Eco-Labels: How to Distinguish the Real Deal from Marketing Tricks

Have You Ever Bought a Shampoo That’s Deceptively Packaged in a Green Bottle with a Label Claiming “Natural,” Leading You to Believe It’s a 100% Natural Eco Product? Remember—just because something is green doesn’t mean it’s eco-friendly. You might wonder how to distinguish between misleading eco claims and truly ecologically certified food or beauty products. To address this issue, eco-labels have been created to ensure that a product meets all the criteria for obtaining an eco-certification.

What is an Eco-Label?

An eco-label is a symbol on the packaging of ecologically certified products that guarantees the product is made from environmentally friendly materials and produced using eco-friendly manufacturing methods. Products with an eco-label must not contain harmful substances to the environment and health, such as toxic preservatives that release formaldehyde—a potential carcinogen.

An eco-label is granted to a product for a specific period, meaning the manufacturing processes must be constantly monitored to pass annual checks and maintain the eco-certification. If the product no longer meets the criteria for obtaining or maintaining the certification, the label is revoked. It’s often said that “an eco-certification is hard to obtain but easy to lose.”

What Does an Eco-Label Look Like?

There are various eco-labels, each with its own criteria for different product categories—such as food, household chemicals, cosmetics, etc. Each eco-label looks different and does not necessarily have to be green. Read on to learn about the variety of eco-labels!

Popular Eco-Labels in Latvia

• EU Organic Farming Label
  Guarantees that at least 95% of the product’s ingredients are produced through organic farming. Organic food must not contain pesticide residues or GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and must adhere to high animal welfare standards.

• Latvian Eco Product
  This eco-label is issued by the Latvian Organic Farming Association and guarantees that the product is made from ecological ingredients.

• Eco-Flower
  The European Union’s official environmental label that helps distinguish environmentally friendly goods and services. It appears on cleaning products, paints and varnishes, soaps and shampoos, paper products (toilet paper, napkins, baking paper, etc.).

• Nordic Swan
  The Nordic eco-label that guarantees the product is made using environmentally friendly production methods. It can be found on batteries, household chemicals, cosmetics, and paper products.

• ECOCERT
  A French eco-certification that guarantees that at least 95% of the product’s ingredients are ecologically pure, free from GMOs, petroleum products, parabens, phenoxyethanol, chemical dyes, and fragrances. You’ll find this label on beauty and household chemical products.

• Blue Angel
  One of the oldest eco-labels, regarded as one of the world’s most well-developed labels based on its criteria. This German label appears on paper products, paints and varnishes, electronic goods, laminate, and other finishing materials.

Don’t Confuse These with Eco-Labels

While eco-labels indicate that no harmful substances are used in the product’s composition or production processes, other certifications and labels might only address production methods, which do not guarantee the product is entirely eco-friendly.

• Green Spoon
  This label is a national food quality mark indicating that the product meets higher quality standards. It is awarded to products containing at least 75% ingredients from an EU member state or region.

• Green Dot
  Indicates that the packaging manufacturer or distributor has paid for packaging recycling. The Green Dot ensures that the company engages in waste sorting.

• International Recycling Symbol
  Indicates that the product can be recycled, or that the product and its packaging are partially or completely made from recycled materials.

Why Choose Eco-Friendly Products?

There are various motivations for choosing ecological products, but in any case, selecting environmentally friendly options benefits both your health and the surrounding environment. It is important to stay vigilant and not fall for misleading marketing tricks. Next time you’re shopping for eco-friendly cosmetics or other eco products, remember to check the product label for any eco-labels! If you want to save time researching product labels, you can always rely on the Naturetty product range, where you’ll find 100% natural cosmetics, eco-friendly home goods, and zero waste products.