Visibility of Nordic ecolabel on the rise in Estonia

Monday, 15 April 2013
Hanna Saurioja. Photo: Tikkurila Ltd Estonia Hanna Saurioja. Photo: Tikkurila Ltd Estonia

Around a dozen products and services offered in the Baltic States have been awarded the Nordic ecolabel, the Swan to date, including seven in Estonia. Last week, Ltd Tikkurila Estonia showcased its series of Vivacolor paints, which now bear the Nordic ecolabel. Designed for use in construction and renovations, the paints are the first to be manufactured and marketed in the Baltic States that have been awarded the Swan label – the most respected and recognised ecolabel in the Nordic countries.

Outlining the history, principles and requirements of the Swan label at the presentation, Hanna Sauroja from the Nordic ecolabel office in Finland said that interest in the Swan label is on the rise in all three Baltic States. The most successful bearers of the Swan label in the Nordic countries of late have been hotels and other service companies. Terms and conditions are currently under development for the Swan label to also be applied to foodstuffs.

Sauroja says that the label not only confirms that the product or service in question remains environmentally friendly throughout its life cycle, but that it is of the highest possible quality: "The Nordic ecolabel is a simple and credible way to tell your customers that your product is a good choice for environment. If your company is interested to differentiate your products in the market and gain attention of environmentally aware consumers is the Swan label very efficient way to promote this." Click here to view Sauroja's presentation on the Swan label.

Romet Pärn, CEO of Ltd Tikkurila Estonia, says the Nordic ecolabel will provide added reassurance for consumers. "When they see the Swan label they'll know that our Vivacolor Interior paints contain no carcinogens and that when you paint with them only very small amounts of the kind of organic compounds that could cause allergies will be released into the air," he explained. "That's without comprising on any of the qualities that make the paints so long-lasting or give them such good coverage."

Luigemärk TikkurilaThe Nordic ecolabel was adopted in 1989 after a joint decision was taken by the region's governments to produce a label which would help consumers recognise and select environmentally friendly products that presented no danger to people's health. Its symbol – a white swan against a green background – is based on the logo of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Today the Swan label is one of the most successful and recognisable ecolabels in the world and plays a role in the purchasing decisions of experts and ordinary shoppers alike. A recent survey of Nordic consumers showed that as many as 82% of Danes, 88% of Finns, 94% of Norwegians and 97% of Swedes know the label by sight.

Find out more about the Nordic ecolabel here.


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