Excerpt from standard:

01: Safety data sheets for each raw material in line with prevailing European legislation (Annex II to REACH Regulation, 1907/2006/EC) O5: Safety data sheet for each raw material in line with European legislation (Annex II to REACH, Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006). The product must not be classified with any of the hazard classes described in Table O2. Safety data sheet for the product in line with prevailing European legislation (Annex II to REACH Regulation, 1907/2006/EC). O6 Substances evaluated by the EU to be PBT (persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic) or vPvB (very persistent and very bioaccumulative), in accordance with the criteria in Annex XIII of REACH and substances that have not yet been investigated, but which meet these criteria.

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O1 Description of the product O5 Classification of ingoing substances O6 Prohibited substances

Excerpt from standard:

The product’s total content of substances that are not aerobically biodegradable (aNBO) and/or not anaerobically biodegradable (anNBO) shall not exceed the limits stated in Table O13. Note that all surfactants must be aerobically and anaerobically biodegradable in accordance with O7. See also the exemption from the requirement of anaerobic biodegradability for substances which are not surfactants (Appendix 1, item 6, Anaerobic biodegradability). Table O13: Limit values for aNBO and anNBO Product type Water hardness aNBO anNBO Heavy-duty laundry detergent (normally soiled) 5.5°dH 0.50 g/kg wash 1.00 g/kg wash Light-duty laundry detergent (lightly soiled) 5.5°dH 0.30 g/kg wash 0.30 g/kg wash Stain-removers (in-wash) Not applicable 0.10 g/kg wash 0.10 g/kg wash Stain-removers (pre-treatment) Not applicable 0.10 g/kg wash 0.10 g/kg wash O7 Surfactants All surfactants must be readily biodegradable according to test method No 301 A–F or No 310 in OECD guidelines for testing of chemicals or other equivalent test methods evaluated by an independent body and controlled by Nordic Ecolabelling. All surfactants must be anaerobically biodegradable in accordance with ISO 11734, ECETOC No 28, OECD 311 or equivalent testing methods evaluated by an independent body and controlled by Nordic Ecolabelling, where a minimum of 60 % degradability under anaerobic conditions is achieved.

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O13 Biodegradability - aerobic and anaerobic (aNBO and anNBO) O7 Surfactants

Excerpt from standard:

O2 The product must not be classified with any of the hazard classes described in Table O2. Safety data sheet for the product in line with prevailing European legislation (Annex II to REACH Regulation, 1907/2006/EC). O6 Substances evaluated by the EU to be PBT (persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic) or vPvB (very persistent and very bioaccumulative), in accordance with the criteria in Annex XIII of REACH and substances that have not yet been investigated, but which meet these criteria.

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O2 Classification of the product O6 Prohibited substances

Excerpt from standard:

The product must not be classified with any of the hazard classes described in Table O2: Respiratory or skin sensitisation** Resp. Sens. 1, 1A or 1B Skin Sens. 1, 1A or 1B H334 H317 ** Products labelled with EUH208 (“Contains <name of sensitising substance>. May produce an allergic reaction.”) are restricted as follows: • Products that are primarily used in an open system (stain removers that are applied directly on clothes or spray products) cannot be Nordic Swan Ecolabelled if labelled with EUH208. • Other products labelled with EUH208 can be Nordic Swan Ecolabelled only if the sensitising substance is an enzyme that is exempt under the conditions stated in requirement O5.

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O2 Classification of the product

Excerpt from standard:

The product’s critical dilution volume (CDV) shall not exceed the limit values for CDVchronic in table O12. Table O12 CDV limit values Product type Water hardness CDVchronic Heavy-duty laundry detergent (normally soiled) 5.5°dH 31,500 l/kg wash Light-duty laundry detergent (lightly soiled) 5.5°dH 15,000 l/kg wash Stain-removers (in-wash) Not applicable 7,500 l/kg wash Stain-removers (pre-treatment) Not applicable 3,500 l/kg wash CDV is calculated using the following formula for all substances in the product: CDVchronic = Σ CDVi = Σ (dosei x DFi x 1000 / TFi chronic) dosei = the constituent volume of each individual substance “i”, in g/kg wash DFi = degradation factor for substance “i”, in accordance with the DID list TFi chronic = chronic toxicity factor for substance “i”, in accordance with the DID list. If TFi chronic is lacking, TFi acute can be used.

