---

ANNEX

EU ECOLABEL CRITERIA AND ASSESSMENT AND VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PRODUCT GROUP ‘INDOOR CLEANING SERVICES’

FRAMEWORK

CRITERIA

Criteria for awarding the EU Ecolabel to indoor cleaning services product group:

Mandatory criteria

Optional criteria

ASSESSMENT AND VERIFICATION

The specific assessment and verification requirements are indicated within each criterion.

Where the applicant is required to provide declarations, documentation, analyses, test reports, or other evidence to show compliance with the criteria, these may come from the applicant and/or their supplier(s) and/or their subcontractor(s).

Competent bodies shall give preference to attestations that are issued by bodies accredited under the relevant harmonised standard for testing and calibration laboratories and checked by bodies that are accredited under the relevant harmonised standard for bodies certifying products, processes and services. Accreditation shall be carried out in line with Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 1 ).

Information extracted from environmental statements submitted under Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 2 ) may be used as means of proof instead of the attestations mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Test methods other than those indicated for each criterion may be used if the competent body assessing the application accepts their equivalence.

Competent bodies may require supporting documentation and may carry out independent checks.

Competent bodies shall carry out an on-site visit at the applicant's premises and at least one on-site visit of the cleaning service being provided at a cleaning site before the award concession.

After being awarded the EU Ecolabel licence, the applicant shall provide periodically to the competent body a list of the cleaning sites where they provide EU Ecolabel cleaning services, indicating the first and final day of activity for each site. The period between notifications of new cleaning sites shall not exceed four months, unless the applicant has not taken on new contracts. The competent body may perform follow-up on-site visits at the applicant's premises or at a cleaning site periodically during the award period.

As a pre-requisite, the services shall meet all legal requirements of the country (countries) in which the ‘indoor cleaning services’ are provided. In particular, the company must be operational and registered, as required by national or local laws and its staff are legally employed and insured. For this purpose, staff shall have a national legal valid written contract, shall be paid at least the national or regional minimum wage set by collective agreements or, in the absence of collective agreements, at least the national or regional minimum wage, and shall have working hours complying with national law.

The applicant shall declare and demonstrate that the services are compliant with those requirements by using independent verification or documentary evidence that is without prejudice to the national law on data protection (e.g. copy of a written social policy, copies of contracts, statements of employee's registration in the national insurance system, official documentation/register recording the names and number of employees by the local government's employment inspectorate or agent).

Random staff interview may be carried out by competent bodies during on-site visits.

MANDATORY CRITERIA

Criterion M1 —    Use of cleaning products with low environmental impact

Only products directly used during EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning service tasks are covered by this criterion. Both criteria M1(a) and M1(b) shall be fulfilled by the applicant.

M1 (a)    EU Ecolabel and other ISO type I label products

At least 50 % by volume at purchase of all cleaning products used per year, excluding wet wipes, other pre-moistened products and products used for the impregnation and conservation of mops (during the laundry process), shall have been awarded the EU Ecolabel for hard surface cleaning products in accordance with Commission Decision (EU) 2017/1217 ( 3 ) or another EN ISO 14024 type I ecolabel that is nationally or regionally officially recognised in the Member States.

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall provide annual data (commercial name and volume of products) and documentation (including relevant invoices or site inventories) indicating the cleaning products used in the EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning service contracts. Where EU Ecolabel products are used, the applicant shall provide a copy of the EU Ecolabel certificate and/or packaging label showing that it was awarded in accordance with Decision (EU) 2017/1217.

Where other ISO type I label products are used, the applicant shall provide a copy of the type I label certificate and/or packaging label.

M1(b)    Hazardous Substances

Assessment and verification:

Points (i) and (ii): the applicant shall provide a signed declaration of compliance supported by declarations from suppliers confirming that the listed substances have not been included in the product formulation regardless of concentration or above the specified limits.

Point (iii): the applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance supported by the safety data sheets for all products that have not been awarded the EU Ecolabel for hard surface cleaning products or another ISO type I label.

Criterion M2 —    Cleaning product dosing

Staff performing EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning tasks shall have access to appropriate dosage and dilution apparatus for the cleaning products used (e.g. automatic dispensers, measuring beakers/caps, hand pumps, sprays), either at the cleaning site or at the applicant's premises. They shall also have access to the corresponding instructions for correct dosage and dilution.

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance with this criterion supported by a list of the apparatus provided and the appropriate documentation showing the instructions on the correct dosage and dilution that is provided to the cleaning staff.

