EU Ecolabel

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Brand Guidelines

2022

Brand Summary

Mission

The EU Ecolabel is the European Union’s official label for environmental excellence. EU Ecolabel products have a reduced environmental impact across multiple stages of the product lifecycle [^1].

Core Values

environmental excellence
eco-friendliness
sustainability
traceability
European standards

Target Audience

EU Ecolabel license holders, Competent Bodies, applicants, journalists, publishing houses, and other relevant stakeholders [^2]. Consumers seeking products and services with minimized environmental impact [^3].

Personality Traits

authoritative
eco-conscious
transparent
professional
modern

Visual Identity Overview

The visual identity centers on a clean, modern logo featuring a stylized green plant, euro symbol, and a circle of blue stars representing the EU. The color palette uses EU Ecolabel green and blue, with strict guidelines for logo style, size, and placement. Packaging and promotional materials emphasize clarity, legibility, and eco-friendly aesthetics [^4].

Categories

Logo Usage

The EU Ecolabel logo is protected in primary EU law. The following format must be applied to correctly reproduce the EU Ecolabel logo in colour or in monochrome (black and white):
→ The logo’s style shall not be modified.
→ Other pictures or logos are not allowed to be part of the EU Ecolabel logo.
→ Text written over the EU Ecolabel logo is prohibited.
→ Both the EU Ecolabel logo and the license number text box shall appear on the good or service’s packaging/marketing material.
The logo should be visible and legible.
The logo should be no smaller than 10.6 x 10.6 mm.
→ The right to use the EU Ecolabel logo shall not infringe the European Commission’s trademark rights.
→ The previous version of the EU Ecolabel logo shall no longer be used to market the EU Ecolabel.
→ The logo and license number shall only be used during the validity period of the EU Ecolabel license.
→ The logo must only be used with its corresponding license number in relation to the specific good/service for which it has been awarded and/or on its associated promotional material.
→ It is prohibited to associate the logo with non-EU Ecolabel awarded goods/ services or to use it as part of a license holding company’s general profile.
→ If a license holder has more than one product registered under a license, it suffices to indicate the license number only once next to the logo on any associated promotional material.
→ Displaying the EU Ecolabel license number is fundamental for traceability reasons and to convey clear information to the consumer. Only the European Commission, Competent Bodies, and the EU Ecolabel Helpdesk are authorised to use the EU Ecolabel logo without a license number to promote the EU Ecolabel. Therefore, organisations (who are not license holders) wishing to use the logo need to ask prior authorisation from them.
→ The logo background must not be transparent if the background on which it is placed is patterned.
The EU Ecolabel logo and license number shall be clearly visible, regardless of the type of packaging.
The EU Ecolabel logo background and license number shall not be transparent, and shall not be presented without its frame.
EU Ecolabel Green Use for the ‘€’ symbol, the leaves and stem of the flower, the web address, the “EU” text, and the green background colour. Pantone 362 C CMYK C 71% / M 6% / Y 100% / K 0%. RGB R 82 / G 167 / B 51 HTML #51a733
EU Ecolabel Blue Use for the “Ecolabel” text, stars and borders. Pantone 653 C CMYK C 89% / M 62% / Y 15% /K 2% RGB R 42 / G 93 / B 152 HTML #2a5d98
The following information particularly applies to reproducing the colour EU Ecolabel logo:
The following information applies to reproducing the monochrome EU Ecolabel logo:
There shall be a black border around the logo.
Black on white background.
There shall be a white border around the logo.
White on black background.
Black or white on a coloured background (not patterned).
As long as the logo’s borders remain either black or white, its background colour within the frame can be the same as the background colour outside of the frame (i.e. its packaging). The black version of the logo shall be used on a light-coloured background while the white version of the logo shall be used on a dark coloured background. The logo’s background may not be patterned.

