prEN ISO 14024
(Main)Environmental statements and programmes for products - Ecolabels (ISO/DIS 14024:2025)
Environmental statements and programmes for products - Ecolabels (ISO/DIS 14024:2025)
ISO 14024:2018 establishes the principles and procedures for developing Type I environmental labelling programmes, including the selection of product categories, product environmental criteria and product function characteristics, and for assessing and demonstrating compliance. ISO 14024:2018 also establishes the certification procedures for awarding the label.
Umweltaussagen und -programme für Produkte - Umweltzeichen (ISO/DIS 14024:2025)
Déclarations environnementales et programmes pour les produits - Écolabels (ISO/DIS 14024:2025)
ISO 14024:2018 établit les principes et les procédures pour l'élaboration de programmes de label environnemental de type I, y compris le choix des catégories de produits, des critères environnementaux et des caractéristiques fonctionnelles du produit, ainsi que pour l'évaluation et la démonstration de la conformité. Le présent document établit également les procédures de certification pour l'attribution du label.
Okoljske označbe in deklaracije - Okoljsko označevanje I. vrste - Načela in postopki
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-junij-2025
Okoljske označbe in deklaracije - Okoljsko označevanje I. vrste - Načela in
postopki
Environmental labels and declarations — Type I environmental labelling — Principles
and procedures
ISO 14024 Umweltaussagen und -programme für Produkte - Umweltzeichen
Labels et déclarations environnementaux Délivrance du label environnemental de type I
Principes et procédures
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN ISO 14024
ICS:
13.020.50 Označevanje z ekološko Ecolabelling
nalepko
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
International
Standard
ISO/DIS 14024
ISO/TC 207/SC 3
Environmental statements and
Secretariat: SA
programmes for products —
Voting begins on:
Ecolabels
2025-04-16
ICS: 13.020.50
Voting terminates on:
2025-07-09
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENTS AND APPROVAL. IT
IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL
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Reference number
ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
DRAFT
ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
International
Standard
ISO/DIS 14024
ISO/TC 207/SC 3
Environmental statements and
Secretariat: SA
programmes for products —
Voting begins on:
Ecolabels
ICS: 13.020.50
Voting terminates on:
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENTS AND APPROVAL. IT
IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL
PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
This document is circulated as received from the committee secretariat.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
© ISO 2025
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
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Published in Switzerland Reference number
ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
ii
ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principles . 4
4.1 General .4
5 Other types of environmental statements . 5
5.1 General .5
6 Requirements applying to ecolabelling programmes . 5
6.1 Ecolabelling programme .5
6.1.1 General .5
6.1.2 Avoidance of conflict of interest .5
6.1.3 Ecolabelling programme establishment and management .5
6.1.4 Ecolabelling programme operating rules .5
6.2 Ecolabelling programme operator .6
6.2.1 General .6
6.2.2 Costs and fees .6
6.3 Involvement of interested parties .6
6.3.1 General .6
6.3.2 Consultation process .6
6.4 Selection of product categories .7
6.4.1 General .7
6.4.2 Conducting a feasibility study of product categories .7
6.4.3 Proposal for product category .7
6.4.4 Mutual recognition .7
6.5 Specific requirements and criteria .8
6.5.1 General .8
6.5.2 Selection of product environmental citeria.8
6.5.3 Selection of product function criteria .9
6.5.4 Validity of programme requirements .10
6.6 Quantification methodologies, data quality and reporting .10
6.6.1 General .10
6.6.2 Numerical values for each criterion .10
6.6.3 Determination methods .10
6.6.4 Data quality .10
6.6.5 Hierarchy of determination methods .11
6.6.6 Weighting .11
6.6.7 Availability of test laboratories and others .11
6.6.8 Competency and impartiality .11
6.7 Conformity assessment .11
6.7.1 General .11
6.7.2 Requirements regarding the selection of the determination methods .11
6.7.3 Requirements regarding the certification . 12
6.8 Format of ecolabels, reporting and publication . 12
6.9 Changes or revisions to ecolabel programmes, product criteria and ecolabels . 12
7 General requirements applying to ecolabels .13
7.1 General . 13
8 Certification process, licencing and surveillance.13
8.1 General . 13
8.2 Certification applications and agreements . 13
8.3 Review of determination results . 13
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ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
8.4 Decision making .14
8.5 Licensing .14
8.6 Surveillance . 15
Annex A (informative) Differentiating ecolabels made in accordance with ISO 14024 from
other types of ecolabels or environmental statements .16
Annex B (informative) Selection of product criteria . 17
Annex C (informative) Alternatives for conformity assessment .20
Annex D (informative) Examples for product criteria and related conformity assessment
methods .22
Bibliography .26
iv
ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of any patent
rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or on the ISO list of
patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 207, Environmental management,
Subcommittee SC 3, Environmental labelling.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 14024:2018), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— the addition of a normative reference to the revised ISO 14020.