Criterion M3 —    Use of microfibre products

Only non-disposable textile cleaning accessories directly used during EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning service tasks are covered by this criterion.

At least 50 % of the textile cleaning accessories (e.g. cloths, mop heads) used per year shall be made of microfibre.

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall provide annual data (type and quantities of products) and documentation (including relevant invoices or site inventories) indicating the textile cleaning accessories used and specifying which textile cleaning accessories are made of microfibre.

Criterion M4 —    Staff training

The applicant shall make available information, including written procedures or manuals, and training to the cleaning staff performing EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning tasks and to the managers overseeing these cleaning tasks. The training shall cover the following areas, where they are pertinent to the tasks performed by the staff member:

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance with this criterion supported by annual details of the training programme (date and type — initial training or update), its content and information on which staff have followed the training. The applicant shall also provide copies of procedures and staff communication on all training-related issues. The date and type of the staff training shall be recorded as evidence that training updates have taken place.

Where training courses are provided as part of an external training scheme, documentation showing participation (e.g. training certificate) and the content of the training may be provided as proof of compliance as long as the topics listed in this criterion are covered.

If a company takes over staff, on a permanent or temporary basis, from another cleaning service provider and if the staff have followed training in the previous year, no retraining is required as long as documentation showing participation in a training programme (e.g. training certificate) and the training topics covered can be provided.

Criterion M5 —    Basics of an environmental management system

The applicant shall have in place the basic minimum requirements of an environmental management system by implementing the following:

The environmental policy and the performance of the organisation with regard to the targets set shall be available for consultation by the public at the applicant's premises.

Comments and feedback from clients collected by means of a questionnaire or checklist shall be taken into account.

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance with this criterion supported by a copy of the environmental policy, action programme, evaluation report and procedures put in place for taking into account client comments and feedback. The evaluation report shall include a list of any corrective actions to be undertaken, and it shall be made available to the competent body as soon as possible after the date of application for the EU Ecolabel. Updated documentation shall be provided upon request by the competent body in order to demonstrate compliance during the award period.

Applicants registered with EMAS and/or certified according to ISO 14001, and applicants that are part of an organisation registered with EMAS and/or certified according to ISO 14001, are considered as having fulfilled this criterion if they provide the EMAS registration and/or the ISO 14001 certificate as proof of compliance.

Criterion M6 —    Solid waste sorting at the applicant's premises

Only waste generated at the premises of the applicant is covered by this criterion.

The applicant shall provide the means for staff to sort solid waste generated at the applicant's premises into the appropriate waste stream categories, to be sent for treatment (e.g. recycling, incineration) or sent to be disposed of in accordance with local or national waste management practices and facilities.

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance supported by a description of the different categories of solid waste collected and sorted at the applicant's premises. An indication of the different solid waste streams accepted for further treatment or disposal by the local authorities and/or by private agencies (under relevant contracts) shall also be provided.

Criterion M7 —    Information appearing on the EU Ecolabel

The Commission guidelines on the use of the optional label with text box can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel/documents/logo_guidelines.pdf

The optional label with text box shall contain the following text:

‘[operator in the sense of Art. 3.2] is actively taking measures to provide indoor cleaning services with reduced environmental impacts through:

Assessment and verification

To comply with this criterion the applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance explaining on which support they intend to display the logo.

OPTIONAL CRITERIA

Criterion O1 —    High use of cleaning products with low environmental impact (up to 3 points)

Only products directly used during EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning service tasks are covered by this criterion.

The applicant shall earn points based on the percentage by volume at purchase of all cleaning products used per year, excluding wet wipes and other pre-moistened products, that have been awarded the EU Ecolabel for hard surface cleaning products or another EN ISO 14024 type I ecolabel that is nationally or regionally officially recognised in the Member States, as follows:

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall provide annual data (commercial name and volume of products) and documentation (including relevant invoices or site inventories) indicating the cleaning products used in the EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning service contracts. Where EU Ecolabel products are used, the applicant shall provide a copy of the EU Ecolabel certificate and/or packaging label showing that it was awarded in accordance with Decision (EU) 2017/1217. Where other ISO type I label products are used, the applicant shall provide a copy of the type I label certificate and/or packaging label.

Criterion O2 —    Use of concentrated undiluted cleaning products (up to 3 points)

Only products directly used during EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning service tasks are covered by this criterion.

