Skip to main content
  3. Outdoor furniture, playground and park equipment 073

Outdoor furniture, playground and park equipment 073

The product group includes outdoor furniture, equipment for play and sports as well as park equipment. Among other things tables, chairs, benches, climbing frames, swings, playhouses, sandboxes, and slides for playgrounds, permanently installed fitness and parkour equipment - and fences, trellis, waste containers, flagpoles, bicycle racks and sheds.

It is also possible to certify specific construction products, toys, and indoor furniture with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel - however, this is done according to other criteria. It is not possible to certify outdoor furniture with textile or padding, fall surfaces, artificial lawns, bathing jetties and terraces.

Extensive requirements are set for constituent materials and chemicals – and the circular economy is promoted through demanding warranty and the possibility for recycling of materials.

The requirements include:

  • Use of wood from sustainably managed forests, i.e., requirements for traceability and a minimum of 70% certified wood raw materials.
  • Use of a high proportion of recycled plastic or plastic from renewable raw materials as well as a high proportion of recycled metal or metal made with lower climate footprints.
  • Environmental and health properties of chemicals used in various stages of production. Among other things, strict requirements for the use of substances that are carcinogenic, toxic to reproduction and can damage genetic material, as well as bans on halogenated flame retardants, fluorides, and nanoparticles.
  • Limits for content and emissions of formaldehyde in relevant chemicals and materials such as adhesives, and wood-based panels.
  • Limits for VOC in surface treatments.
  • Requirements for durability of wood.
  • Warranty, availability of spare parts, and circular design.

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: "New application or change" or ""Renewal" (see below)
    3. Request login credentials.
    4. Now you are ready to enter the Nordic Ecolabelling Portal.

     

    Please note that you may have to contact your suppliers and ask them to declare items that are included in your product. Supply them with your Application ID in the Nordic Ecolabelling Portal and direct them to the "For suppliers" tab down below. 

     

    Portal sign in                                             Get login credentials

     

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

  • 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 
    Renewal fee* 1 673 EUR + VAT
    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

    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 – 30.9 million EUR 
    0.05% of turnover + VAT > 30.9 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 > 309 000 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

     

    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 
    Renewal fee* 1 625 EUR + VAT
    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

    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 – 30 million EUR 
    0.05% of turnover + VAT > 30 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

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

  • There are many possibilities to communicate the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. Find more information here.

  • Thank you for helping your customers finding your items, in connection with an application to obtain a Nordic Swan Ecolabel licence.

    Item is a general term for various goods and materials. For example chemicals, laminates, glass and fabrics.

    Please, declare your items in the Supply Chain Declaration Portal.

    To the Declaration Portal

  • 4.6 ⇛ 4.7 Prolongation of the validity of the criteria

    On 14 November 2023 the validity of the criteria was prolonged to the 31 December 2026. On 21 November 2023  the exception for trimethylol propane (TMP) was prolonged to 31 May 2025. The new version is 4.7.

    4.5⇛ 4.6: Adjustment of criteria

    On 3 October Nordic Ecolabelling decided to adjust requirement O28 and O29 regarding exception for 2-ethylhexanoic acid which change classification from H361 to H360.  

    The new version is called 4.6 and is valid until December 31, 2025.

    4.4⇛ 4.5: Adjustment of criteria

    Adjustment of the table in requirement O7 by allowing accelerated aging in line with EN 73 or EN 84, as well as adjustment of requirement O37 where nickel in up to 0.07% in hot dip galvanizing is allowed.

    The new version is called 4.5 and is valid until December 31, 2025.

    4.3⇛ 4.4: Adjustment of criteria

    An adjustment was made in requirement O30 where an exception for melamine was added.

    The new version is called 4.4 and is valid until December 31, 2025.

    4.2 ⇛ 4.3 Adjustment of criteria

    Adjustment of requirement O15 where use of the Bonsucro certification was added.