— the graphic in Figure 1 “Structure of the ISO 14020 family of standards” in the introduction is updated
with a few minor editorial changes.
— the structuring of the document to correspond with the structure of ISO 14020.
— removal of much of the content from clauses 4, 5, 6 and 7 which have been transferred to the revised
ISO 14020.
— restructuring of chapter 6.5, 6.6, 6.7 and 9 (now chapter 8)
— inclusion of an informative annex A that provides guidance for information about how ecolabels made
in accordance with ISO 14024 can be differentiated from other environmental statements that do not
conform to ISO 14024.
— the table, criteria selection matrix, in clause 6.4.1 is moved to Annex B and expanded.
— inclusion of an informative annex C with requirements associated with conformity assessment (e.g.
testing, inspection, audit) that is necessary to demonstrate the veracity of the ecolabel.
— inclusion of an informative annex D that provides guidance, with examples, for programme operators on
how product criteria and related conformity assessment methods can be matched
— updating of reference documents.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
v
ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
Introduction
0.1 This document contains principles, requirements and guidance for ecolabelling programmes and eco-
labels that provide environmental information about products. Ecolabelling programmes award their
ecolabel to products that meet a set of predetermined requirements. The ecolabel identifies products
that are determined to be most environmentally preferable within a particular product category.
0.2 Ecolabels are voluntary (see ISO 14020:2022, 4.10), can be operated by public or private agencies and
can be national, regional or international in nature.
0.3 Ecolabels are one type of environmental statement. The overall goal of environmental statements is to:
a) communicate accurate information about the environmental aspects or impacts of goods and ser-
vices;
b) encourage the demand for and supply of goods and services that cause less stress on the environ-
ment; and
c) stimulate market-driven continual environmental improvement in goods and services.
0.4 The objective of this specific document is to harmonize the transparent and credible use of ecolabels
and to differentiate them from other forms of environmental statements. The benefits of this docu-
ment are anticipated to be:
a) ecolabels based on accurate and verifiable information that is not misleading;
b) increased potential for market forces to stimulate environmental improvements in production
processes, goods and services;
c) prevention or minimization of unwarranted self-declared ecolabels;
d) avoidance of marketplace confusion with other types of environmental statements and general
certification of products that fulfil environmental or sustainability requirements;
e) facilitation of international trade; and
f) increased opportunities for purchasers, potential purchasers and users of goods and services to
make more informed choices.
0.5 This document is one of a series of ISO documents (i.e. the ISO 14020 family of standards) that provide
requirements and guidance for different types of environmental statements. The documents in the ISO
14020 family of standards include:
— ISO 14020: common terms and definitions, principles and general requirements for all environmen-
tal statements (e.g. self-declared environmental claims, ecolabels, EPDs and footprint communica-
tions) and associated programmes that enable the communication of environmental aspects and
environmental impacts of products.
— ISO 14021: principles, requirements and guidance for environmental statements in the form of
self-declared environmental claims.
— ISO 14024: principles, requirements and guidance for environmental statements in the form of envi-
ronmental labels known as ecolabels.
— ISO 14025: principles, requirements and guidance for environmental statements in the form of envi-
ronmental product declarations (EPDs).
— ISO 14026: principles, requirements and guidance for environmental statements in the form of foot-
print communications.
vi
ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
— ISO/TS 14027: requirements for product category rules (PCR) that support the use of life cycle as-
sessment (LCA) as a method to compile and evaluate information that is used as a basis for making
environmental statements.