The applicant shall earn points based on the percentage by volume at purchase of all cleaning products used per year, excluding wet wipes, other pre-moistened products and products used for the impregnation and conservation of mops (during the laundry process), that have a minimum dilution rate of 1:100, as follows:

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall provide annual data (commercial name and volume of products) and documentation (including relevant invoices or site inventories) indicating the cleaning products used. For each product, documentation on the dilution rate used shall be provided (safety data sheets, user instructions or other relevant means). If a product can be used at multiple dilution rates, the most commonly used dilution rate, as justified by internal staff instructions, shall be provided. For ready-to-use products the dilution rate shall be marked as one.

Criterion O3 —    High use of microfibre products (up to 3 points)

Only non-disposable textile cleaning accessories that are directly used during EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning service tasks are covered by this criterion.

The applicant shall earn points based on the percentage of the textile cleaning accessories (e.g. cloths, mop heads) used per year that are made of microfibre, as follows:

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall provide annual data (type and quantities of products) and documentation (including relevant invoices or site inventories) indicating the textile cleaning accessories used and specifying which textile cleaning accessories are made of microfibre.

Criterion O4 —    Use of cleaning accessories with low environmental impact (up to 4 points)

Only cleaning accessories directly used during EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning service tasks are covered by this criterion.

O4 (a)    Mops (up to 2 points)

The applicant shall earn points based on the percentage of mops used per year that have been awarded the EU Ecolabel for Textiles or another EN ISO 14024 type I ecolabel that is nationally or regionally officially recognised in the Member States, as follows:

O4 (b)    Cloths (up to 2 points)

The applicant shall earn points based on the percentage of cloths used per year that have been awarded the EU Ecolabel for Textiles or another EN ISO 14024 type I ecolabel that is nationally or regionally officially recognised in the Member States, as follows:

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall provide annual data (type and quantities of products) and documentation (including relevant invoices or site inventories) indicating the cleaning supplies and accessories used in the EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning service contracts. Where EU Ecolabel products are used, the applicant shall provide a copy of the EU Ecolabel certificate and/or packaging label showing that it was awarded in accordance with Commission Decision 2014/350/EU ( 5 ). Where other ISO type I label products are used, the applicant shall provide a copy of the type I label certificate and/or packaging label.

▼M2

Criterion O5 —    Energy efficiency for vacuum cleaners (3 points)

Only vacuum cleaners covered by the scope of Commission Regulation (EU) No 666/2013 ( 6 ) are covered by this criterion. Exempted from the scope of that Regulation are wet, wet and dry, robots, industrial, central and battery operated vacuum cleaners and floor polishers and outdoor vacuum cleaners.

At least 40 % of the vacuum cleaners (rounded up to the next integer) owned or leased by the applicant and used in the provision of the EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning services shall have an annual energy consumption (AE) as laid down in Annex II, point 3 of Regulation (EU) No 666/2013:

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall provide documentation demonstrating compliance with the annual energy consumption requirements (such as a manufacturer declaration), along with a full list of vacuum cleaners used in the provision of EU Ecolabel services.

▼B

Criterion O6 —    EMAS registration or ISO 14001 certification of service provider (up to 5 points)

The applicant shall be registered under the Union eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) (5 points) or certified according to the ISO 14001 standard (3 points).

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall provide the EMAS registration or ISO 14001 certificate as a proof of compliance with this criterion.

Criterion O7 —    Solid waste management at the cleaning sites (2 points)

This criterion is only applicable where the applicant's clients provide the means for cleaning staff to sort waste into relevant solid waste streams and only to the solid waste generated during the EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning service provision (e.g. non-reusable packaging of cleaning products, packaging of consumable goods) and the solid waste pre-sorted (e.g. by the staff of the client) at the cleaning sites.

Cleaning staff shall sort the solid waste generated during the service provision and dispose of the sorted and pre-sorted waste in the appropriate containers inside or in the vicinity of the cleaning sites. This shall be done wherever the clients provide the means (e.g. waste containers for distinct solid waste streams) for the sorted waste streams to be sent for treatment (e.g. recycling, incineration) or sent to be disposed of in accordance with local or national waste management practices and facilities and/or relevant contracts with recycling services.

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance along with a description of the different solid waste streams accepted by the local authorities and/or relevant contracts with recycling services for each of the cleaning sites concerned.

Criterion O8 —    Quality of the service (up to 3 points)

Applicants shall earn 2 points if they fulfil the requirements set out below or 3 points if they hold the ISO 9001 or Nordic INSTA 800 certifications.

