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  3. Durable/resistant wood for outdoor use 086
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Durable/resistant wood for outdoor use 086

The product group includes natural and modified solid wood with documented good biological durability according to its intended use e.g., façade cladding or terrace decking. The biological durability of Nordic Swan Ecolabel wood refers to its ability to resist decay and damage caused by biological stresses such as fungi, insects, and bacteria.

Examples of wood products: Heartwood with natural resistance to biological agents, e.g. oak or larch, and thermally modified wood.

Nordic Swan Ecolabel biological durable wood has a reduced environmental and climate impact throughout its lifecycle. It meets strict requirements for raw materials, chemicals and durability, promoting circular economy.

The requirements include:

  • Use of wood that is legally harvested and traceable – and at least 70% of the wood is sourced from certified forestry.
  • Environmental and health properties of chemicals used in manufacturing of the product and in any surface treatment. Among others, the use of biocides and heavy metals is prohibited.
  • Limits for energy use and ban on fossil oil and coal in the production of the product.
  • Documentation of good biological durability performance according to its intended use e.g., façade cladding or terrace decking.
    1. Start your application process by reading the criteria document and find out if your product can obtain the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. 
    2. Read your Application Guide.
    3. Request login credentials.
    4. Now you are ready to enter the Nordic Ecolabelling Portal.

     

    Portal sign in                               Get login credentials

     

    Should you wish to transfer your licence, please use this form. 

  • Valid from 1/1 2025

    Amount excluding VAT

    Application fee

    		  
    Inspection of two wood types/treatment methods is included in the application fee. 3 348 EUR
    Inspection of aditional treatment methods/wood types 1 673 EUR

    Application for a renewed licence when the requirements have been tightened    		  
    Inspection of two wood types / treatment methods is included in the fee. 1 673 EUR
    Inspection of aditional treatment methods/wood types 836 EUR

     

    Annual licence fee

    The licence fee for the Nordic Swan Ecolabelled products is based on their turnover in the Nordic region.

    Up to 51.5 million EUR. 0,5% of the products' turnover
    More than 51.5 million EUR. 0,05% of the products' turnover
    Minimum fee in the Nordic region 2 232 EUR per year.
    Fixed fee applicable to turnover outside the Nordic region 2 232 EUR per year for turnover exceeding 300 000 EUR.

    Fee for extension / change of licence

    If the extension concerns the review of a new type of wood, a fee of EUR 1 673 per wood type will be charged. Fixed fee that is charged depending on how long the work takes.

    Up to 4 hours 418 EUR
    4-8 hours 836 EUR
    8 or more hours 1 673 EUR

    Fee for on-site inspections

    One on-site visit within the Nordic region is included in the application for a new or renewed licence.

    Additional on-site inspection within the Nordic region 557 EUR per visit
    On-site inspection outside the Nordic region, but within Europe 1 673 EUR per visit
    On-site inspection outside Europe 2 790 EUR per visit
    Additional fee for on-site inspections lasting longer than one day 1 115 EUR per day

     

  • In the criteria document, you can read about how to document and verify compliance for each requirement. You can also find other application documents here.

  • Information on the latest version of the criteria for durable/resistant wood for outdoor use

    2.8 ⇛ 3.0: Revised criteria

    Nordic Ecolabel's criteria for durable/resistant wood have been revised. The new version, 3.0, is valid until March 31, 2030.

    2.7 ⇛ 2.8: Prolongation of criteria's validity

    Nordic Ecolabelling decided on October 15, 2024, to prolong the validity of the criteria. The new version, 2.8, is valid until February 28, 2026.

    2.6 ⇛ 2.7: Adjustment of criteria

    Requirement O3, biocides has been adjusted: only preservatives used for preservation in cans in accordance with PT 6 (EU) 528/2012 can be used in chemical products. The amount of preservative/preservative combination is limited.

    The new version is called 2.6 and is valid until 31 December 2025.

    2.5 ⇛ 2.6: Prolongation of criteria's validity

    The validity of the criteria  has been extented with 24 months. The new version, 2.6, is valid until 31 December 2025.

    2.4 ⇛ 2.5: Adjusted criteria

    Requirement O11B has been adapted to the new forestry requirements adopted by the Nordic Ecolabelling Board on 2 June 2020. The new version is called 2.4.

    2.3 ⇛ 2.4: Prolongation of criteria's validity

    The validity of the criteria  has been extented w3ith 24 months. The new version, 2.4, is valid until 31 December 2023.

    2.2 ⇛ 2.3: Prolongation of criteria's validity

    The validity of the criteria  has been extented with 24 months. The new version, 2.3, is valid until 31 December 2021.

    2.1 ⇛ 2.2: Adjusted criteria

    Two adjustments have been introduced:

    • Data on energy use (MJ/m3 dried wood) shall, as far as possible, be given by suppliers / sawmill. The adjustment also implies that moisture content in raw material and final product shall be given.
    • References to the classification of health and environmental hazards in accordance with the Dangerous Preparations Directive (1999/45/EC) has been removed, due to the replacement by the CLP Regulation.

    The new version is called 2.2.

    2.0 ⇛ 2.1: Adjusted criteria

    Two adjustments have been introduced:

    • Wood with natural durability is a part of the product group and requirement O14 is clarified with how wood with natural durability shall verify the requirements on durability.
    • Due to new classifications for two chemicals used in the process to chemically modify wood, the requirement O4 are completed with more exemptions (the classification Acute toxicity and Specific target organ toxicity for furfuryl alcohol and the classification Specific target organ toxicity for maleic acid anhydride).

    At the same time, the new requirements on forestry were introduced as an alternative way to fulfill the wood requirements. The new forestry requirements implicate that the licence holder must be Chain of Custody-certified.

    The new version, 2.1, is valid until December 31st 2019.

    1.5 ⇛ 2.0: Revised criteria

    Nordic Ecolabel's criteria for durable/resistant wood have been revised. The new version, 2.0, is valid until December 31st 2019.

  • In the background document below you will find reasoning and facts behind the specific requirements in the criteria document.

    Here you can also read the comments, requirement for requirement, from the public hearing.

    If the documents are in a Nordic language, you can get help in understanding the sections you need by contacting the product specialist in your chosen country below.