— ISO/TS 14029: requirements for the mutual recognition of EPDs, footprint communications and
associated programmes.
0.6 The following diagram provides the structure of the existing ISO 14020 family of standards in graphic
form.
vii
ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
Figure 2 — Structure of the ISO 14020 family of standards
0.8 This document makes normative reference to requirements in ISO 14020. Those requirements refer to the
generic term ‘environmental statement’. In reading this document and ISO 14020 together, the generic
term ‘environmental statement’ in ISO 14020 can be interpreted as referring to the specific term included
in this document.
viii
DRAFT International Standard ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
Environmental statements and programmes for products —
Ecolabels
1 Scope
1.1 This document specifies principles, requirements and gives guidance for ecolabelling programmes
and ecolabels.
1.2 This document covers ecolabelling programme development, selection of product categories, product
environmental criteria and product function criteria, and the process for evaluating and certifying products
that are licensed to use an ecolabel and provides guidance on how ecolabels in conformity with this
document can be differentiated from other ecolabels in the market.
NOTE Ecolabels and ecolabelling programmes address environmental aspects of products, but can also include
social and economic aspects in support of sustainable development.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 14020:2022, Environmental statements and programmes for products — Principles and general
requirements
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
NOTE The following terms and definitions are laid out in a systematic order. A term in a definition or note that is
defined in another entry is indicated by bold face followed by its entry number in parentheses.
3.1 Terms related to the environment
3.1.1
environmental impact
change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, including possible consequences, wholly or
partially resulting from an organization’s environmental aspects
[SOURCE: ISO 14020:2022, 3.1.4]
ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
3.1.2
environmental aspect
element of an organization’s activities or products that interacts or can interact with the environment
Note 1 to entry: Typically, environmental aspects can include emissions to air, discharges to water and waste arisings,
which in turn can generate environmental and health impacts such as global warming, smog, water pollution or
contaminated land.
[SOURCE: ISO 14020:2022, 3.1.3]
3.2 Terms related to ecolabels and ecolabelling programmes
3.2.1
product
any goods or service
[SOURCE: ISO 14050:2020, 3.5.12]
3.2.2
product category
group of products that can fulfil equivalent functions
[SOURCE: ISO 14020:2022, 3.2.12]
3.2.3
product criteria
set of requirements that the product has to meet in order to be awarded an ecolabel. Product criteria consist
of product environmental criteria and product function criteria. These can include requirements related to
social and economic aspects of the product in support of sustainable development
3.2.4
product environmental criteria
environmental requirements that the product has to meet in order to be awarded an ecolabel
[SOURCE: ISO 14050:2020, 3.5.9]
3.2.5
product function criteria
requirements for a product`s performance, use and fitness for purpose which it shall meet to be awarded
the label
3.2.6
fitness for purpose
ability of a product or process to serve a defined purpose under specific conditions
[SOURCE: ISO 14050:2020, 3.5.8]
3.2.7
interested party
stakeholder
person or organisation that can be affected or perceive itself to be affected by an ecolabel
Note 1 to entry: To “perceive itself to be affected” means the interested party has made its perception known to the
programme operator (3.3).
Note 2 to entry: The interested parties for ecolabelling programmes (3.2) can include, but are not limited to, material
suppliers, manufacturers, trade associations, purchasers, users, consumers, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs),
public agencies, testing institutes and laboratories and, when relevant, certification bodies.
Note 3 to entry: Modified to include stakeholder
ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
[SOURCE: ISO 14020:2022, 3.2.15, modified — “ecolabel” replaced “environmental statement” in the
definition. Notes to entry added and modified – “ecolabelling” replaced “environmental statement”. Note to
entry added.]
3.2.8
greenwashing
unsubstantiated, irrelevant or misleading environmental statement
3.2.9
Ecolabel
environmental statement which indicates a product (3.2.1) fulfils the criteria of an ecolabelling programme
(3.2.11)
Note 1 to entry: Deleted: DEPRECATED: Type I environmental label
[SOURCE: ISO 14020:2022, 3.2.7. Note deleted.]