Color Palette

EU Ecolabel Green Use for the ‘€’ symbol, the leaves and stem of the flower, the web address, the “EU” text, and the green background colour. Pantone 362 C CMYK C 71% / M 6% / Y 100% / K 0%. RGB R 82 / G 167 / B 51 HTML #51a733
EU Ecolabel Blue Use for the “Ecolabel” text, stars and borders. Pantone 653 C CMYK C 89% / M 62% / Y 15% /K 2% RGB R 42 / G 93 / B 152 HTML #2a5d98
Colour indications for plate and flag templates: → EU Ecolabel green and EU Ecolabel blue: See specifications for “colours”/”monochrome” on pages 7 and 8. → EU Ecolabel light green: Use for the shading behind the EU Ecolabel logo only in the plates template → Pantone 375 → CMYK C 41% / M 0% / Y 78% / K 0% → RGB R 171 / G 204 / B 89 → HTML #abcc59

Typography

→ Font: Verdana
→ Font size: Minimum 7
→ Colours for the license number text and frame: see specifications for “colours”/“monochrome” on page 7 and 8. The textbox frame shall have rounded corners; the text cannot be used without the textbox frame.
Within the optional logo, colour or monochrome, all text (with the exception of the logo and the EU Ecolabel web address) shall respect the following format: → Font: Verdana → Font size: Minimum 7 → Colours: See specifications for “colours”/”monochrome” on page 7 and 8.

Packaging Design

The logo’s style shall not be modified.
Other pictures or logos are not allowed to be part of the EU Ecolabel logo.
Text written over the EU Ecolabel logo is prohibited.
Both the EU Ecolabel logo and the license number text box shall appear on the good or service’s packaging/marketing material.
The logo should be visible and legible.
The logo should be no smaller than 10.6 x 10.6 mm.
The EU Ecolabel logo and license number shall be clearly visible, regardless of the type of packaging.
The EU Ecolabel logo background and license number shall not be transparent, and shall not be presented without its frame.
EU Ecolabel Green: Use for the ‘€’ symbol, the leaves and stem of the flower, the web address, the “EU” text, and the green background colour.
Pantone 362 C
CMYK C 71% / M 6% / Y 100% / K 0%.
RGB R 82 / G 167 / B 51
HTML #51a733
EU Ecolabel Blue: Use for the “Ecolabel” text, stars and borders.
Pantone 653 C
CMYK C 89% / M 62% / Y 15% /K 2%
RGB R 42 / G 93 / B 152
HTML #2a5d98
There shall be a black border around the logo.
Black on white background.
There shall be a white border around the logo.
White on black background.
Black or white on a coloured background (not patterned).
The monochrome logo background colour is the same as the packaging colour or as the product background colour. As long as the logo’s borders remain either black or white, its background colour within the frame can be the same as the background colour outside of the frame (i.e. its packaging). The black version of the logo shall be used on a light-coloured background while the white version of the logo shall be used on a dark coloured background. The logo’s background may not be patterned.
The EU Ecolabel license number shall be presented as indicated in the EU Ecolabel Regulation (EC No. 66/2010: ANNEX II “Form of the EU Ecolabel”). The correct display of the EU Ecolabel license number is essential for reasons of traceability and to provide clear information to the consumer: EU Ecolabel: XXXX/YYY/ZZZZZ
Font: Verdana
Font size: Minimum 7
Colours for the license number text and frame: see specifications for “colours”/“monochrome” on page 7 and 8. The textbox frame shall have rounded corners; the text cannot be used without the textbox frame.
The license number can be presented on one or two lines: EU Ecolabel: XXXX/YYY/ZZZZZ
Whenever the EU Ecolabel logo is presented, the relevant license number must appear (preferably near the logo).
Correct: Example 1: License number directly above or below logo (most common)
Correct: Example 2: License number and logo on the same side of packaging, set apart
Correct: Example 3: License number on the opposite side of packaging

