Skip to main content
  3. Renovation 102

Renovation 102

The Nordic Swan Ecolabel is a strong tool for renovating buildings that are better choices for the environment, the climate, and the occupants. The requirements promote resource efficiency, reduced climate impact and a non-toxic and circular economy.

Furthermore, the criteria are aligned with the technical screening criteria for substantial contribution in the EU taxonomy Annex 1 for renovation of existing buildings (7.2).

The requirements include, among others:

  • Mapping and handling of harmful substances in the existing building.
  • Mapping of components and materials suitable for reuse.
  • Low energy demand or a significantly reduced total demand for primary energy compared to before the renovation.*
  • Moisture control of existing structures and in the renovation process.
  • Environmental properties and health properties of chemicals used in both construction materials and chemical building products, for example glue, paint, building panels.
  • A material logbook to ensure traceability of the building components.
  • Effective sorting of demolition and construction waste to promote reuse, recycling and other kinds of material recovery.
  • Control of renovation process.

* Except for protected buildings and buildings worthy of preservation covered by the exemption in O7.

The product group includes renovation of office buildings, educational buildings (schools, kindergartens, and day-cares), hotels and conference facilities and residential buildings such as small houses, apartments, row houses, student housing and homes for the elderly or for persons with disabilities.

    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

     

  • Please contact one of our national offices for information about fees for this product group.

  • 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.

  • When your customer applies for a Nordic Swan Ecolabel licence, they will need their suppliers' help in their application process. Every item in the product to be licenced has to be declared for.

    Suppliers wishing to declare their items, i.e. raw materials, products and chemicals, can do so in the Building Products Portal. You will be issued a personal account to ensure that all information is correct in a secure manner.

  • 2.2 ⇛ 2.3: Adjustment of requirement

    On October 28, 2025, Nordic Ecolabelling extended the product group definition to include buildings for cultural activities. Several requirements have been adapted with specific options or requirements for buildings for cultural activities. Requirements on other building types have not been affected. It is now possible to apply for Nordic Swan Ecolabelling for renovation of buildings for cultural activities. O11 was adjusted for all countries except Norway so that sorting in two wood waste fractions is required instead of three wood waste fractions. On January 20, 2026, Nordic Ecolabelling decided to introduce a time limited exemption for TCPP and TEP in O33.
    On January 27, 2026, Nordic Ecolabelling decided to extend the product group definition to include gymnastics- and sports halls. It is now possible to apply for Nordic Swan Ecolabelling of renovation of gymnastics- and sports halls.
    On February 10 Nordic Ecolabelling decided to adjust the exemption for smaller plastic details in requirement O29. Foils with a low content of PVC are now allowed.
    The 28th of April 2026 Nordic Ecolabelling decided to adjust requirement O30. The requirement title was changed from Durable wood to Wood impregnated as protection from rot, blue stain and mould. The requirement related to quality testing was removed and the scope of the requirement was changed into a list of restricted applications and permitted applications.
    The 12th of May 2026 Nordic Ecolabelling decided to let requirement O35 Formaldehyde emissions expire by 6th of August 2026. This is due to changes in legislation. The numbering of requirements will not change.
    The 30th of June 2026 Nordic Ecolabelling decided to allow ecolabelling of renovation of educational buildings containing workshops and laboratories. This was done by removing the bullet " Separate educational buildings that primarily accommodate laboratories, workshops and similar" from the list of buildings that cannot be Nordic Swan Ecolabelled.
    The 30th of June 2026 Nordic Ecolabelling decided to expand exemptions for polyurethane foams used in Finland, in O21, O22, and O25.
    Editorial changes were made in O16, O17, O23, O24 och O25.
    O34: A declaration template was created for construction projects to use.
    Decision dates and details for previous adjustments were corrected.
    Table numbers were updated after removal of tables in requirements O30 and O35.
    The new version of the criteria is 2.3.

    2.1 ⇛ 2.2: Adjustment of requirement

    On April 23, 2024, Nordic Ecolabelling decided to exempt outdoor glazing beads from O29.

    On April 30, 2024, Nordic Ecolabelling decided on an exemption for BHT in O25.

    On June 25, 2024, Nordic Ecolabelling decided to limit the scope of waste reporting from module factories in O11. Examples have been added to the background text. New exemptions for melamine in intumescent steel paints were added to O21, O22 and O25. An exemption for use of PU foam in Finland was implemented in O25.

    On September 10, 2024, Nordic Ecolabelling decided to introduce an exemption in O37 for eucalyptus and acacia in wood- and paper based construction boards.

    On December 10, 2024, Nordic Ecolabelling decided to introduce new exemptions for respirable crystalline silica/quartz in O22 and DBNPA and BHT in O25. Nordic Ecolabelling 102/2.2 16 September 2025 Criteria Document Renovation of buildings 63 (59) On April 22, 2025, Nordic Ecolabelling decided to introduce two exemptions in O33 for the use of biocides in preservative treated wood. A definition of which types of preservative treated wood are subject to requirements in O30 and O33 was added in the definitions chapter.

    Clarifications and editorial changes have been made in: O16, O21, O22, O25, O28, O29, O30, O35 and O38.

    Some of the appendices have been moved to a separate document and got new naming. References throughout the criteria and background documents have been changed to match.

    The new version of the criteria is 2.2.

    2.0 ⇛ 2.1: Adjustment of requirement

    On February 20, 2024 Nordic Ecolabelling decided to extend the scope of the product group definition to include additional building types. As a consequence, requirements O1, O13 and O15 have been updated with requirements and alternatives for these building types and the definitions Homes for the elderly and Homes for persons with disabilities have been removed. Editorial changes were made in O29. The new version of the criteria is 2.1.

    2.0: New criteria generation

    Version 2 of Nordic Ecolabelling's criteria for Renovation has been published. The criteria are valid until September 30, 2027.

    1.4 ⇛ 1.5: Adjustment of requirement and prolongation of the validity of the criteria

    Adjustment of requirement O16 where the energy classes have been updated according to the new energy directive. Several exceptions have also been introduced or changed in O18, O19, O22, O26 and O27, and clarifications have been made in requirements O25, O32, O33 and O34. In addition, the validity of the criteria has been extended by 24 months.

    The new version is called 1.5 and is valid until 30 June 2025.

    1.3 ⇛ 1.4: Adjustment of requirement

    Adjustment of requirement O19 where exemptions for TiO2 and TMP were introduced.

    1.2 ⇛ 1.3: Prolongation of the validity of the criteria

    The criteria has been been prolonged with 18 month. The new version, 1.3, is valid until 30 June 2023.

    1.1 ⇛ 1.2: Adjustment of the criteria

    The criteria has been adjusted in requirement O14 (renovation class for Denmark) and requirement O22 (D4, D5 and D6 were excluded as residues from the production of silicone polymers of 1 000 ppm each). The new version, 1.2, is valid until 31 December 2021.

    1.0 ⇛ 1.1: Adjustment of the criteria

    The criteria has been adjusted in requirement O16 and Appendix 8. The new version, 1.1, is valid until 31 December 2021.

    1.0: Adoption of criteria

    The Nordic Ecolabelling Board decided to adopt criteria for Renovation on the 9 November 2017. 

  • 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.