Nordic Swan ecolabel

A white swan in flight on a green disc, the Nordic countries' official ecolabel.

Also known as: Svanen, Swan label, Bird on a green circle

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Meanings

The Nordic Swan is the official ecolabel of the Nordic Council of Ministers, in use since 1989. Like the EU Ecolabel it certifies against published life-cycle criteria; unlike it, the criteria are tightened periodically so that the mark stays selective.

Common modern usageVerified fact
Certifies a product against the published life-cycle criteria of the Nordic ecolabelling scheme, established by the Nordic Council of Ministers in 1989.
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden · Contexts: Packaging
Common modern usageVerified fact
Has its criteria tightened at intervals so that a fixed share of products can qualify, which means a mark awarded years apart does not represent the same standard.
Contexts: Packaging

Visual description

A green disc carrying the white silhouette of a swan in flight, its neck extended forward and its wings raised, seen from the side.

Symmetry: none
Orientation: upright
Colours: green, white

Confidence

IdentityModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

Sources

Nordic swan ecolabel
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for what a mark depicts, who owns it and whether a scheme or regulation stands behind it. Where a regulation is named, it is reported by this source rather than read directly, so no meaning is typed `official` on that basis alone.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

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Meanings

Common modern usageVerified fact

Certifies a product against the published life-cycle criteria of the Nordic ecolabelling scheme, established by the Nordic Council of Ministers in 1989.

Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden · Contexts: Packaging

Common modern usageVerified fact

Has its criteria tightened at intervals so that a fixed share of products can qualify, which means a mark awarded years apart does not represent the same standard.

Contexts: Packaging

Confidence

IdentityModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

Sources

Nordic swan ecolabel
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for what a mark depicts, who owns it and whether a scheme or regulation stands behind it. Where a regulation is named, it is reported by this source rather than read directly, so no meaning is typed `official` on that basis alone.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01