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The EU Ecolabel: A Smart Tool for Green Public Procurement

On 10 October 2025, the European Commission hosted a live broadcast highlighting the EU Ecolabel as a pivotal instrument for sustainable public procurement across Europe. This initiative demonstrates that environmentally responsible purchasing can be straightforward, reliable, and cost-effective, empowering public procurers to make impactful eco-friendly choices.

Simplicity and Trust in Sustainability

Pierre Henry, Deputy Head of Unit for Sustainable Products, revealed that over 110,000 products now carry the EU Ecolabel, signaling growing market adoption. The label guarantees that products meet rigorous sustainability criteria, offering public buyers confidence in selecting the greenest options. Dominique Sandy from ICLEI emphasized that the label simplifies procurement by cutting down complexity and ensures public funds support genuinely sustainable goods and services.

Expanding Market and Competitive Pricing

The availability of over 220,000 certified products, including those under national Type I ecolabels, provides extensive choices for buyers. Contrary to misconceptions of higher costs, ADEME and BEUC research indicates that EU Ecolabel products are often priced competitively, sometimes even below comparable non-certified items.

Regulatory Momentum Boosting Adoption

The current evaluation of EU Public Procurement Directives, a crucial step towards revising the 2014 framework, marks an important juncture. Some member states, such as Italy, have already mandated sustainability criteria with Type I ecolabels recognized as sole conformity evidence. This regulatory environment accelerates the integration of ecolabels in public tenders, fostering broader uptake.

Driving Innovation and Market Advantage

Companies use the EU Ecolabel as a benchmark for innovation. Diversey, a cleaning products supplier, reports that 75-100% of their sustainability-oriented products carry the label, while Format Werk in Austria views the certification as a competitive edge within the EU market. This dynamic illustrates how ecolabels spur environmental progress alongside commercial success.

Public Procurement as a Sustainability Catalyst

Integrating the EU Ecolabel into procurement procedures aligns with broader EU sustainability goals such as the Circular Economy Act and the Clean Industrial Deal. Cities like Copenhagen actively promote ecolabel adoption among public buyers, demonstrating practical benefits and encouraging peer engagement. Awareness and education remain vital to scaling impact, supported by practical guides developed by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre.

Key Resources and Next Steps

• EU Ecolabel Product Catalogue – Explore certified products for procurement.
• Practical Guides – Assist in integrating ecolabel criteria into tenders.
• Research Studies – ADEME’s pricing analyses and sustainability reports.
• Recorded Webinar – Insights on why public procurers should choose EU Ecolabel products.

For procurement officers and sustainability advocates, the EU Ecolabel stands as a proven, efficient pathway to greener public purchasing—delivering tangible environmental benefits without compromising simplicity or cost-efficiency.

Published by the Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission | 27 October 2025

For more information, visit the official EU Ecolabel website.

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