3.2.10
environmental statement programme
rules and procedures for providing an environmental statement.
Note 1 to entry: Environmental statement programmes can be carried out at international, regional, national or sub-
national levels.
Note 2 to entry: A programme can also be called a scheme.
Note 3 to entry: An environmental statement programme can include requirements for conformity assessment.
[SOURCE: ISO 14020:2022, 3.3.1, modified - Note 4 and 5 deleted.]
3.2.11
ecolabelling programme
environmental statement programme that is multiple-attribute-based and provided by a third-party (3.5.2)
that assesses overall environmental preferability of a product (3.2.1) within a particular product category
(3.2.2) based on life cycle considerations, and awards a license (3.2.14) which authorizes the use of specific
ecolabel on products related to environmental performance
[SOURCE: ISO 14020:2022, 3.3.2]
3.2.12
programme operator
person or organisation responsible for developing and maintaining an ecolabelling programme
Note 1 to entry: The Programme operator can also be the certification body at the same time.
[SOURCE: ISO 14020:2022, 3.3.3, modified – “ecolabelling” replaced “environmental statement” and note
added. Note deleted]
3.2.13
licence holder
party authorized by an ecolabelling body to use an ecolabel
3.2.14
licence (for ecolabelling)
licence document, issued under the rules of a certification system, by which an ecolabelling body grants to
a person or body the right to use ecolabels for its products in accordance with the rules of the ecolabelling
programme (3.2.11)
3.4 Term related to life cycle
ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
3.4.1
life cycle
consecutive and interlinked stages, from raw material acquisition or generation from natural resources to
final disposal
[SOURCE: ISO 14044:2006/Amd 2:2020, 3.1]
3.4.2
indicator
quantitative, qualitative or binary variable that can be measured, calculated or described, representing the
status of operations, management, conditions or impacts
[SOURCE: ISO 14050:2020, 3.2.24]
3.5 Terms related to conformity assessment of ecolabels
3.5.1
conformity assessment
confirmation through the provision of objective evidence, that specified requirements have been fulfilled
[SOURCE: ISO 14050:2020, 3.4.1]
3.5.2
third party
person or body that is recognized as being independent of the parties involved, as concerns the issues in
question.
Note 1 to entry: With “… parties involved…” we here normally refer to supplier and purchaser interests
[SOURCE: ISO 14050:2020, 3.2.8 modified - note added]
4 Principles
4.1 General
The principles of ISO 14020, clause 4, shall apply:
— Credibility
— Evidence-based methodology
— Transparency and availability
— Confidentiality
— Life cycle perspective
— Environmental performance improvement and innovation
— Accessibility and avoidance of unnecessary information and administrative demands
— Interested parties and consultation
— Voluntary
— Regionality
ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
5 Other types of environmental statements
5.1 General
See ISO 14020, clause 5 for information.
For information on how to distinguish ecolabels that are in compliance with this document from other
environmental statements and certification programmes, see also annex A.
6 Requirements applying to ecolabelling programmes
6.1 Ecolabelling programme
6.1.1 General
The requirements of ISO 14020:2022, clause 6.1, shall apply.
An ecolabelling programme consists of the following elements:
a) the programme rules that govern its operation, including the selection of product categories to be
covered,
b) the product function criteria for each product category, which ensure that products bearing the ecolabel
meet customer performance expectations, and
c) the product environmental criteria for each product category, which differentiate products that qualify
to use the ecolabel from other products in the marketplace.
6.1.2 Avoidance of conflict of interest
Ecolabelling programmes shall ensure that they act impartially. Programmes shall be able to demonstrate
that sources of funding or any other elements do not create a conflict of interest.
NOTE See ISO/IEC 17065 for guidance on ensuring impartiality.
6.1.3 Ecolabelling programme establishment and management
The establishment and management of ecolabelling programmes shall involve an iterative process, which
includes:
a) consultation with interested parties (6.3);
b) the selection of product categories (6.4);
c) development, review and modification of product criteria (6.5);
d) the establishment of determination methods, certification procedures and other administrative
elements of the programme (6.6, 6.7, 6.8 and 9).
