The revised criteria that will now be used for awarding the EU Ecolabel to six categories of detergents that are well-known for being free from micro-plastics were formally adopted and launched by the European Commission on Thursday 23 June, on the occasion of the label's 25th anniversary.
The EU Ecolabel is a voluntary scheme which enables products that bear the label to show that they have less impact on the environment throughout their life-cycle.
The six categories of products concerned by the revised criteria are laundry, industrial laundry, dishwasher, industrial dishwasher, hand dishwashing and hard-surface cleaning detergents.
The new criteria thus set stricter requirements for plastic packaging in these products. They will enter into force before the end of June and will be valid for six years.
Detergents which fulfil the label's criteria "will help better protect our seas and oceans, and will generate less waste and CO²", European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella stated.
Companies that have already obtained the right to use the label for their products will have a period of 12-18 months to adapt to the new criteria. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)