The applicant shall have appointed a service manager and put in place procedures for monitoring, assessing and improving cleaning quality, as described below. The manager may be the facility manager, a foreman/woman, or a coordinator nominated to organise and supervise cleaning.

The applicant shall put in place:

Additionally, the applicant shall draft written instructions, signed by the applicant's management team, that cover the job tasks to be carried out by the service. Those written instructions shall be provided to the cleaning staff and made available for consultation at the applicant's premises and/or cleaning sites.

These written job instructions shall include the following as a minimum:

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall provide the ISO 9001 or INSTA 800 certificate or a declaration of compliance supported by:

Criterion O9 —    Vehicle fleet owned or leased by the applicant (up to 5 points)

Only the vehicle fleet owned and/or leased by the applicant and used in the provision of the EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning service tasks is covered by this criterion. The vehicles may include human-powered vehicles (cargo-bikes), human-powered vehicles with electric assist (e-cargo-bikes), light passenger or commercial vehicles used by managers, supervisors, cleaning staff, inspectors and any other person taking part in some aspect of the provision of the cleaning service.

Sub-criterion O9(a) also covers hybrid vehicles but not electric vehicles.

Sub-criterion O9(b) covers zero emission vehicles.

Privately owned vehicles that are used in the provision of the service are not covered by this criterion.

O9 (a)    Vehicles meeting European emission standard Euro 6 (1 point)

At least 50 % of the vehicles (rounded up to the next integer) owned or leased by the applicant and used in the provision of the EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning service tasks shall meet the European emission standard Euro 6 for light passenger and commercial vehicles.

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall provide the relevant documentation showing which vehicles are used in the provision of the cleaning services, that they are owned or leased by the applicant, and shall indicate which vehicles meet the standard Euro 6. The vehicles' public registration can be used as proof of compliance, along with the certificate of conformity.

O9 (b)    Zero emission vehicles (2 points)

At least 10 % of the vehicles (rounded up to the next integer) owned or leased by the applicant and used in the provision of the EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning service tasks shall be zero emission vehicles as determined by new European driving cycle (NEDC) tests as described in Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 7 ), human-powered vehicles (cargo-bikes) or human-powered vehicles with electric assist (e-cargo-bikes).

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall provide the relevant documentation showing which vehicles are used in the provision of the EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning services, that they are owned or leased by the applicant, and shall indicate which vehicles are zero-emission. The vehicles' public registration can be used as proof of compliance, along with manufacturer documentation showing the NEDC test results.

O9 (c)    Company transport plan (2 points)

The provider shall draw up a company transport plan to minimise fuel consumption, provide a target for fuel consumption reduction (per cleaning site) and have annual maintenance records for the vehicle fleet.

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall provide a copy of the company transport plan, the latest target for fuel consumption reduction and the annual fuel consumption evolution based on number of cleaning sites. The applicant shall provide a copy of the maintenance plan for the vehicle fleet. Vehicle service records may be used as proof of compliance.

Criterion O10 —    Efficiency of laundry washing machines owned or leased by the applicant (up to 4 points)

This criterion only applies to washing machines owned or leased by the applicant, either located at the applicant's premises or cleaning sites, to launder cloths, mops and staff uniforms used as part of the EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning service provision.

▼M2

Sub-criterion O10 (a) is only applicable if household washing machines are used that are covered by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1061/2010 ( 8 ), as well as Commission Regulation (EU) No 1015/2010 ( 9 ), as applicable on 28 February 2021, or by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2014 ( 10 ).

▼B

O10 (a):    Energy label (up to 2 points)

▼M2

Or the applicant shall earn points based on the percentage of the household washing machines (rounded up to the next integer) complying with EU Energy Label rated class B or A for energy efficiency under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2014 as follows:

▼B

The applicant shall earn points based on the percentage of the household washing machines (rounded up to the next integer) complying with EU Energy Label rated class A++ or A+++ for energy efficiency under Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1061/2010, as follows:

O10 (b):    Water efficiency (2 points)

Household machines: the water consumption of the household laundry washing machines, owned or leased by the applicant, shall be lower or equal to the benchmarks for water consumption set out in Annex IV to Regulation (EU) No 1015/2010. The benchmarks are measured according to EN 60456, using the standard washing cycle (60 °C cotton programme).

