Only 20% of Irish people are familiar with the EU Ecolabel, as revealed by a Eurobarometer survey released on Thursday.
This recognition rate is the lowest among the 27 EU member states, falling just below the EU average of 38%.
The EU Ecolabel is represented by a flower-shaped logo with a green stem and leaves, blue stars as petals, and a euro symbol in the center.
It is awarded to products that prioritize waste reduction, carbon emissions reduction, limited or zero use of hazardous chemicals, efficient energy and water consumption, and durability with easy repair or recycling options.
The EU Ecolabel is distinct from the CE mark, which certifies compliance with EU safety, health, and environmental protection standards.
A significant 70% of Irish individuals have never encountered the EU Ecolabel, while 10% are unsure if they have come across it or not.
Still, 70% of Irish respondents consider the environmental impact of a product when making a purchasing decision, slightly below the EU average of 73%.
As of September, Ireland had registered 19 Ecolabel licenses and 147 products, which accounts for less than 1% of the total awarded since the label’s inception alongside the EU single market in 1992.
Most Ecolabel licenses and products are concentrated in Italy, the bloc’s third-largest economy, with 18% of the licenses and 16% of the registered products.
Germany, Spain, and France closely follow with a significant number of registered products and licenses.
Licenses are issued for one or more EU Ecolabel products within the same category.
Out of the total 2,584 licenses issued in the EU, a majority belong to tourist accommodation services (23%), hard surface cleaning products (15%), and tissue products (8%).
The most popular products with the Ecolabel are indoor and outdoor paints and varnishes (40%), tissue paper and related products (17%), and textiles (10%).
The EU Ecolabel is one of several environmental labels that appear on Irish products and services, including the international Fairtrade mark, the Forest Stewardship Council’s green tree mark, the farmers’ LEAF mark, and the Leaping Bunny mark for cosmetics.
Notably, Ireland’s food and drink sustainability program, Origin Green, does not possess its own quality mark for products and services.
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