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O12 Critical dilution volume (CDV)

Excerpt from standard:

The following substances must not be present in the product: {...} • Microplastics Microplastic means particles with a size of below 5 mm of insoluble macromolecular plastic, obtained through one of the following processes: (a) a polymerisation process such as polyaddition or polycondensation or a similar process using monomers or other starting substances; (b) chemical modification of natural or synthetic macromolecules; (c) microbial fermentation.

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O6 Prohibited substances

Excerpt from standard:

The product group “laundry detergents and stain removers” encompasses laundry detergents and stain removers in powder, tablets, liquids, gel or any other form.

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What can carry the Nordic Ecolabel?

Excerpt from standard:

Water and energy consumption shall be monitored and recorded in order to ensure equal testing conditions.

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2 Washing machines and wash programmes 2.1 Washing machine

Excerpt from standard:

O19 Recycling and recycled material in packaging • It must be possible to recycle the main materials in the primary packaging* in today's existing material recirculation systems in the Nordic countries. Incineration with energy recovery is not considered to be material recovery. The main materials are defined as the materials making up 90% or more of the individual components (ref. requirement O22). Exemption: Cardboard packaging for liquid products must contain a minimum of 60% paper/cardboard (ref. requirement O21). • All hard/rigid plastic packaging must contain a minimum 50 % (by weight, calculated on the total mass of the bottle/box/container, closure and label) post-consumer/commercial recycled material (PCR)**. • Paper/cardboard-based packaging must contain a minimum 90 % (by weight) post-consumer recycled material (PCR)**. An exemption is made for corrugated board where minimum 50 % (by weight) post consumer/commercial recycled material** is required, and for cardboard packaging for liquid products, which does not need to contain PCR. *The packaging includes box/bottle/container/flexible pouches, labels and closures (e.g. caps, lids). ** Post-consumer/commercial recycled material is defined in the requirement according to ISO 14021:2016: "Post-consumer/commercial" is defined as material generated by households or by commercial, industrial and institutional facilities in their role as end-users of the product, which can no longer be used for its intended purpose. This includes returns of material from the distribution chain. O20 Design for recycling of packaging (except plastic pouches and cardboard packaging for liquid products) Packaging should have a design that enables material recovery. This means that: • The individual components of the primary plastic packaging (excluding labels) must be made from monomaterial of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Exemption is made for spray triggers in stain removers that can contain following plastics in small technical details: polyoxymethylene (POM), expanded polyethylene (EPE), ethylene butyl acrylate copolymer (EBA), synthetic rubber copolymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene (NBR). Exemption is made for PE- or PP-closures that are used in squeeze bottles. The closures can contain a TPE (thermoplastic elastomer)-membrane of the type TPE-PE (based on polyethylene), TPE-PP (based on polypropylene) or SEBS (Styrene-Ethylene-Butylene-Styrene thermoplastic elastomer). If the closure is to be used on a PET-bottle, the membrane must have a density below 1.0 g/cm3. •It is not allowed to add pigments to PET used for box/bottle/container.Coloured, recycled PET-granulate where the pigment originates from therecycled material is allowed for use. •Carbon black pigments can not be added to the box/bottle/container of PE orPP or closures. Exemption is made for small amounts of carbon black used inother colours than black. It must then be documented that the NIR sensorreads and sorts the box/bottle/container or the closure to the correct plasticfraction. •Silicone is not allowed in closures •Barriers are not allowed in plastic packaging •Fillers (such as CaCO3) cannot be included in PE or PP box/bottle/containerand closures at a level that the density of the plastic exceeds 0.995g / cm3. •Metal must not be part of the packaging (box/bottle/container, closure orlabel). Exemption is made for pump bottles, where metal spring can be used •Polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or plastics based on othertypes of halogenated polymers must not be present in the label or thecardboard packaging. •PET-G (polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified) cannot be used inlabels/shrink-film labels •Labels/shrink film labels shall not cover more than a maximum of 60 % of thesurface of the box/bottle/container. The calculation of the percentage shall bebased on the two-dimensional profile of the box/bottle/container i.e. the areaof the top and bottom of the packaging and the sides of a box/container/bottle/can shall not be included in the calculation. If the label onthe front of pack and back of pack are of different size, the maximumpercentage of 60% shall be fulfilled for each side separately. For a cylindricalbottle, the calculation can also be based on the three-dimensional profileexclusive bottom and top of the bottleAn exemption to the maximumrequirement of 60% applies if the label/shrink film label is made of the sameplastic as the bottle. Please note that foil that is not removed before use of the product is counted as part of the formulation/ingredient, and not as packaging. Please note: The Nordic Ecolabelling will start a project on labels to see if more requirements on labels should be included in the requirements. There will be a decision made in March 