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  3. Packaging for liquid foods 103
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Packaging for liquid foods 103

The product group covers primary packaging of carboard, plastic, aluminum and glass, which is used for liquid pre-packaged food and beverages such as milk, soups and yogurt.

Packaging for liquid foods is not a traditional Nordic Swan Ecolabelled product, since here it is the actual packaging that is Nordic Swan Ecolabelled, and not the product inside the packaging. The intention with the criteria is to stimulate the development of sustainable produced renewable materials and use of recycled materials in the packaging.

Nordic Swan Ecolabelled packaging for liquid foods:

  • Consists of minimum 90% sustainability sourced renewable materials or minimum 80% recycled material, in order to conserve the Earth's resources and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
  • Fulfils the high requirements for chemicals, for the benefit of health aspects, as well as opportunities for recycling.
  • Can easier be recycled, which promotes the circular economy.

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. 

  • 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. Paper board used in packaging must be inspected and listed by Nordic Ecolabelling.
    Renewal fee* 1 673 EUR + VAT. Paper board used in packaging must be inspected and listed by Nordic Ecolabelling.
    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 per year from 0 - 51.5 million EUR. 
    0.05% of turnover + VAT per year > 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 1 083 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.

    **** Please note that when a "brand-owner" is a licensee, the turnover is counted on their purchasing volume and not on sales, since "brand-owners" selling composite products to retail stores make it impossible to determine the sales price for individual packaging parts.

    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 251EUR + VAT. Paper board used in packaging must be inspected and listed by Nordic Ecolabelling.
    Renewal fee* 1 625 EUR + VAT. Paper board used in packaging must be inspected and listed by Nordic Ecolabelling.
    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 per year from 0 - 50 million EUR. 
    0.05% of turnover + VAT per year > 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.

    **** Please note that when a "brand-owner" is a licensee, the turnover is counted on their purchasing volume and not on sales, since "brand-owners" selling composite products to retail stores make it impossible to determine the sales price for individual packaging parts.

    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. You can also find other application documents here.

  • ONLY APPLICABLE FOR PAPER-BASED ITEMS

    When your customer applies for a Nordic Swan Ecolabel licence, they will need their suppliers' help in their application process. All paper-based items in the product to be licenced has to be declared for.

    Suppliers wishing to declare their items, i.e. pulp and chemicals, can do so in the MSA Portal. You will be issued a personal account to ensure that all information is correct in a secure manner.

    But first, please visit the Pulp and Paper Declaration pages for more information.

    Declaring pulp, paper and chemicals

    • In order to declare your items, you must meet the Nordic Ecolabelling requirements. Study the following documents carefully:

    • By logging into the MSA Portal you confirm your acceptance of the User Agreement. Please read it carefully. 

    • Fees for inspecting pulp, paper and board

      Below you will find information about the fees for Nordic Ecolabelling to inspect pulp, paper and pulp.

      Fees for pulp and paper

      Fees for declaring chemicals for producing pulp, paper and board

      No fee. 
      However, in the agreement you undertake to comply with applicable conditions. If this is not complied with, Nordic Ecolabelling has the right to charge a fee.

    • To request login credentials, send an e-mail to paper@nordicecolabel.org containing the information below:

      • Company Name
      • Telephone (switchboard) 
      • Country (Nordic country you prefer to manage your application)
      • First name, last name
      • E-mail address
      • Direct phone number

  • Information on the latest version of the criteria for packaging for food liquids

    1.5 => 1.6: Prolongation of criteria

    On 12 December 2023, Nordic Ecolabelling decided to prolong the validity of the criteria with 12 months to 31 December 2026.

    The new version is called 1.6.

    1.4 => 1.5: Adjustment of requirements and prolongation of criteria

    Nordic Ecolabelling has decided to adjust requirement O2 regarding uncoloured glass and requirement O5 regarding disposable glass. Futhermore, BHT receives a harmonized classification which affects O16 and O17. In addition, the validity of the criteria has been prolonged with 18 months.

    The new version is called 1.5 an is valid to 31 December 2025.

    1.3 => 1.4: Adjustment of requirements

    Nordic Ecolabelling has decided on the following adjustments:

    • Requirement O7 regarding exemption for black caps for plastic packaging that is included in deposit systems for beverage packaging
    • Requirement O11 regarding change of prohibited wood species

    The new version is called 1.4.

    1.2 => 1.3: Adjustment of requirement and prolongation of criteria

    Nordic Ecolabelling has decided to adjust the exemption for BHT (O17). Furthermore, it has been decided to prolong the criteria with 24 months. The new version is called 1.3 and is valid until 30 June 2024.

    1.1 => 1.2: Adjustment of requirements

    Nordic Ecolabelling has decided on the following adjustments:

    • Requirement O4 regarding migration test requirements (2019-12-10)
    • Requirement O17 regarding exemption for BHT (2020-01-17)
    • Requirement O18 on colours for printing and dyeing (05/05/2010)

    The new version is called 1.2.

    1.0 => 1.1: Adjustments of requirement

    Nordic Ecolabelling decided on an adjustment regarding an exception in Chapter 4 for date stamping on packaging for liquid food on the 29 May 2019. The new version is called 1.1.

    1.0 Adoption of criteria

    Nordic Ecolabelling decided on adopting criteria for packaging for food liquids on the 7 November 2018. Version 1.0 is valid until 30 June 2022.

  • 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.

  • Look up inspected pulp and fluff and inspected board for food packaging for help with your Nordic Swan Ecolabel application.