6.1.4 Ecolabelling programme operating rules
The programme operator shall prescribe the general rules for the operation of the ecolabelling programme.
These general rules shall include:
a) the general conditions for the awarding of the ecolabel licence, including an obligation on applicants and
licence holders to inform the programme operator of any changes to their organization or product that
would affect ongoing conformity with the general rules;
b) publicity of licences;
ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
c) procedures to withdraw the licence if legal requirements are not being complied with in production and
in the markets where the ecolabel is used.
d) other conditions that could lead to the suspension, cancellation or withdrawal of a licence;
e) procedures for implementing corrective action in case of nonconformity;
f) procedures for resolution of complaints, disputes and appeals;
g) fee structure;
h) guidance for the use of the ecolabel.
To be eligible to use the label, a product shall upon verification comply with all applicable criteria (see
clause 8.5.1).
NOTE It is essential that all prerequisites for the awarding of the licence and the use of the label are included in
the general rules and in product criteria, because only these requirements can be used as the basis for awarding or
withholding the licence to use the label.
6.2 Ecolabelling programme operator
6.2.1 General
The requirements of ISO 14020:2022, clause 6.2, shall apply.
6.2.2 Costs and fees
Fees and costs may include testing costs, application and licence fees or administration fees. In principle,
the costs and fees for the granting and maintaining of a label should be based on all programme costs and
should be kept as low as possible to maximize accessibility.
Any fees should be publicly available and applied equitably to all applicants and licensees.
6.3 Involvement of interested parties
6.3.1 General
The requirements of ISO 14020:2022, clause 6.3, shall apply.
6.3.2 Consultation process
6.3.2.1 The ecolabelling programme operator shall implement an open formal consultation mechanism
that encourages participation of interested parties.
NOTE Such a mechanism could include the use of selected groups of interested parties’ representatives, e.g.
consultation board, advisory committee or public hearing.
6.3.2.2 The consultation mechanism shall undertake an on-going consultation process that:
a) occurs in the selection of the product category;
b) establishes the product criteria;
c) allows interested parties to:
i. have adequate access to details and sources of information used; and adequate time to study this
information
ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
ii. comment on the programme and receive proper consideration of, and response to, their comments; and
d) takes reasonable efforts to achieve consensus.
6.4 Selection of product categories
6.4.1 General
The requirements of ISO 14020:2022, clause 6.4, shall apply.
6.4.2 Conducting a feasibility study of product categories
6.4.2.1 General requirements for a feasibility study
In addition to the requirements in ISO 14020:2022, clause 7.1 a feasibility study on potential product
categories and the nature of the market may be undertaken.
6.4.2.2 Specific requirements for a feasibility study
The feasibility study should consider the following:
i) Detailed description of the product category
j) environmental impacts of products;
k) consultation with interested parties;
l) a market survey (e.g. nature, size, demand);
m) suppliers in the marketplace (e.g. small and medium-sized enterprises, foreign and domestic producers);
n) the potential and need for environmental improvement;
o) the definition of the scope of product categories, taking into account equivalence of use and fitness for
use, including product function criteria;
p) availability of data;
q) availability of existing standards, specifications, determination methods (e.g. test methods, etc.); and
r) current national and international legislation and agreements.
6.4.3 Proposal for product category
The programme operator shall create a product category proposal for consideration by the consultation
mechanism (6.3.2) that sets out the proposed product category or categories to be included in the ecolabelling
programme. If a feasibility study has been conducted the proposal should summarize the components of the
feasibility study and its findings.
6.4.4 Mutual recognition
Mutual recognition, based on confidence, should be encouraged. There may be mutual recognition of tests,
inspections, conformity assessment, administrative procedures and, where appropriate, product criteria.
To ensure full transparency, information on existing mutual recognition agreements with other ecolabelling
programmes shall be made available.
NOTE For further guidance, see ISO Guide 68 and ISO/IEC 17040.
ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
6.5 Specific requirements and criteria
6.5.1 General
The requirements of ISO 14020:2022, clause 6.5, shall apply.
