The EU Ecolabel for cosmetic products.
Date: 2022-05-18
Institutions: Directorate-General for Environment
Subjects: European standard, consumer information, cosmetic product, cosmetics industry, eco-label, environmental standard, product safety

The EU Ecolabel for 
cosmetic products

October 2021
#EUGreenDeal  #EUEcolabel

The  EU  Ecolabel  is  the  official  European  Union  label  for 
environmental excellence.

The EU Ecolabel is awarded to sustainably designed products, 
encouraging  innovation  and  contributing  to  the  EU  goal  of 
climate neutrality by 2050, and to the clean and circular 
economy  with  a  zero-pollution  ambition  for  a  toxic-free 
environment.

Consumers are increasingly looking for healthy and sustainable 
cosmetics options. Through the EU Ecolabel, industry can offer 
true  and  reliable  eco-friendly  alternatives  to  conventional 
cosmetics, empowering consumers to make informed choices 
and play an active role in the ecological transition.

Which cosmetics can be awarded the EU Ecolabel?

  Rinse-off  products,  such  as  soaps,  shampoos, 
shower  preparations,  hair  conditioners,  shaving 
preparations and toothpaste

© Andriyko Podilnyk

  Leave-on  products,  such  as  creams  and  oils, 
skincare  lotions,  hairstyling  products,  sunscreen 
products, 
personal 
deodorants and antiperspirants

decorative 

cosmetics, 

© Olena Yakobchuk

Ambitious criteria, focusing on the main environmental impacts 
throughout  the  life  cycle  of  the  products,  ensure  that  EU 
Ecolabel cosmetics are of good quality and among the best 
on the market in terms of environmental performance.

The EU Ecolabel criteria aim to reduce the environmental 
impact  of  cosmetics  on  air,  water,  soil  and  biodiversity, 
contributing to a clean and circular economy and to a 
toxic-free environment.

Specifically, the EU Ecolabel guarantees:

  Low toxicity to aquatic organisms

  Biodegradable ingredients

  Restricted use of hazardous substances

  Minimised and easy-to-recycle packaging

  Renewable ingredients of sustainable origin

  Good performance

Environment

Overview of the EU Ecolabel criteria for cosmetic products

To be awarded the EU Ecolabel, cosmetic products must comply with stringent mandatory criteria. See below how these 
criteria guarantee excellent environmental performance. For the full list of requirements, please refer to the official EU 
Ecolabel criteria for cosmetic products.

The EU Ecolabel
guarantees

Low toxicity to aquatic 
organisms

Biodegradable ingredients

Restricted use of 
hazardous substances

Minimised and 
easy-to-recycle 
packaging

Renewable ingredients of 
sustainable origin

Good performance

The EU Ecolabel requires

	9 Overall toxicity of the ingredients complying with strict thresholds

	9 Use of biodegradable surfactants only
	9 Strict thresholds for non–biodegradable organic substances

	9 Ban on: substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction, substances of 
very high concern, nanomaterials, substances identified or suspected of having endocrine-
disrupting  properties,  microplastics,  phthalates  and  perfluorinated  or  polyfluorinated 
substances 

	9 Stringent restrictions on substances that are hazardous to the environment, or sensitising, 

as well as on fragrances, preservatives, colorants and UV filters

	9 No fragrances for children’s products or for products marketed as “mild/sensitive”

	9 Prohibition of unnecessary packaging
	9 Prohibition of packaging materials or combination of materials that cannot be recycled
	9 Encouraged sale of refills and use of recycled material

	9 Use of only sustainably sourced palm oil, palm kernel oil and their derivatives

	9 Product  performance  and  user  satisfaction  validated  by  accredited  laboratories  and 

consumer tests

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© RF Studio

For more information and detail on how to apply,  
visit www.ecolabel.eu

PDF/Volume_01 

ISBN 978-92-76-50139-8 

DOI:10.2779/984282 

KH-07-22-181-EN-N

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