Print Guidelines

The logo’s style shall not be modified.
Other pictures or logos are not allowed to be part of the EU Ecolabel logo.
Text written over the EU Ecolabel logo is prohibited.
Both the EU Ecolabel logo and the license number text box shall appear on the good or service’s packaging/marketing material.
The logo should be visible and legible.
The logo should be no smaller than 10.6 x 10.6 mm.
The right to use the EU Ecolabel logo shall not infringe the European Commission’s trademark rights.
The previous version of the EU Ecolabel logo shall no longer be used to market the EU Ecolabel.
The logo and license number shall only be used during the validity period of the EU Ecolabel license.
The logo must only be used with its corresponding license number in relation to the specific good/service for which it has been awarded and/or on its associated promotional material.
It is prohibited to associate the logo with non-EU Ecolabel awarded goods/ services or to use it as part of a license holding company’s general profile.
If a license holder has more than one product registered under a license, it suffices to indicate the license number only once next to the logo on any associated promotional material.
Displaying the EU Ecolabel license number is fundamental for traceability reasons and to convey clear information to the consumer. Only the European Commission, Competent Bodies, and the EU Ecolabel Helpdesk are authorised to use the EU Ecolabel logo without a license number to promote the EU Ecolabel. Therefore, organisations (who are not license holders) wishing to use the logo need to ask prior authorisation from them.
The logo background must not be transparent if the background on which it is placed is patterned.
The EU Ecolabel logo and license number shall be clearly visible, regardless of the type of packaging.
The EU Ecolabel logo background and license number shall not be transparent, and shall not be presented without its frame.
EU Ecolabel Green Use for the ‘€’ symbol, the leaves and stem of the flower, the web address, the “EU” text, and the green background colour. Pantone 362 C CMYK C 71% / M 6% / Y 100% / K 0%. RGB R 82 / G 167 / B 51 HTML #51a733
EU Ecolabel Blue Use for the “Ecolabel” text, stars and borders. Pantone 653 C CMYK C 89% / M 62% / Y 15% /K 2% RGB R 42 / G 93 / B 152 HTML #2a5d98
There shall be a black border around the logo. Black on white background.
There shall be a white border around the logo. White on black background.
Black or white on a coloured background (not patterned).
As long as the logo’s borders remain either black or white, its background colour within the frame can be the same as the background colour outside of the frame (i.e. its packaging). The black version of the logo shall be used on a light-coloured background while the white version of the logo shall be used on a dark coloured background. The logo’s background may not be patterned.
The EU Ecolabel license number shall be presented as indicated in the EU Ecolabel Regulation (EC No. 66/2010: ANNEX II “Form of the EU Ecolabel”). The correct display of the EU Ecolabel license number is essential for reasons of traceability and to provide clear information to the consumer: EU Ecolabel: XXXX/YYY/ZZZZZ
Font: Verdana Font size: Minimum 7 Colours for the license number text and frame: see specifications for “colours”/“monochrome” on page 7 and 8. The textbox frame shall have rounded corners; the text cannot be used without the textbox frame.
The license number can be presented on one or two lines: EU Ecolabel: XXXX/YYY/ZZZZZ EU Ecolabel: XXXX/YYY/ZZZZZ
Whenever the EU Ecolabel logo is presented, the relevant license number must appear (preferably near the logo). The following examples illustrate acceptable placement of the license number in relation to the EU Ecolabel logo: Correct: Example 1: License number directly above or below logo (most common) Correct: Example 2: License number and logo on the same side of packaging, set apart Correct: Example 3: License number on the opposite side of packaging

Digital Guidelines

Information and guidance provided within the Logo Guidelines for offline/print promotional material, publications etc. also apply to online promotional material, such as online catalogues, online product flyers etc.
All indications on EU Ecolabel logo use outlined throughout this document shall be equally considered for (offline and online) advertising and free promotional sample purposes, in addition to the following specifications:
EU Ecolabel license information presented in print or online databases: The public ECAT (EU Ecolabel Product Catalogue) lists the goods and services currently awarded with the EU Ecolabel. The information within ECAT is regularly uploaded on the EU Open Data Platform where it is accessible to anyone. The EU Open Data Platform is the central platform for downloading this public data; print or online databases interested in promoting EU Ecolabel licenses for marketing or communication purposes can download the latest data on the EU Ecolabel at any time. All rules that apply to the logo and license number usage also apply to this type of marketing initiative. For further information and clarification of questions etc., please contact the EU Ecolabel Helpdesk.
All rules that apply to the logo and license number usage also apply to this type of marketing initiative.
Educational quizzes, e-learning courses, textbooks, informational material about ecolabels in general etc. Stakeholders wishing to use the EU Ecolabel for educational rather than promotional purposes shall contact the EU Ecolabel Helpdesk or their national Competent Body for more information. Please ensure you submit accompanying texts about how the EU Ecolabel is to be displayed within the educational material. All the rules that apply to the style and size of the EU Ecolabel logo as specified in these guidelines shall apply.
Example 4: Digital version of EU Ecolabel printed paper products. This example is applicable to and can be used in conjunction with all abovementioned examples. If an EU Ecolabel license is awarded to a printed paper product (e.g. newspapers, journals, magazines, books, brochures, etc.), which also has an equivalent digital version, the following phrase on the electronic version shall be indicated with the license number (or license number and logo if the license holder is the one advertising): The print version of this newspaper/journal/magazine/book is awarded the EU Ecolabel license number: XXXX/YYY/ZZZZZ.

