What is the EU Ecolabel and is it suitable for my company's products or services?
What are the costs and possible support measures related to the application?
Applying for the EU Ecolabel involves both a state fee and internal costs, which depend on the size of the company, the product group and the specifics of the products. In addition to the application processing fee, costs related to testing, inspection, employee working hours and possible changes in production or composition must also be taken into account.
It is important to note that it is possible to apply for the EU Ecolabel in Estonia and compared to other Type I Ecolabels, it is generally more affordable in terms of both the costs of applying for and using it. This makes the label more accessible to businesses and can be a significant factor in decision-making.
The following is an overview of the costs related to applying for and using the EU Ecolabel and possible support opportunities to help companies plan their application for the label and estimate the costs.
Important to know concerning this step
Applying for the EU Ecolabel involves both state fees and internal costs, which depend on the size of the company, the product group and the specifics of the product or service. The state fee is paid for the review of the application as well as for the annual right to use the label, whereby separate rates apply to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and large enterprises.
If the size of the company cannot be unambiguously determined on the basis of any indicator, for example, the turnover refers to a small company but the number of employees refers to a large company, then the company is treated on the basis of a higher or larger category. This means that the rates of a larger company are used to calculate costs and state fees.
Find out more about the costs of applying for and using the EU Ecolabel here.
Companies that are registered in the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and/or certified under the ISO 14001:2015 standard are more advantageous to apply for the EU Ecolabel. The application processing fee will be reduced in accordance with the procedure laid down in the EU Regulation.
Discounts are not combined. If the company meets both systems, the highest rate of reduction will be applied.
More detailed rates and conditions can be found here.
The preparation of products or services for bringing them into compliance with the EU Ecolabel criteria can be supported through the circular economy programme of the Environmental Investment Centre (EIC).
Information about the grants offered by the EU can be found here.
Contacts
In case of any questions or to get advice, please contact the Estonian Environmental Agency. The Environmental Agency acts as the competent authority for the EU Ecolabel in Estonia.