2021 including a plan for implementation. Flexible plastic pouches Plastic packaging should have a design that enables material recovery. This means that: • The plastic packaging (incl. closure, excl. label) must be made from Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP) or Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). • The pouch/bag must be made of monomaterial, i.e. not laminates with layers of different materials. Barrier coating of EVOH (Ethylene vinyl alcohol) is allowed in maximum amounts of 2% related to the total weight. • Carbon black pigments can not be added to the pouch or closures. Exemption is made for text and pictograms. Exemption is also made for small amounts of carbon black used in other colours than black. It must then be documented that the NIR sensor reads and sorts the pouch or the closure to the correct plastic fraction. • Fillers (such as CaCO3) cannot be included in PE or PP packaging (incl. closures) at a level that the density of the plastic exceeds 0.995g / cm3. • Polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or plastics based on other types of halogenated plastics must not be present in the label. • Silicone is not allowed in closures Please note that foil that is not removed before use of the product is counted as part of the formulation/ingredient, and not as packaging. Cardboard packaging for liquid products • Cardboard packaging for liquid products must contain at least 60% paper/paperboard. • Tree species listed on Nordic Ecolabelling's list of prohibited tree species must not be used in pulp/paperboard. The list of prohibited tree species is located on the website: www.nordic-ecolabel.org/wood/ • Paper/paperboard: A minimum of 70% of the wood raw material that are used in the paper/cardboard must originate from forestry certified under the FSC or PEFC schemes. Alternatively, the raw material can be recycled (PCR)*, or a combination of the two. The remaining proportion of wood raw material must be covered by the FSC/PEFC control schemes (FSC controlled wood/PEFC controlled sources). • At least 90% by weight of the primary packaging must be made of bio-based material** or post-consumer/commercial recycled material (PCR)* or a combination of these. A mass balance approach is permitted. • Palm oil and soy cannot be used as a raw material in the production of bio-based plastic. For bio-based plastic that originates from sugar cane: Sugar cane must be certified according to a standard that meets Nordic Ecolabelling’s requirements for raw material standards. This requirement does not apply for secondary raw materials*** • PVC or plastic based on other types of halogenated plastics must not be used. • Aluminum and other metals must not be used. • Packaging that is Nordic Swan Ecolabelled according to the criteria for Nordic Ecolabelling for Packaging for Liquid Foods, and that consists mainly of paper/paperboard (fibre), can be used without further documentation of requirement O19 or O21. The Weight-Utility Ratio (WUR) in O22 must still be documented. * Post-consumer/commercial recycled material is defined in the requirement according to ISO 14021:2016: "Post-consumer/commercial" is defined as material generated by households or by commercial, industrial and institutional facilities in their role as end-users of the product, which can no longer be used for its intended purpose. This includes returns of material from the distribution chain. ** Bio-based means that the material consists of biomass that may have undergone physical, chemical or biological treatment(s). Biomass has a biological origin, but excludes material that is found embedded in geological and/or fossil formations. Examples of biomass are: (all or parts of) plants, trees, algae, marine organisms, microorganisms, animals, etc. ***Secondary raw materials are defined here as residual products from other production processes, such as waste products from the food industry, by-products such as straw from grain production, by-products from maize and dried palm leaves. PFAD from palm oil is not counted as a residual/waste product. The weight/utility ratio of the product and its packaging must not exceed the following values: Product type WUR Laundry detergents in plastic-based* packaging 1.1 g/kg wash Stain removers in plastic-based* packaging 0.7 g/kg wash Solid products in paper-based** packaging 1.0 g/kg wash Liquid products in cardboard packaging 1.0 g/kg wash * Packaging made of more than 90% plastic. ** Packaging made of more than 90% paper/cardboard. Packaging with both plastic and carboard that can be manually separated (e.g. bag in a box or cardboard box with a plastic closure or handle) need to use a weighed calculation that takes into account both materials. This kind of packaging, consisting of X % plastic and Y % cardboard should fulfil the WUR-limit X/100*WUR (plastic-based packaging) + Y/100*WUR (paper-based packaging). Other types of packaging can currently not be used. Exemption: Cardboard packaging for liquid products must contain a minimum of 60% paper/cardboard (ref. requirement O21). The WUR is calculated only for primary packaging (including caps, labels, handles, spraying devices etc.) using the formula below: WUR = Σ [(Wi + Ui)/(Di * ri)] Where: Wi = the weight (g) of the packaging component (i) including the label if applicable. Ui = the weight (g) of non-recycled (virgin) material in the packaging component (i). If the proportion of recycled material in the packaging component is 0 % then Ui = Wi. Di = the number of functional units contained in the packaging component (i). The functional unit = reference dosage in g/kg wash. ri = recycling figure, i.e. the number of times the packaging component (i) is used for the same purpose through a return or refill system. The default value for r is set to 1 (= no re-use). Only if the applicant can document that the packaging component is re-used for the same purpose and how many times, a higher value for r can be used in the calculation.

