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  3. Sanitary Products 023

Sanitary Products 023

The product group covers a wide range of product types: diapers, sanitary pads and tampons, incontinence protection, foam wash cloths, cotton buds, cover sheets and dental products.

The most important environmental impact from sanitary products comes from the production of the raw materials, such as cellulose pulp, cotton and various plastic parts. The requirements for Nordic Swan Ecolabelled sanitary products include energy consumption, emissions to air and water and the use of chemicals. The cotton must be organically grown.

Below you will find all the necessary documents and background information to apply for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.

Basic- and chemical modules

    1. Start your application process by reading the criteria document below and find out if your product can obtain the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. 
    2. Read your Application Guide.
    3. Get your login credentials.
    4. Now you are ready to enter the Nordic Ecolabelling Portal.

     

    To the Portal                                             Get login credentials

     

  • The criteria document for sanitary products is an overall document for the commodity groups:
     

    • Baby and incontinence care
    • Lady care
    • Other sanitary products
       

    Fees are charged per commodity group according to the price list below.

    Valid from 1/1 2025

    Amount excluding VAT

    Application fees

    		  
    Application for a new licence 3 348 EUR
    Application for renewal 1 673 EUR

    Annual licence fee

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

    Up to 30.9 million EUR. 0,3% of the products' turnover
    More than 30.9 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

    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.

  • 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. pulp and chemicals, can do so in the MSA Portal. You will be issued a personal account to ensure that all information is correct in a secure manner.

    But first, please visit the Pulp and Paper Declaration pages for more information.

    Declaring pulp, paper and chemicals

    • In order to declare your items, you must meet the Nordic Ecolabelling requirements. Study the following documents carefully:

    • By logging into the MSA Portal you confirm your acceptance of the User Agreement. Please read it carefully. 

    • Fees for inspecting pulp, paper and board

      Below you will find information about the fees for Nordic Ecolabelling to inspect pulp, paper and pulp.

      Fees for pulp and paper

      Fees for declaring chemicals for producing pulp, paper and board

      No fee. 
      However, in the agreement you undertake to comply with applicable conditions. If this is not complied with, Nordic Ecolabelling has the right to charge a fee.

    • To request login credentials, send an e-mail to paper@nordicecolabel.org containing the information below:

      • Company Name
      • Telephone (switchboard) 
      • Country (Nordic country you prefer to manage your application)
      • First name, last name
      • E-mail address
      • Direct phone number

  • Information on the latest version of the criteria for sanitary products

    6.10: Prolongation of the validity of the criteria

    Nordic Ecolabelling decided on 17 December, 2024, to prolong the validity of the criteria to the 31 October, 2026. The new version is called 6.10.

    6.8 ⇛ 6.9: Adjustment of the criteria and prolongation of the validity of the criteria

    An adjustment has been made in requirement O16 regarding reference value of phosphorus for unbleached chemical pulp. In addition, the validity of the criteria has been prolonged by 18 months. The new version is called 6.9 and is valid until 31 December 2025.

    6.7 ⇛ 6.8: Alteration of the criteria and prolongation of the validity of the criteria

    Adjustments have been made in requirements O3 and O4 regarding exemptions for TiO2-classified Carc. 2 and in requirement O11 regarding dyeing. In addition, the validity of the criteria has been prolonged by 12 months. The new version, 6.8, is valid until on 30 June 2024.

    6.6 ⇛ 6.7: Alteration of the criteria

    An adjustment has been made in requirement O11 regarding dyeing of incontinence products for adults and children over 5 years. The new version, 6.7, is valid until 30 June 2023.

    6.5 ⇛ 6.6: Alteration of the criteria

    An adjustment has been made in requirement O9 regarding lighter incontinence products, odor inhibitors with classification H332, H373, H400 and / or H410 are permitted. The new version, 6.6, is valid until 30 June 2023.

    6.4 ⇛ 6.5: Alteration of the criteria

    The classification H318 has been removed from requirement O3, and the preservative CMIT is excluded from the point prohibited halogenated organic compounds in requirement O5. The new version, 6.5, is valid until 30 June 30 2023.

    6.3 ⇛ 6.4: Alteration and prolongation of the criteria

    Alterations in the requirements O5 and O12 have been made. 
    Appendices 2a, 2b and 2c have therefore been changed too. 
    Furthermore, the criteria have been prolonged with 24 months. 
    The new versionen, 6.4, is valid until 30 juni 2023.

    6.2 ⇛ 6.3: Alteration of the criteria

    Alterations in the requirements O3, O4, O5 and O19 have been made. 
    Appendices 2a, 2b, 2 c, 3 och 11 have therefore been changed too. 
    The new versionen, 6.3, is valid until 30 juni 2021.

    6.1 ⇛ 6.2: Alteration of the criteria

    Adjustment of requirements O25 and specification of requirements O24. In addition, some minor editorial corrections have been made in the requirements O5, O27, O35 + O28 and O29 in the English version. The return system requirement O48 and Appendicies 2a, 2b, 2c, 10 and 11 have been changed. The new version, 6.1, is valid until June 30st 2021

    6.0 ⇛ 6.1: Alteration of the criteria

    Nordic Ecolabelling’s Criteria Group has decided to alter Table 1, requirments O14, O16, 025, O26, and O27.Futhermore the gruop has specified the requirements O28 and O29. And finally, appendices 5 and 11 have been altered accordingly. The new version, 6.1, is valid until June 30st 2021.

    6.0: New criteria generation

    Version 6.0 of Nordic Ecolabelling's criteria for sanitary products was published on June 14th 2016 and is valid until June 30th 2021.

     

  • 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.

  • Look up inspected pulp and fluff for help with your Nordic Swan Ecolabel application.