    Adjustment in requirements O28 and O29 where exception for melamine and 2-ethylhexane in wood perservatives with a pH value of 9.5 or higher was added. In the same requirements, the exception for the biocide propionazole has been deleted.

    The new version is called 4.3 and is valid until December 31, 2025.

    4.1 ⇛ 4.2: Adjustment of criteria

    An adjustment of requirement O7 where standard CEN/TS 15083-1 was replaced by EN 133-2. In requirement O29 the exception for trimethylol propane (TMP) was prolonged to 31 May 2023. The new version is called 4.2.

    4.0 ⇛ 4.1: Adjustment of criteria

    Requirement O30 Other prohibited substances in chemical products have been adjusted for substances on List II of the EU Member State initiatives "Endocrine Disruptor Lists". The new version is called 4.1.

    4.0: New criteria generation

    Nordic Ecolabelling Board has adopted a new generation of criteria for outdoor furniture, playground and park. The new generation, 4.0, is valid until 31 December 2025.

    3.15 ⇛ 3.16 Prolongation of the validity of the criteria

    The criteria has been prolonged with 6 months and is now valid until  30 Juni 2023. The new version is called 3.16.

    3.13 ⇛ 3.14 Prolongation of the validity of the criteria

    The criteria has been prolonged with 6 months until 30 June 2022. The new version is called 3.14.

    3.12 ⇛ 3.13 Prolongation of the validity of the criteria

    The criteria has been prolonged with 6 months until 31 December 2021. The new version is called 3.13.

    3.11 ⇛ 3.12: Adjustment of criteria

    Requirement R36 Recycled/recovered plastics has been adjusted. The new version is called 3.12. 

    3.10 ⇛ 3.11 Prolongation of the validity of the criteria

    The criteria has been prolonged with 12 months until 31 March 2021. At the same time requirement O39 Take-back system has been removed. The new version is called 3.11.

    3.9 ⇛ 3.10: Alteration of criteria

    On 8 March 2017 the Nordic Ecolabelling's Criteria Group decided to implement Nordic Ecolabellings new forestry requirements as an alternative to the present forestry requirements. The new version is called 3.10. 

    3.8 ⇛ 3.9: Prolongation of criteria

    On 7 February 2017 the Nordic Ecolabelling's Criteria Group decided to prolong the criteria until 31 March 2020. The new version is called 3.9.

    3.7 ⇛ 3.8: Alteration of criteria

    On 8 January 2016 the Nordic Ecolabelling's Criteria Group approved to insert an except for bronopol up to 0.05% by weight in requirement R21. The new version is 3.8.

    3.6 ⇛ 3.7: Alteration of criteria

    On 16 June 2015 the Nordic Ecolabelling's Criteria Group approved to insert requirements for HPL panels in its own section in the criteria At the same time the product group name changed to Outdoor furniture, outdoor fixtures and playground equipment. The new version is 3.7.

    3.5 ⇛ 3.6: Alteration and extension criteria's validity

    • In version 3.6 of the criteria it has been specified that also wood/bike/bus and tool sheds are included in the criteria, but that composite materials are not.
    • The product group will also be expanded with requirements for HPL plates when these are approved in version 6 of building boards in February 2015.
    • The requirement R43 regarding marketing has been removed.
    • The validity of the criteria has been extended with two years.

    The new version, 3.6, is vaild until March 31st 2019.

    3.4 ⇛ 3.5: Alteration of the criteria

    R 19: An alteration of R19 has been made to make it more clear that the requirement only applies to wood preservatives with biocides or heavy metal.

    3.3 ⇛ 3.4: Extension of criteria's validity

    The validity for Nordic Ecolabel's criteria for outdoor furniture and playground equipment has been extended. The new version, 3.3, is valid until March 31st 2017.

    3.2 ⇛ 3.3: Alteration the criteria

    R23: Regarding recycled metal in Nordic Ecolabelled furniture.

  • 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.