AND

Commercial washing machines: the water consumption of commercial washing machines owned or leased by the applicant shall be lower than or equal to 7 l per kg of laundry washed.

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall provide annual data (list of all household washing machines owned and used to launder cloths, mops and staff uniforms used as part of the EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning service provision) and documentation indicating the energy efficiency class for the existing household laundry washing machines.

▼M2

Product fiches in accordance with Annex II to Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1061/2010 (8) , as applicable on 28 February 2021, or Annex III to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2014 (10)  may be used as proof of compliance with this requirement.

▼B

In the case that the documentation mentioned above is not available, compliance with criterion O10(b) may be shown by providing documentation on the total annual water consumption. In this case a total of 220 standard washing cycles per year shall be assumed.

Criterion O11 —    Ecolabelled services and other ecolabelled products (up to 5 points)

This criterion applies to the use of ecolabelled services and/or products, defined as services and/or products that are not directly used in the provision of EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning services but are used to support the everyday business operations of the applicant that refer to the EU Ecolabel indoor cleaning services provided. These can include, but are not limited to, services (e.g. laundry and car washing) outsourced by the applicant to a third party. They can cover products such as laundry detergents, dishwasher detergents or copying paper.

O11 (a)    Ecolabelled services (up to 2 points)

100 % of a service type is outsourced to a provider that has been awarded the EU Ecolabel or another EN ISO 14024 type I ecolabel that is nationally or regionally officially recognised in the Member States for that service (1 point for each service, up to a maximum of 2 points in total)

O11 (b)    Ecolabelled products (up to 3 points)

100 % of product units of a product group have been awarded the EU Ecolabel or other EN ISO 14024 type I ecolabel that is nationally or regionally officially recognised in the Member States (0,5 point for each product group, up to a maximum of 3 points total)

Note: Ecolabelled products as cloths and mops, and consumable goods supplied as part of contract to clients fall outside the scope of this criterion. For this sub-criterion, a ‘product group’ is considered to be as defined by EU Ecolabel criteria or other ISO type I label criteria (e.g. ‘paper products’, ‘laundry detergents’, ‘textiles’).

Assessment and verification

Criterion O12 —    Consumable goods and electric hand air-dryers supplied to the client (up to 3 points)

This criterion only applies if the applicant is responsible for supplying consumable goods to be used at the cleaning sites in at least one contract for EU Ecolabel cleaning services. Only consumable goods and electric hand dryers supplied as part of these contracts are covered by this criterion:

O12 (a)    Hand soaps (1 point)

At least 70 % of hand soaps, by volume of hand soaps supplied per year, shall have been awarded the EU Ecolabel for rinse-off cosmetics in accordance with Commission Decision 2014/893/EU ( 11 ), or another EN ISO 14024 type I ecolabel that is nationally or regionally officially recognised in the Member States.

O12 (b)    Paper goods (1 point)

At least 90 % of consumable paper goods (personal hygiene and absorbent paper), by weight or volume supplied per year, as appropriate, shall have been awarded the EU Ecolabel for tissue paper in accordance with Commission Decision 2009/568/EC ( 12 ), or another EN ISO 14024 type I ecolabel that is nationally or regionally officially recognised in the Member States.

O12(c)    Textile towel rolls (1 point)

At least 50 % of textile towel rolls, by number of rolls supplied per year, shall have been awarded the EU Ecolabel for textile products in accordance with Commission Decision 2014/350/EU or another EN ISO 14024 type I ecolabel for textile products or fabric towels supplied in towel dispensers that is nationally or regionally officially recognised in the Member States.

O12(d)    Electric hand dryers (1 point)

All electric hand dryers supplied and maintained by the applicant shall have proximity sensors or have been awarded an EN ISO 14024 type I ecolabel that is nationally or regionally officially recognised in the Member States.

Assessment and verification

The applicant shall indicate for each EU Ecolabel services contract whether or not they include the provision of consumable goods, annual data (commercial name and weight, volume or number of pieces) and documentation (including relevant invoices or site inventories) indicating the consumable goods supplied. Where EU Ecolabel products are used, the applicant shall provide a copy of the EU Ecolabel certificate and/or packaging label showing that it was awarded, as the case may be, in accordance with:

Where other ISO type I label products are used, the applicant shall provide a copy of the type I label certificate and/or packaging label.

For electric hand dryers, the applicant shall provide documentation demonstrating how the requirements are fulfilled (e.g. packaging label or technical information showing the presence of an ISO type I label certificate or proximity sensors).