3. Rechargeable batteries and portable chargers 030
Bild för produktgrupp, uppladdningsbara batterier

Rechargeable batteries and portable chargers 030

The product group comprises both portable rechargeable batteries and portable chargers (known as power banks).

The Nordic Swan Ecolabel focuses on capacity and durability of batteries to ensure long battery life thereby reducing the resource consumption. At the same time, batteries and portable chargers must meet recognized quality and safety standards.

The requirements include:

  • Threshold values for heavy metals in batteries.
  • No use of PVC and a number of flame retardants in plastic.
  • CSR policy to ensure responsible use and sourcing of limited raw materials and “conflict free” minerals.
  • Electrical-, safety- and quality testing of batteries/cells, portable- and battery chargers.
  • Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries and cells must be fully charged when leaving the production site.
  • Recyclable design of the portable charger.

Below you will find all the necessary documents and background information to apply for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel

    1. Start your application process by reading the criteria document and find out if your product can obtain the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. 
    2. Read your Application Guide.
    3. Request login credentials.
    4. Now you are ready to enter the Nordic Ecolabelling Portal.

     

    Portal sign in                               Get login credentials

     

    Should you wish to transfer your licence, please use this form. 

  • The criteria document for rechargeable batteries is an overall document for the commodity groups:

    • Power banks
    • Rechargeable batteries
    • A separate fee is paid for each commodity group according to above list.

     

    Fees valid from 1 January 2024

    Type of fee Amount
    Application fee including one on-site inspection within the Nordic region *) 3 251 EUR + VAT, however not less than 778 EUR + VAT
    Renewal fee* 1 625 EUR + VAT, however not less than 389 EUR + VAT
    More than one inspection visit within the Nordic region** 541 EUR + VAT per visit
    Inspection visits in Europe** 1 625 EUR + VAT per visit
    Inspection visits outside Europe** 2 709 EUR + VAT per visit
    Extension of existing licence*** Extension of existing or changes in licence

    < 4 hours: 406 EUR + VAT
    < 8 hours: 812 EUR + VAT
    ≥ 8 hours: 1 625 EUR + VAT

    Annual licence fee: The annual licence fee for the Nordic Swan Ecolabelled products is based on their turnover in the Nordic countries.

    		 0.3% of turnover + VAT per year for turnover between 0 - 50 million EUR.

    0.05% of turnover + VAT per year for turnover > 50 million EUR.
    Minimum fee for Nordic region 2 167 EUR + VAT per year
    Maximum fee for Nordic region No maximum fee

    Fees for sale outside the Nordic region          
    (Only if revenue > 300 000 EUR per year)

    		 2 167 EUR + VAT per year

    * When both the applicant and the manufacturer are micro-enterprises, the fee is reduced by 50%. A micro-enterprise is in this context defined as an enterprise with less than 10 employees and an annual turnover (of both ecolabelled and not ecolabelled products) below 2 million EUR.

    ** Where audits requires more than one day away from the office including travelling, Nordic Ecolabelling can invoice an additional fee of 1 083 EUR per extra day. Other extraordinary costs induced by the audit can also be invoiced the applicant.

    *** As for an extension of or amendments to a licence, time consumed in connection with the review process will be invoiced according to the extent of the required task. We make a distinction between entirely administrative tasks that last less than 1 hour, and all other tasks that last between 1 and 4 hours, between 4 and 8 hours and more than 8 hours.

    The recipient is liable for the VAT according to article 56 of the Council Directive 2006/112/EC.
    All information given on this site is subject to a disclaimer for errors and omissions

     

    The criteria document for rechargeable batteries is an overall document for the commodity groups:

    • Power banks
    • Rechargeable batteries
    • A separate fee is paid for each commodity group according to above list.

