Design Delight Studio

Smart and Sustainable: The EU Ecolabel as a Key Tool in Green Public Procurement

Increasing Trust and Simplicity in Sustainable Buying

Public procurers throughout Europe are leveraging the EU Ecolabel to make environmentally responsible purchasing straightforward, reliable, and cost-effective. The label guarantees that products meet stringent sustainability criteria, simplifying decisions for public buyers aiming to support green initiatives. As Pierre Henry, Deputy Head of Unit for Sustainable Products at the European Commission, highlights, there are now around 110,000 products certified under the EU Ecolabel, making it a trusted benchmark.

Bridging the Gap Between Sustainability and Procurement

The EU Ecolabel helps institutions save time and reduce complexity by offering an established environmental standard. Dominique Sandy from ICLEI emphasizes how the label ensures public funds support genuinely sustainable products, facilitating green public procurement without overwhelming buyers with additional work.

Expanding Market and Cost Competitiveness

The marketplace for EU Ecolabel products is growing, with over 220,000 certified products, including those under national Type I ecolabels. Studies from ADEME and BEUC demonstrate that EU Ecolabel products often match or undercut prices of comparable conventional products, challenging the perception that sustainability incurs extra costs.

Regulatory Momentum and Mandatory Sustainability Criteria

Recent evaluations of the EU Public Procurement Directives signal potential revisions favoring sustainability integration. Some member states, like Italy, already mandate the use of Type I ecolabels — certified according to ISO 14024 — as proof of sustainability compliance in public purchases, driving broader adoption and impact.

Innovation Driven by Ecolabel Certification

Beyond compliance, the EU Ecolabel serves as a catalyst for innovation. Companies such as Diversey use the label as a benchmark to develop sustainable products, with a significant portion of their offerings certified to meet eco-standards. Austrian manufacturer Format Werk views it as a market advantage, supporting competitiveness and access to public sector contracts.

Public Procurement: A Strategic Lever for EU Sustainability Goals

Incorporating EU Ecolabel products into procurement aligns with major EU sustainability policies, including the Circular Economy Act and Clean Industrial Deal. Cities like Copenhagen actively promote ecolabel purchasing, underscoring the importance of awareness and training for public buyers to fully realize environmental benefits.

Practical Support for Procurers

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre provides practical guides to facilitate integration of EU Ecolabel criteria into tender documents, empowering procurers to achieve sustainability targets effectively and confidently.

For further details and resources:

• Visit the EU Ecolabel website
• Access the EU Ecolabel Product Catalogue
• Watch the live broadcast recording

Key Organizations & Contributors:

• European Commission Directorate-General for Environment
• Ecolabelling Sweden
• ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
• ADEME (French Environment Agency)
• Punto 3
• Diversey
• City of Copenhagen
• European Commission Joint Research Centre

The EU Ecolabel proves to be a smart, trusted, and practical tool that drives green public procurement, fostering sustainable consumption and industrial innovation across Europe.

Design Delight Studio curates high-impact, authoritative insights into sustainable and organic product trends, helping conscious consumers and innovative brands stay ahead in a fast-evolving green economy.