The Nordic Swan Ecolabel is an effective tool for the manufacturing of baking paper and other greaseproof-paper products with less impact on the environment and climate. The label indicates that the product meets strict environmental requirements.
The requirements include, among others:
- Energy efficient manufacturing and limited emissions of greenhouse gases. Fossil oil or coal are not allowed in production.
- Environmental and health properties of the chemicals used in production.
- All fibres must be traceable and come from controlled sources – and at least 70 % from certified forests.
- Limits for emissions to air and water during production.
The product group includes cellulose-based greaseproof papers mainly for use in contact with food for both consumer and professional use. The Nordic Swan Ecolabel can be applied for, for example, baking paper, sandwich paper and muffin cups.
The Grease-proof paper criteria consist of three documents; the criteria document below as well as the “Basic Module” and the “Chemical module”. Please download these here:
Welcome to apply for a Nordic Swan Ecolabel licence!
This is how you do:
- Read the application guide.
- Log in to the Nordic Ecolabelling Portal.
- Start your application.
If this is the first time you are applying, the authorized signatory must fill in your company information and approve the application conditions. In this way, you get login to the portal and the right to assign access to other colleagues.
Some special cases can not be done in the Nordic Ecolabelling Portal. Contact your advisor for such cases. More information can be found on Application step by step.
| Valid from 1/1 2026 | Amount excluding VAT |
| Application fees | |
| Application for a new licence | 3 401 EUR |
| Application for renewal | 1 699 EUR |
Annual licence fee
The licence fee for the Nordic Swan Ecolabelled products is based on their turnover in the Nordic region.
| Up to 52.324 million EUR. | 0.3% of the products’ turnover |
| More than 52.324 million EUR. | 0.05% of the products’ turnover |
| Minimum fee in the Nordic region | 2 267 EUR per year. |
| Fixed fee applicable to turnover outside the Nordic region | 2 267 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 | 424 EUR |
| 4-8 hours | 849 EUR |
| 8 or more hours | 1 699 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 | 565 EUR per visit |
| On-site inspection outside the Nordic region, but within Europe | 1 699 EUR per visit |
| On-site inspection outside Europe | 2 834 EUR per visit |
| Additional fee for on-site inspections lasting longer than one day | 1 132 EUR per day |
About the fees
For clarification of fees, click here.
Ecolabelling Sweden AB has no financial profit purpose and is financed through the fees above along with an annual government grant. The company is however liable for VAT according to article 56 of the European Council Directive 2006/112/EC.
Invoicing is made in SEK with the exchange rate from the first banking day of the year.
When both the applicant and the manufacturer are micro-enterprises, the application fee is reduced by 50%. A micro-enterprise is in this context defined as an enterprise with less than 10 employees and an annual turnover (of both ecolabelled and not ecolabelled products) below 2 million EUR.
| 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 51.5 million EUR. | 0.3% of the products’ turnover |
| More than 51.5 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 |
About the fees
For clarification of fees, click here.
Ecolabelling Sweden AB has no financial profit purpose and is financed through the fees above along with an annual government grant. The company is however liable for VAT according to article 56 of the European Council Directive 2006/112/EC.
Invoicing is made in SEK with the exchange rate from the first banking day of the year.
When both the applicant and the manufacturer are micro-enterprises, the application fee is reduced by 50%. A micro-enterprise is in this context defined as an enterprise with less than 10 employees and an annual turnover (of both ecolabelled and not ecolabelled products) below 2 million EUR.
When your customer applies for a Nordic Swan Ecolabel licence, they will need their suppliers’ help. Every item in the product to be licenced has to be declared for.
Pulp and chemical suppliers can declare their products in the MSA Portal. You will be issued a personal account to ensure that your information is treated confidentially.
For more information, please visit the Pulp and Paper Declaration pages.
On 11 November 2025, Nordic Ecolabelling decided to adjust the requirement for packaging (O13), by specifying that recycled plastic is required only for PET (Polyethylene terephthalate). The new version is called 5.3.
5.1 ⇛ 5.2: Adjustment of criteria
On 18 February 2025, Nordic Ecolabelling decided to adjust requirement for energy (O5), by allowing an alternative method to verify the requirement. The new version is called 5.2.
5.0 ⇛ 5.1: Adjustment of criteria
On 4 February 2025, Nordic Ecolabelling decided to adjust requirement for silicone coating of baking paper (O10 and appendix 3), by exempting Karstedt’s platinium catalyst from the classification H360D in the requirement O2 in the Chemical Module, gen 3.
5.0: New criteria generation:
Version 4 of Nordic Ecolabelling’s criteria for grease-proof paper has been published. The criteria are valid until December 31st, 2028.
4.5 ⇛ 4.6: Prolongation of the criteria’s validity
The validity of the criteria of grease proof paper has been prolonged. The new version, 4.6, is valid until June 30, 2025.
4.4 ⇛ 4.5: Prolongation of the criteria’s validity
The validity of the criteria of grease proof paper has been prolonged with 6 months. The new version, 4.5, is valid until December 31, 2024.
4.3 ⇛ 4.4: Prolongation of the criteria’s validity
The validity of the criteria of grease proof paper has been prolonged with 6 months. The new version, 4.4, is valid until June 30, 2024.
4.2 ⇛ 4.3: Prolongation of the criteria’s validity
The validity of the criteria of grease proof paper has been prolonged with 12 months. The new version, 4.3, is valid until December 31st, 2023.
4.1 ⇛ 4.2: Prolongation of the criteria’s validity
The validity of the criteria or grease proof paper has been prolonged with 24 months. At the same time a small correction has been made to requirement O8. The new version, 4.2, is valid until December 31st, 2022.
4.0 ⇛ 4.1: Prolongation of the criteria’s validity
The validity of the criteria or grease proof paper has been prolonged. The new version, 4.1, is valid until December 31st, 2020.
4.0: New criteria generation:
Version 4 of Nordic Ecolabelling’s criteria for grease proof paper has been published. The criteria are valid until December 31st 2018.