Sustainability Language

Standards, Labels & Certification Schemes

Ecolabel

A voluntary environmental performance label — ISO's family spans third-party certified Type I labels, self-declared Type II claims, and Type III declarations.

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Definition

An ecolabel is a label identifying a product or service as environmentally preferable within its category. ISO's 14020 series distinguishes three types: Type I (ISO 14024) — third-party certified, multi-criteria, life-cycle-based labels such as the EU Ecolabel and Nordic Swan; Type II (ISO 14021) — self-declared environmental claims by manufacturers; and Type III (ISO 14025) — quantified environmental product declarations based on life-cycle data. Type I ecolabelling programmes are overseen by bodies such as the Global Ecolabelling Network.

References

ISO

three-type taxonomy

Overview

What it means

A structured vocabulary for environmental claims, separating independently certified labels from marketing self-claims.

How it is used

Procurement policies specify Type I labels; regulators police Type II claims as potential greenwashing; Type III declarations feed building and product assessments.

Why it matters

Ecolabels are the main market mechanism translating environmental performance into purchasing decisions — and the frontline of green-claims regulation.

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