Stiftelsen Miljømerking i Norge

Stiftelsen Miljømerking i Norge (the Foundation for Environmental Labeling in Norway) is the independent Norwegian foundation that administers the official ecolabelling schemes in Norway. It was established in 1990 by the Norwegian Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion (then the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs) and is responsible for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel (Svanemerket) and the European Union Ecolabel, known as the Flower (Blomsten), in Norway. The foundation is headquartered in Oslo and operates as a non-profit entity, with a board composed of representatives appointed by government ministries, environmental authorities, business confederations, consumer organizations, trade chains, and environmental NGOs. The Nordic Swan Ecolabel is a voluntary, third-party certification that sets strict environmental, health, and quality requirements across a product's entire life cycle — from raw materials and production through use, reuse, and waste management. Products and services that carry the Swan must meet publicly available criteria covering energy efficiency, material use, durability, and chemical safety. The foundation's work spans a wide range of product groups, including personal care products, cleaning agents, textiles, furniture, building materials, and increasingly medical products. It also promotes green public procurement and provides tools for businesses committed to environmental responsibility. Miljømerking collaborates with sister organizations in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland as part of the Nordic Swan system, and is a member of the Global Ecolabelling Network. The foundation is led by a director — Cathrine Pia Lund has held the position since 2021 — and a board chaired by Jarle Skeidsvolli. Through its certification and communication activities, Stiftelsen Miljømerking i Norge helps consumers and businesses make environmentally informed choices and supports the transition to a more sustainable economy.

Stiftelsen Miljømerking i Norge was established in 1990 by the Norwegian Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion (at the time the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs). Its creation was part of a broader Nordic effort to provide consumers with credible, third-party environmental labelling. The foundation was tasked with administering the Nordic Swan Ecolabel (Svanemerket) in Norway, and later also the European Union Ecolabel, known as the Flower (Blomsten). From its inception, Miljømerking has operated as an independent non-profit foundation. Its board includes members appointed by the Ministry of Children and Equality, environmental protection authorities, the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO), the Federation of Norwegian Service Industries (HSH), the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), the Consumer Council of Norway, trade chains, and environmental organizations. This broad representation ensures that the criteria-setting process balances environmental, consumer, and business interests. The Nordic Swan Ecolabel is a voluntary certification scheme that evaluates a product's environmental impact over its entire life cycle. Criteria are developed by the Nordic Ecolabelling Board, in which Norway participates alongside Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. Each country has a sister organization responsible for licensing and market surveillance. Miljømerking is also a member of the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN), an international association of ecolabelling bodies. Over the decades, the foundation has expanded the range of product groups covered by the Swan, from everyday consumer goods such as cleaning products, personal care items, and paper to more complex categories including furniture, textiles, building materials, and financial services. In recent years, it has increasingly focused on green public procurement, providing tools and guidance for municipalities and businesses to choose ecolabelled products. The foundation also runs awareness campaigns and maintains a public database of certified products. In 2021, Cathrine Pia Lund became the director of Miljømerking. Under her leadership, the organization has continued to promote the Swan label and adapt to new environmental challenges, including the fight against greenwashing. In 2026, the foundation announced that more medical products would become eligible for the Swan label, reflecting its ongoing expansion into new sectors. It also highlighted upcoming Norwegian regulations against greenwashing, set to take effect in 2027, which align with the foundation's mission of ensuring credible environmental claims.

• 2026

  More medical products become eligible for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.

• 2021

  Cathrine Pia Lund becomes director of Miljømerking.

• 1990

  Stiftelsen Miljømerking i Norge is established by the Norwegian Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion.

• New Norwegian regulations against greenwashing are set to take effect.

Official, independent ecolabelling body for Norway; sets strict life-cycle environmental criteria for products and services.

• Nordic Swan Ecolabel (Svanemerket)

  Official Nordic ecolabel administered in Norway by Miljømerking; sets life-cycle environmental criteria for products and services.

• EU Ecolabel (Blomsten)

  The European Union's official ecolabel, also administered by Miljømerking in Norway.

• Environmental certification for businesses

  A tool for companies that take environmental responsibility seriously.

• Green public procurement

  Guidance and tools for public and private purchasers to choose ecolabelled products.

1. 1Svanemerket - Vanskelig å få. Enkelt å velge.svanemerket.no
2. 2Stiftelsen Miljømerking i Norge - Wikipediano.wikipedia.org
3. 3Wikidata: Q12003190wikidata.org