In addition, the framework and procedures set out in this document are intended to provide uniformity,
while allowing decisions on the final criteria to be the result of the consultation process between the
programme operator and interested parties.
Product criteria consist of product environmental criteria and product function criteria.
Testing and verification requirements should be considered in parallel with the preparation of requirements
for a given product category.
6.5.1.1 Preferability
Ecolabelling criteria in accordance with this standard are established in the markets for the actual
ecolabel with the purpose of driving product development over time towards more environmentally sound
products. In all product categories the programme operator shall stimulate this by adjusting the levels of
requirements reflecting legal requirements only as a basis. The ecolabel should always be in reach only for
the environmentally best products at any time.
In all product categories the programme operator shall stimulate this by adjusting the levels of requirements
as a whole to always be environmentally stricter than legal requirements. The ecolabel should always be in
reach only for the environmentally best products at any time.
6.5.1.2 Scope of issues
The product criteria shall take into account relevant local, regional, and global environmental issues,
available technology and consider related social and economic aspects. This includes local and regional
issues where the product is manufactured and where it is likely to be sold.
6.5.1.3 Selectivity
Product criteria shall be established to differentiate environmentally preferable products from others in
the product category, based on a measurable difference in environmental impact. Product criteria shall
differentiate between products only when these differences are significant. Testing and verification
methodologies used to evaluate products have different levels of precision and accuracy. This shall be
considered when determining the significance of this difference.
6.5.1.4 Attainable levels for product criteria
The product criteria should be set at attainable levels and should give consideration to environmental
impacts, measurement capability and accuracy.
6.5.1.5 Reasonable restrictions
Product criteria that directly or indirectly require or exclude the use of particular processes or production
methods without justification shall be avoided.
6.5.2 Selection of product environmental citeria
6.5.2.1 General
Ecolabels and ecolabelling programmes address environmental aspects and impacts of products. They can
also include related social and economic aspects in support of sustainable development.
ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
Product environmental criteria shall be based on indicators or other information arising from life cycle
considerations. They should be expressed in terms of:
a) impacts on the environment and natural resources;
b) environmental aspects, such as emissions to the environment.
c) product design or performance criteria, such as energy efficiency, recyclability, recycled content,
durability.
d) duties of the licence holder related to the product such as guarantees, instructions for use, delivery
of updates spare parts, information on disassembly and repair, including other circular economy
considerations.
6.5.2.2 Applying life cycle considerations
The product environmental criteria should include the most relevant environmental impacts or aspects
from a life cycle perspective for which the selectivity criteria described in 6.5.1.3 can be applied. The focus
on marginal impacts and burden shifting should be avoided.
The matrix in Annex B is an example of applying life cycle considerations and is included to assist ecolabelling
programme operators to initiate selection of product criteria.
6.5.2.3 Identification of areas most relevant for reduction of environmental impact
The programme operator shall identify the product life cycle stages and environmental aspects where
there is differentiation of environmental impacts among the products within the category. The programme
operator shall determine the criteria that most accurately reflect the selected environmental issues. The
ranges and variability of the data obtained for specific products shall be analysed to ensure that the selected
product criteria are adequate and reflect the differences among products. A life-cycle assessment study may
be conducted.
NOTE Table 1 in Annex B provides examples of applying life cycle considerations
6.5.2.4 Related health criteria
Criteria on environmental impacts, aspects or product design and performance, which can cause human
health impacts along the life cycle of the product, may also be included in the product criteria.
6.5.3 Selection of product function criteria
6.5.3.1 General
In developing the product function criteria, the fitness for purpose of the product and the levels of
performance shall be taken into account through the use of product function criteria for each product
category within the programme.
NOTE In the context of environmental labelling, fitness for purpose implies that a product satisfies health, safety
and consumer performance needs.
In the selection of the product function criteria, due consideration shall be given to the product function.
This shall be addressed in terms of product performance, rather than design or descriptive criteria.
6.5.3.2 Key elements of the criteria
When establishing product function criteria, consideration should be given to:
a) identification of the product`s primary and other relevant functions;
b) selection of key performance elements that characterize function;
ISO/DIS 14024:2025(en)
c) verification that the ke
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