Referenzdokumente:

O19 Recycling and recycled material in packaging O20 Design for recycling of packaging (except plastic pouches and cardboard packaging for liquid products) O21 Design for recycling of flexible plastic pouches/bags and cardboard packaging for liquid products O22 Weight-Utility Ratio (WUR)

Excerpt from standard:

It must be possible to recycle the main materials in the primary packaging* in today's existing material recirculation systems in the Nordic countries. Incineration with energy recovery is not considered to be material recovery. The main materials are defined as the materials making up 90% or more of the individual components (ref. requirement O22). Exemption: Cardboard packaging for liquid products must contain a minimum of 60% paper/cardboard (ref. requirement O21). • All hard/rigid plastic packaging must contain a minimum 50 % (by weight, calculated on the total mass of the bottle/box/container, closure and label) post-consumer/commercial recycled material (PCR)**. • Paper/cardboard-based packaging must contain a minimum 90 % (by weight) post-consumer recycled material (PCR)**. An exemption is made for corrugated board where minimum 50 % (by weight) post consumer/commercial recycled material** is required, and for cardboard packaging for liquid products, which does not need to contain PCR.

Referenzdokumente:

O19 Recycling and recycled material in packaging

Excerpt from standard:

Water and energy consumption shall be monitored and recorded in order to ensure equal testing conditions.