     

    Fees valid from 1 January 2023

    Type of fee Amount
    Application fee including one on-site inspection within the Nordic region *) 3 114 EUR + VAT, however not less than 778 EUR + VAT
    Renewal fee* 1 557 EUR + VAT, however not less than 389 EUR + VAT
    More than one inspection visit within the Nordic region** 519 EUR + VAT per visit
    Inspection visits in Europe** 1 557 EUR + VAT per visit
    Inspection visits outside Europe** 2 595 EUR + VAT per visit
    Extension of existing licence*** Extension of existing or changes in licence

    < 4 hours: 389 EUR + VAT
    < 8 hours: 778 EUR + VAT
    ≥ 8 hours: 1 557 EUR + VAT
    Annual licence fee for Nordic region 0.3% of turnover + VAT per year for turnover between 0 - 50 million EUR.

    0.05% of turnover + VAT per year for turnover > 50 million EUR.
    Minimum fee for Nordic region 2 076 EUR + VAT per year
    Maximum fee for Nordic region No maximum fee

    Fees for sale outside the Nordic region          
    (Only if revenue > 300 000 EUR per year)

    		 2 076 EUR + VAT per year

    * When both the applicant and the manufacturer are micro-enterprises, the fee is reduced by 50%. A micro-enterprise is in this context defined as an enterprise with less than 10 employees and an annual turnover (of both ecolabelled and not ecolabelled products) below 2 million EUR.

    ** Where audits requires more than one day away from the office including travelling, Nordic Ecolabelling can invoice an additional fee of 1 038 EUR per extra day. Other extraordinary costs induced by the audit can also be invoiced the applicant.

    *** As for an extension of or amendments to a licence, time consumed in connection with the review process will be invoiced according to the extent of the required task. We make a distinction between entirely administrative tasks that last less than 1 hour, and all other tasks that last between 1 and 4 hours, between 4 and 8 hours and more than 8 hours.

    The recipient is liable for the VAT according to article 56 of the Council Directive 2006/112/EC.
    All information given on this site is subject to a disclaimer for errors and omissions

  • In the criteria document, you can read about how to document and verify compliance for each requirement. You can also find other application documents here.

  • Information on the latest version of the criteria for rechargeable batteries

    5.1 ⇛ 5.2: Prolongation of criteria's validity

    The validity of the criteria has been prolonged with 18 months. The new version, 5.2, is valid until December 31th, 2024.

    5.0 ⇛ 5.1: Adjustment of criteria

    The definition of “fully charged” in requirement O10 is changed from at least 85% to 70%. Also, both pre- and post-consumer recycled material in the primary packaging (O8) can be used. Finally, the requirement for sourcing of conflict-free minerals (O5) and critical raw materials (O6) is now aligned with the Nordic Swan Ecolabelling criteria for primary batteries. The new version is called 5.1 and is valid until 30 June 2023.

    5.0: New criteria generation

    The Nordic Ecolabelling Board decided on new criteria on June 15, 2018. The criteria are valid until June 30, 2023.

    4.5 ⇛ 4.6: Prolongation of criteria's validity

    The validity of the criteria has been prolonged. The new version, 4.6, is valid until December 31th, 2019.

    4.4 ⇛ 4.5: Prolongation of criteria's validity

    The validity of the criteria has been prolonged. The new version, 4.5, is valid until June 30th, 2018.

    4.3 ⇛ 4.4: Prolongation of criteria's validity

    The criteria's validity has been extended with 12 months. The new version, 4.4, is valid until June 30th, 2017.

    4.2 ⇛ 4.3: Prolongation of criteria's validity

    The validity of Nordic Ecolabel's criteria for rechargeable batteries and battery chargers has been extended. The new version, 4.3, is valid until June 30th, 2016.

  • In the background document below you will find reasoning and facts behind the specific requirements in the criteria document.

    Here you can also read the comments, requirement for requirement, from the public hearing.

    If the documents are in a Nordic language, you can get help in understanding the sections you need by contacting the product specialist in your chosen country below.