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EU Ecolabel

The European Ecolabel is the official label of the European Commission that certifies environmentally friendly tourist accommodations. This certification is delivered by AFNOR Certification in France. The criteria compiled in the Tourist Lodgings reference base ensure a reduced environmental impact for the tourist accommodation as a whole: linen service, housekeeping and cleaning, food service, maintenance, spa and swimming pool facilities, green areas, etc.

The EU Ecolabel criteria are grouped in five categories: general management, energy use, water consumption, waste and wastewater, and other criteria. Some are mandatory, others optional.

The mandatory criteria must be met (except if they are not applicable). There are 22 mandatory criteria in all.

The optional criteria enable establishments to accumulate extra points; each establishment must choose among the 45 optional criteria to obtain a set number of points.

  • Each optional criteria is worth between 1 and 5 points.
  • The number of points to be earned by each establishment varies from 20 to 35 points, depending on the services offered by the establishment.
  • Optional points base, by type of establishment: all types of accommodations (20 points); camping facilities that also offer other types of accommodations such as chalets, studio apartments (24 points)
  • Additional points required, by type of service: breakfast or food service (+3 points); green areas (+3 points); swimming pool/sauna/jacuzzi/hammam/gym-fitness room (+3 points); wellness centre such as a spa open to outside customers (+5 points). In the latter case the 5 extra points replace the 3 points required for pool/sauna/jacuzzi.

Download the EU Ecolabel criteria reference base for Tourist Accommodations (PDF file)

Sign up free of charge for your User Workspace to conduct your own audit of your establishment and take advantage of the tools available to help you obtain EU Ecolabel certification.

View introductory videos on the EU Ecolabel, and testimonials from accommodations managers.

List of criteria

No. Heading of the criterion Category Status
1 Basis of an Environmental Management System General management Mandatory
2 Staff training General management Mandatory
3 Information to guests General management Mandatory
4 General maintenance General management Mandatory
5 Consumption monitoring General management Mandatory
6 Energy efficient space heating and water heating appliances Energy Mandatory
7 Energy efficient air conditioning and air-based heat pumps appliances Energy Mandatory
8 Energy efficient lighting Energy Mandatory
9 Thermoregulation Energy Mandatory
10 Automatic switching off of HVAC and lighting Energy Mandatory
11 Outside heating and air conditioning appliances Energy Mandatory
12 Procurement of electricity from a renewable electricity supplier Energy Mandatory
13 Coal and heating oils Energy Mandatory
14 Efficient water fittings: Bathroom taps and showers Water Mandatory
15 Efficient water fittings: toilets and urinals Water Mandatory
16 Reduction in laundry achieved through reuse of towels and bedclothes Water Mandatory
17 Waste prevention: food service waste reduction plan Waste Mandatory
18 Waste prevention: Disposable items Waste Mandatory
19 Waste sorting and sending for recycling Waste Mandatory
20 No smoking in common areas and rooms Other services Mandatory
21 Promotion of environmentally preferable means of transport Other services Mandatory
22 Information appearing on the EU Ecolabel Other services Mandatory
23 EMAS registration, ISO certification of the tourist accommodation (up to 5 points) General management Optional 5 Points
24 EMAS registration or ISO certification of suppliers (up to 5 points) General management Optional 5 Points
25 Ecolabelled services (up to 4 points) General management Optional 4 Points
26 Environmental and social communication and education (up to 2 points) General management Optional 2 Points
27 Consumption monitoring: Energy and water sub-metering (up to 2 points) General management Optional 2 Points
28 Energy efficient space heating and water heating appliances (up to 3 points) Energy Optional 3 Points
29 Energy efficient air conditioning and air-based heat pumps appliances (up to 3,5 points) Energy Optional 3.5 Points
30 Air-based heat pumps up to 100 kW heat output (3 points) Air-based heat pumps up to 100 kW heat output (3 points) Energy Optional 3 Points
31 Energy efficient household appliances and lighting (up to 4 points) Energy Optional 4 Points
32 Heat recovery (up to 3 points) Energy Optional 3 Points
33 Thermoregulation and window insulation (up to 4 points) Energy Optional 4 Points
34 Automatic switch off of appliances/devices (up to 4,5 points) Energy Optional 4.5 Points
35 District heating/cooling and cooling from cogeneration (up to 4 points) Energy Optional 4 Points
36 Electric hand driers with proximity sensor (1 point) Energy Optional 1 point
37 Space Heater emissions (1,5 points) Energy Optional 1.5 Points
38 Procurement of electricity from a renewable electricity supplier (up to 4 points) Energy Optional 4 Points
39 On site self-generation of electricity through renewable energy sources (up to 5 points) Energy Optional 5 Points
40 Heating energy from renewable energy sources (up to 3,5 points) Energy Optional 3.5 Points
41 Swimming pool heating (up to 1,5 points) Energy Optional 1.5 Points
42 Efficient water fittings: Bathroom taps and showers (up to 4 points) Water Optional 4 Points
43 Efficient water fittings: Toilets and urinals (up to 4,5 points) Water Optional 4.5 Points
44 Dishwasher water consumption (2,5 points) Water Optional 2.5 Points
45 Washing machine water consumption (3 points) Water Optional 3 Points
46 Indications on water hardness (up to 1,5 points) Water Optional 1.5 Points
47 Optimised pool management (up to 2,5 points) Water Optional 2.5 Points
48 Rainwater and grey water recycling (up to 3 points) Water Optional 3 Points
49 Efficient irrigation (1,5 points) Water Optional 1.5 Points
50 Native or non-invasive alien species used in outdoor planting (up to 2 points) Water Optional 2 Points
51 Paper products (up to 2 points) Waste Optional 2 Points
52 Durable goods (up to 4 points) Waste Optional 4 Points
53 Beverages provision (2 points) Waste Optional 2 Points
54 Detergents and toiletries procurement (up to 2 points) Waste Optional 2 Points
55 Minimisation of the use of cleaning products (1,5 point) Waste Optional 1.5 Points
56 De-icing (1 point) Waste Optional 1 point
57 Used textiles and furniture (up to 2 points) Waste Optional 2 Points
58 Composting (up to 2 points) Waste Optional 2 Points
59 Waste water treatment (up to 3 points) Waste Optional 3 Points
60 No smoking in rooms (1 point) Other services Optional 1 point
61 Social policy (up to 2 points) Other services Optional 2 Points
62 Maintenance vehicles (1 point) Other services Optional 1 point
63 Environmentally preferable means of transport offer (up to 2,5 points) Other services Optional 2.5 Points
64 Unsealed surfaces (1 point) Other services Optional 1 point
65 Local and organic products (up to 4 points) Other services Optional 4 Points
66 Pesticide avoidance (2 points) Other services Optional 2 Points
67 Additional environmental and social actions (up to 3 points) Other services Optional 3 Points