The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published ISO 14024:2026 in May 2026, the third edition of the international standard that defines the principles and procedures for Type I environmental labelling programmes (ecolabels).The new version replaces and cancels the previous ISO 14024:2018, introducing a technical revision aimed at strengthening the credibility, transparency, and consistency of environmental labels on the market.
ISO 14024 is a key standard in the ISO 14020 family and represents the global reference for the main voluntary ecolabels based on multi-criteria criteria and independent verification, such as the EU Ecolabel, Nordic Swan, and Blue Angel.
Its aim is to ensure that products awarded an ecolabel are actually environmentally preferable within a specific product category, considering their entire life cycle.
What does ISO 14024 regulate?
The standard specifies the requirements for:- the development of ecolabelling programs;
- the selection of product categories;
- the definition of environmental and functional criteria;
- the processes for evaluating, verifying, and certifying products that can use the ecolabel.
The main new features introduced by the 2026 version
ISO 14024:2026 does not represent a revolution, but a significant technical revision designed to respond to regulatory evolution, consumer expectations and the risk of greenwashing .Among the most relevant elements:
Greater clarity on the principles of credibility
The new edition strengthens the requirements relating to transparency, impartiality and independence of the bodies managing ecolabelling programmes, better clarifying roles, responsibilities and decision-making processes.
Strengthening the life-cycle approach
The principle of life-cycle thinking, already central to the previous version, is further consolidated. Environmental criteria must continue to consider the most significant phases of the product life cycle (raw materials, production, distribution, use, and end-of-life), avoiding shifting impacts from one phase to another.
Better distinction between ecolabel and other environmental declarations
The standard provides more specific guidance on how an ecolabel compliant with ISO 14024 can be clearly differentiated from other brands, claims, or environmental declarations on the market, contributing to more accurate and understandable communication for consumers and stakeholders.
Openness to social and economic aspects
While remaining focused on environmental aspects, ISO 14024:2026 explicitly recognizes that ecolabelling programs can include, in a complementary manner, social and economic criteria to support sustainable development, if consistent and verifiable.
ISO 14024 and Legislative Decree 30/2026: Towards More Credible Environmental Communication
The publication of ISO 14024:2026 is part of a profoundly changed regulatory context , marked in Italy by the entry into force of Legislative Decree no. 30 of 20 February 2026, the so-called anti-greenwashing decree.The provision, which implements Directive (EU) 2024/825 , amends the Consumer Code by introducing explicit bans on vague, unprovable, or label-based environmental claims without independent certification , and makes these practices punishable as unfair commercial conduct.
In this new scenario, Type I ecolabels compliant with ISO 14024 take on an even more central role : the presence of multi-criteria criteria, a life cycle approach and independent third-party verification fully meets the transparency, verifiability and credibility requirements set by Legislative Decree 30/2026.
Conversely, self-attributed labels or generic environmental claims risk not only losing their communicative effectiveness, but also exposing companies to financial penalties and reputational damage when the new rules come into force on September 27, 2026.
The convergence between voluntary technical standards such as ISO 14024:2026 and mandatory anti-greenwashing legislation therefore marks a key step: sustainability can no longer simply be declared, but must be demonstrated .
For businesses, investing in recognized and credible certification tools is no longer just a reputational choice, but a lever for compliance and competitiveness in a market increasingly focused on the authenticity of environmental performance.