Multilingual Guidelines

→ The translation of the text “Better for the environment….better for you”, along with all optional and mandatory text translations shall be taken from the EU Ecolabel Regulation EC. No. 66/2010, available in all official EU languages.
→ The optional logo is available in all EU languages. Contact the responsible Competent Body for the colour and monochrome (black and white) modifiable template files.
Regarding different language versions, only the three below options can be used to communicate the good’s/service’s minimised environmental impact via the optional logo.
Option 1: Include any desired translations of bullet points into EU languages in one box without translations of: “Better for the environment…, …better for you”.
Option 2: Include any desired translations of bullet points into EU languages in one box with the translation of: “Better for the environment…, …better for you”. in all corresponding EU languages.
Option 3: Create different boxes for each different EU language translation.

Visual Style

Style: → The logo’s style shall not be modified. → Other pictures or logos are not allowed to be part of the EU Ecolabel logo. → Text written over the EU Ecolabel logo is prohibited.
Size: → The logo should be visible and legible. → The logo should be no smaller than 10.6 x 10.6 mm.
The EU Ecolabel logo background must not be transparent if the background on which it is placed is patterned.
The EU Ecolabel logo and license number shall be clearly visible, regardless of the type of packaging.
The EU Ecolabel logo background and license number shall not be transparent, and shall not be presented without its frame.
EU Ecolabel Green Use for the ‘€’ symbol, the leaves and stem of the flower, the web address, the “EU” text, and the green background colour. Pantone 362 C CMYK C 71% / M 6% / Y 100% / K 0%. RGB R 82 / G 167 / B 51 HTML #51a733
EU Ecolabel Blue Use for the “Ecolabel” text, stars and borders. Pantone 653 C CMYK C 89% / M 62% / Y 15% /K 2% RGB R 42 / G 93 / B 152 HTML #2a5d98
There shall be a black border around the logo. Black on white background.
There shall be a white border around the logo. White on black background.
Black or white on a coloured background (not patterned).
The monochrome logo background colour is the same as the packaging colour or as the product background colour As long as the logo’s borders remain either black or white, its background colour within the frame can be the same as the background colour outside of the frame (i.e. its packaging). The black version of the logo shall be used on a light-coloured background while the white version of the logo shall be used on a dark coloured background. The logo’s background may not be patterned.
Colours for the license number text and frame: see specifications for “colours”/“monochrome” on page 7 and 8. The textbox frame shall have rounded corners; the text cannot be used without the textbox frame.
EU Ecolabel light green: Use for the shading behind the EU Ecolabel logo only in the plates template Pantone 375 CMYK C 41% / M 0% / Y 78% / K 0% RGB R 171 / G 204 / B 89 HTML #abcc59

Layout And Composition

→ The logo’s style shall not be modified.
→ Other pictures or logos are not allowed to be part of the EU Ecolabel logo.
→ Text written over the EU Ecolabel logo is prohibited.
→ Both the EU Ecolabel logo and the license number text box shall appear on the good or service’s packaging/marketing material.
→ The logo should be visible and legible.
→ The logo should be no smaller than 10.6 x 10.6 mm.
→ The logo background must not be transparent if the background on which it is placed is patterned.
The EU Ecolabel logo and license number shall be clearly visible, regardless of the type of packaging.
The EU Ecolabel logo background and license number shall not be transparent, and shall not be presented without its frame.
There shall be a black border around the logo.
Black on white background.
There shall be a white border around the logo.
White on black background.
Black or white on a coloured background (not patterned).
As long as the logo’s borders remain either black or white, its background colour within the frame can be the same as the background colour outside of the frame (i.e. its packaging). The black version of the logo shall be used on a light-coloured background while the white version of the logo shall be used on a dark coloured background. The logo’s background may not be patterned.
The EU Ecolabel license number shall be presented as indicated in the EU Ecolabel Regulation (EC No. 66/2010: ANNEX II “Form of the EU Ecolabel”).
→ Font: Verdana
→ Font size: Minimum 7
→ Colours for the license number text and frame: see specifications for “colours”/“monochrome” on page 7 and 8. The textbox frame shall have rounded corners; the text cannot be used without the textbox frame.
→ The license number can be presented on one or two lines:
Whenever the EU Ecolabel logo is presented, the relevant license number must appear (preferably near the logo).
Correct: Example 1: License number directly above or below logo (most common)
Correct: Example 2: License number and logo on the same side of packaging, set apart
Correct: Example 3: License number on the opposite side of packaging