The criteria have been prolonged with 5 months and are valid until 31 May 2022. The new version is 4.8.

    4.6 ⇛ 4.7: Prolongation of the validity of the criteria

    The criteria have been prolonged with 12 months and are valid until 31 December 2022. The new version is 4.7.

    4.5 ⇛ 4.6: Prolongation of the validity of the criteria

    The criteria have been prolonged with 12 months and are valid until 31 December 2021. The new version is 4.6.

    4.4 ⇛ 4.5: New alternative requirements for restaurants and Prolongation of the validity of the criteria

    A new chapter (Ch. 5 Alternative requirements for restaurants) with requirements for restaurants that do not operate with a hotel business or conference centre has been added to the criteria.

    The most important differences in relation to the requirements for restaurants that operate with a hotel business or conference centre are:

    • No obligatory limit values on energy and water.
    • The requirements for organic food and beverages have become stricter.
    • New requirements on food waste.

    The new version, 4.5, is valid until December 31, 2020.

    4.3 ⇛ 4.4: Alteration of criteria

    Changes have been made in requirements O38 Minimum proportion of organic foodstuffs and beverages and P28 Organic food and beverages.

    The new version, 4.4, is valid until December 31st 2018.

    4.2 ⇛ 4.3: Clarification of criteria

    • O17: A clarification of the documentation requirement has been introduced.

    The new version, 4.3, is valid until December 31st 2018.

    4.1 ⇛ 4.2: Adjustment of criteria

    Adjustments have been made in the following requirements:

    • O5: Limit values for water consumption
    • O6: Limit values for waste
    • O11: Ecolabelled cleaning products
    • P23: Ecolabel durable goods
    • P24: Ecolabelled services
    • O25/O38: Minimum proportion of organic foodstuffs and beverages
    • P28: Organic foods and beverages

    Furthermore, requirement O34, marketing, has been removed from all criteria documents.

    The new version, 4.2, is valid until December 31st 2018.

    4.0 ⇛ 4.1: Adjustment of criteria

    Adjustments have been made in the following requirements:

    • O4 Limit values for energy
    • O38 Minimum proportion of organic foodstuffs and beverages
    • O39 Vegetarian dishes
    • P30 Vegetarian restaurant
    • O34 Marketing: A new requirement has been introduced.
    • O2 Conference facilities: External suppliers of restaurant services
    • O15 Purchasing procedures – chemical products
    • P14 Dosage of dishwasher drying agents
    • O19 When purchasing Newly purchased low energy lamps, fluorescent tubes and LEDs
    • O25/O38 Minimum proportion of organic foodstuffs and beverages
    • P28 Organic food and beverages
    • P29 Proportion of fish and shellfish labelled as sustainable

    The new version, containing all changes above is 4.1. It is valid until December 31st 2018.

    4.0: New criteria version

    A new version of Nordic Ecolabel's criteria for hotels, restaurants and conference facilities have been published. The most important changes in this version are:

    • The criteria for hotels and restaurants have been merged into one document.
    • The criteria now also include conferences (without accomodation)
    • It is now possible to apply for a licence in the Baltic States.
    • An energy tool has been developed to calculate business-specific limit values relating to the type of business, plus its heating method, area, number of guests, climate zone, etc.
    • There is a new electronic application guide, My Swan Account that also are further developed with a product data base for chemicals.
    • New in this version is point requirement on CO2-emissions.
    • New obligatory requirement on the use of fossil oil in oil boilers at the premise.
    • The limit values for water and waste have been retained, but are calculated in a different way compared with previous criteria for hotels. For restaurants limit values on these parameters are new in this version and therefore a tightening.
    • The requirements on fish that may not be served have been tightened up.
    • The requirement on serving vegetarian dishes is now obligatory.

  • 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.