We have compiled answers to questions frequently submitted by users.
If you have other queries, please contact us via the Contact form below, or by email to contact@ecolabeltoolbox.com.
The Ecolabel Toolbox website is designed for several types of users:
There are no preliminary requirements for using the Ecolabel Toolbox, assuming that the new user falls into one of the categories mentioned above.
In the toolbox workspace each user is linked to one or more establishment via a role, either as person in charge, action manager, or accompanying body.
PERSON IN CHARGE
Who is the "Person in charge"?
The person in charge is the person who is authorised to sign the EU Ecolabel certification application. This may be the director of the establishment or the director of sustainable development, for example.
Only one person in charge can be entered per establishment. Other in-house participants will have a role of action manager.
What are the prerogatives of the person in charge? What information is available to the person in charge?
The person in charge of the application has full access to all sections of the establishment's workspace: general information, consumption records, self-audit, action plan, application file, establishment information sheet, etc.; S/he can add, modify and delete data and documents.
S/he is the only user who can contact the competent certification body to request a cost estimate or submit an application for certification via the website.
This person is also the only user who can request publication of the establishment information sheet on the website.
ACTION MANAGER
Who is the "Action manager"?
The action manager is often the person tasked with operational implementation of environmental action in the establishment, and with gathering information for the EU Ecolabel certification application file. This may be a receptionist, an intern, the housekeeping manager, or other.
There may be several action managers, especially if you want all department managers (lodgings, housekeeping, maintenance, food service, etc.) to have access to the website in order to stay informed of action plans for each department.
What can action managers do on the website? What information is available to them?
Action managers have access to all sections of the establishment's workspace: general information, consumption records, self-audit, action plan, establishment information sheet. They can add, modify and delete data and documents.
They can consult the certification application file, but they cannot contact the competent body, request a cost estimate or submit the certification application via the website. This action is reserved for the person in charge.
ACCOMPANYING BODY
What is an "Accompanying body"?
The accompanying body is an outside consultant or organisation that works with tourist accommodations to help them obtain EU Ecolabel certification. This may be, for example, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the regional tourism board, the local tourism office, a consulting firm, the sustainable development officer for a hotel chain, etc.
There may be several accompanying bodies for a given establishment.
What can accompanying bodies do on the website? What information is available to them?
Accompanying bodies have access to establishments' files only if they have been granted access by the person in charge.
Accompanying bodies have access to all sections of the establishment's workspace: general information, consumption records, self-audit, action plan, establishment information sheet. They can add, modify and delete data and documents, and make suggestions.
They can consult the certification application file, but they cannot contact the competent body, request a cost estimate or submit the certification application via the website. This action is reserved for the person in charge.
Likewise, they cannot publish the establishment information sheet on the website. Only the person in charge has this capability.
The Ecolabel Toolbox tool is furnished free of charge* by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency, ADEME. There is no cost to the user, either for consulting the site, registration, or connection to the online workspace.
EU Ecolabel certification involves fees for review of the application, certification audit and renewal, and for use of the label. Contact the competent body in your country for an estimate of the cost. (Contact information for the competent bodies is found in the list of Partners below).
* The Ecolabel Toolbox will be accessible free of charge at least until 2022, under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) that finances the ShMILe programme.
The EU Ecolabel is the official environmental certification of the European Commission. Competent bodies have been designated for each Member State.
In France, the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l'Energie, ADEME) works with other competent bodies to develop the EU Ecolabel, and to help potential users obtain certification, via financial aid, as the case may be, as well as collaborative efforts in certain territories, and tools such as the Ecolabel Toolbox.
The role of the competent body, the Certification department of the Agence Française de Normalisation (AFNOR), is to handle certification of tourist accommodations in France: review of applications, certification audits, audit reports sent to applicants, issuance of certification numbers, etc.
ADEME and AFNOR are both present at EU Commission meetings.
AFNOR is the dedicated contact for tourist accommodations and establishments that want to apply for EU Ecolabel certification (see the list of competent bodies below).