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2 Washing machines and wash programmes 2.1 Washing machine

Excerpt from standard:

O14 Dosage instructions a) Water hardness for the recommended dosage must be stated (in German degrees ºdH). Indications of the most prevalent water hardness in each Nordic country where the product is on sale, or where this information can be found, shall be provided. b) For liquid products contained in a conventional bottle it must be possible to use the closure as a dosing device. (This does not apply for products that are intended for auto dosing machines only.) A scale on the closure as well as a picture on the label is required. c) For products that does not have a cap of sufficient volume to be used as a dosing device (eg a squeeze bottle or a carton for liquids) an alternative method, eg. dosing scale on the bottle/carton is accepted. The bottle/carton should be designed so that the detergent can be dosed conveniently and accurately. d) For product formats where neither a cap nor a dosing scale is feasible (eg. liquid product in flexible pouch or powder detergent in box), the label shall contain advice on how correct dosage can be readily achieved. Eg. “Use a table spoon or a kitchen measuring cup in order to dose the correct amount of powder. A normal table spoon equals 15 ml (15 grams) of product”. If separate dosage equipment is made available in order to ensure correct dosing (eg measuring scope, measuring ball), the equipment shall fulfil all relevant packaging requirements (see chapter 9 Packaging). 015 Washing guidance on packaging The following three washing advices (or equivalent) shall appear on the packaging of laundry detergents (not applicable for stain removers). The washing advices may be present either as text or symbols. • Preferably wash with full load. • Dose correctly according to the degree of soiling and water hardness. Overdosing does not make the laundry any cleaner and is harmful to the environment. • Reduce the temperature of your normal wash programmes to reduce energy consumption. O16 Recycling guidance on packaging It must be stated on the packaging how it should be sorted for recycling by the consumer. I.e. is most commonly as plastics or as cardboard. Text or symbols can be used.

Referenzdokumente:

O14 Dosage instructions O15 Washing guidance on packaging O16 Recycling guidance on packaging

Excerpt from standard:

The fitness for use shall be documented by use of the Nordic Ecolabelling Performance Test for laundry detergents and stain removers (Appendix 5). The performance of coloursafe detergent at the recommended dosage on normally soiled clothing must be satisfactory at 30 °C compared to the reference detergent tested at 40 °C. The performance for detergents for white wash and for stain removers must by the recommended dosage on normally soiled clothing be satisfactory at 40 °C compared to the reference detergent tested at 40 °C. For detergents for delicates the performance must be satisfactory at the recommended dosage to lightly soiled clothing at 30 °C compared to water, which also is tested at 30 °C. Please note that all the products must always pass the performance test at the lowest temperature stated on the packaging or in another marketing material. If lower washing temperature than the normal temperature for the product type is stated (for example 30 ºC stated on white wash), the washing efficiency must be determined at this temperature. For cold water products (see the definition R18), the temperature should maximum be 20 °C. The reference is still to be washed at 40 °C for all product types except for detergents for delicates, where the reference is to be washed at 30 °C. The weight/utility ratio of the product and its packaging must not exceed the following values: Product type WUR Laundry detergents in plastic-based* packaging 1.1 g/kg wash Stain removers in plastic-based* packaging 0.7 g/kg wash Solid products in paper-based** packaging 1.0 g/kg wash Liquid products in cardboard packaging 1.0 g/kg wash Packaging with both plastic and carboard that can be manually separated (e.g. bag in a box or cardboard box with a plastic closure or handle) need to use a weighed calculation that takes into account both materials. This kind of packaging, consisting of X % plastic and Y % cardboard should fulfil the WUR-limit X/100*WUR (plastic-based packaging) + Y/100*WUR (paper-based packaging). Other types of packaging can currently not be used. Exemption: Cardboard packaging for liquid products must contain a minimum of 60% paper/cardboard (ref. requirement O21).

Referenzdokumente:

O18 Fitness for use O22 Weight-Utility Ratio (WUR)

Excerpt from standard:

The licensee shall ensure compliance with all applicable local laws and provisions at all production facilities for the Nordic Swan Ecolabelled product, e.g. with regard to safety, working environment, environmental legislation and site-specific terms/permits.

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O29 Legislation and regulations