{"id":10153,"date":"2025-11-05T08:00:06","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T05:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/?p=10153"},"modified":"2025-11-05T12:40:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T09:40:07","slug":"eu-ecolabel-greener-choices-in-packaging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/eu-ecolabel-greener-choices-in-packaging\/","title":{"rendered":"Driving Greener Choices in Packaging Procurement with the EU Ecolabel"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sustainability is steadily transforming public procurement across Europe, and the packaging industry is no exception. The recent <a href=\"https:\/\/webcast.ec.europa.eu\/why-should-public-procurers-choose-eu-ecolabel-certified-products-2025-10-10\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">live broadcast<\/a> organized by the European Commission on 10 October 2025 highlighted the role of the EU Ecolabel in helping public buyers select greener products more easily, efficiently, and cost-effectively. With over 110,000 certified goods now on the market, the EU Ecolabel is fast becoming a key instrument to support environmentally responsible decisions in packaging.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_87 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/eu-ecolabel-greener-choices-in-packaging\/#Making_Sustainable_Procurement_Simple_with_Ecolabel\" >Making Sustainable Procurement Simple with Ecolabel<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/eu-ecolabel-greener-choices-in-packaging\/#A_Growing_Market_of_Certified_Choices\" >A Growing Market of Certified Choices<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/eu-ecolabel-greener-choices-in-packaging\/#Policy_Momentum_and_Regulatory_Push\" >Policy Momentum and Regulatory Push<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/eu-ecolabel-greener-choices-in-packaging\/#Innovation_and_Competitiveness_for_Packaging_Manufacturers\" >Innovation and Competitiveness for Packaging Manufacturers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/eu-ecolabel-greener-choices-in-packaging\/#Public_Procurement_as_a_Catalyst_for_Change\" >Public Procurement as a Catalyst for Change<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/eu-ecolabel-greener-choices-in-packaging\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Making_Sustainable_Procurement_Simple_with_Ecolabel\"><\/span><strong>Making Sustainable Procurement Simple with Ecolabel<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">While public-sector buyers often face pressure to <strong>balance environmental goals with budget<\/strong> and operational demands, the EU Ecolabel helps simplify this process. By selecting products that <strong>already meet strict environmental standards<\/strong>, procurers can reduce complexity, save time and ensure public funds support sustainable solutions. This approach is particularly relevant for the packaging sector, where material use, recyclability and lifecycle impact are under increasing scrutiny.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Growing_Market_of_Certified_Choices\"><\/span><strong>A Growing Market of Certified Choices<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The availability of \u201cecolabelled\u201d products has expanded dramatically, with around <strong>220,000 certified items available<\/strong> under both the EU Ecolabel and national Type I ecolabels. This wider choice is opening new opportunities for compliant and sustainable packaging materials. Contrary to the common belief that greener options cost more, recent studies show that EU Ecolabel-certified products are often <strong>competitively priced<\/strong>, and in some cases even more affordable than conventional alternatives.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Policy_Momentum_and_Regulatory_Push\"><\/span><strong>Policy Momentum and Regulatory Push<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This shift comes at a time of regulatory change, with the European Commission having launched an <strong>evaluation of the EU Public Procurement Directives<\/strong>, signaling the beginning of an updated framework.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, some EU countries have gone further by requiring <strong>sustainability criteria <\/strong>in multiple procurement categories. In Italy, for example, Type I ecolabels are accepted as sole proof of compliance, accelerating their adoption across various sectors, including packaging.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-10154\" src=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ecolabel-2-1024x576.png\" alt=\"ecolabel\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ecolabel-2-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ecolabel-2-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ecolabel-2-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ecolabel-2.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Innovation_and_Competitiveness_for_Packaging_Manufacturers\"><\/span><strong>Innovation and Competitiveness for Packaging Manufacturers<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the broadcast, EU Ecolabel is more than a compliance tool; it is also a driver of <strong>innovation<\/strong> and competitive <strong>advantage<\/strong>. Companies across Europe are using the label as a benchmark to develop new, more sustainable products, with manufacturers seeing certification as a <strong>strategic asset<\/strong> that strengthens market position, opens access to public tenders and aligns with the increasing demand for environmentally responsible packaging.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Public_Procurement_as_a_Catalyst_for_Change\"><\/span><strong>Public Procurement as a Catalyst for Change<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">By integrating EU Ecolabel-certified products into tendering processes, public authorities help <strong>bridge the gap between procurement practices and broader sustainability strategies,<\/strong> such as the <em>Circular Economy Act<\/em> and the <em>Clean Industrial Deal<\/em>. Successful <a href=\"https:\/\/circabc.europa.eu\/ui\/group\/0e3024d9-38be-415b-b141-c05d5d31dd92\/library\/a532a209-7e18-4d78-a384-fff27239835b\/details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">examples<\/a> from cities like Copenhagen demonstrate that awareness and collaboration between suppliers and public buyers are vital to scaling adoption in sectors like packaging.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Practical tools<\/strong>, including <a href=\"https:\/\/environment.ec.europa.eu\/topics\/circular-economy\/eu-ecolabel\/green-procurement_en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">EU Ecolabel procurement guide<\/a>, are already available to help purchasing teams include relevant criteria in tender documents effectively and consistently.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The EU Ecolabel is proving to be a powerful tool for transforming public procurement into a driver of sustainability and innovation, especially for the packaging industry. With a growing marketplace of certified products, supportive regulation and evidence of economic viability, the shift toward greener procurement is both practical and beneficial. As awareness increases and collaboration strengthens, packaging suppliers and public buyers alike can play a decisive role in achieving Europe\u2019s environmental goals.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You can find European Commission\u2019s full press release <a href=\"https:\/\/environment.ec.europa.eu\/news\/smart-and-sustainable-eu-ecolabel-useful-tool-green-public-procurement-2025-10-27_en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sustainability is steadily transforming public procurement across Europe, and the packaging industry is no exception. The recent live broadcast organized by the European Commission on 10 October 2025 highlighted the role of the EU Ecolabel in helping public buyers select greener products more easily, efficiently, and cost-effectively. With over 110,000 certified goods now on the&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":10154,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,543,542],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-en","category-advocacy-enforcement-en","category-new-tech-en","category-28","category-543","category-542","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10153","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10153"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10153\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10154"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10153"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}