Laatste update: 02/11/2026
The EU Ecolabel is the official environmental seal of the European Union — the flower logo you also see on cleaning products, paper, and textiles. For tourist accommodations, the criteria are set out in Decision (EU) 2017/175. That decision is the source of everything this module asks of you.
The structure
| Criteria | 67, divided into seven themes |
| Individual statements | 142 — that is what you fill in on the form |
| Mandatory | 22 criteria, all 22 must be met |
| Optional | 45 criteria, at least 32 points required |
| Largest theme | Energy & CO₂, 21 criteria |
| Smallest theme | Guests & communication, 2 criteria |
The mandatory criteria cover the basics: an environmental policy with objectives, consumption monitoring, maintenance, energy-efficient lighting, water-efficient toilets, waste separation, and guest information. The optional criteria are where you distinguish yourself: renewable energy, heat recovery, rainwater, ecolabels on your purchases, local food, and biodiversity.
What the label does not cover
EU Ecolabel is an environmental label. Social criteria are limited and only just expanding; there is nothing about cultural heritage. If you find the latter important, Green Key is broader — see the selection guide.
What it costs
For a micro-enterprise, the application is approximately 350 euros one-time, with no annual fee. For an SME, this increases to approximately 600 euros one-time plus approximately 600 euros per year. The amounts are taken from the EU fee table of February 2026, excluding VAT and without subsidies.
Being a micro-enterprise or an SME therefore makes the difference between paying once and paying every year. Micro means fewer than ten employees and less than two million euros in turnover. If you are in doubt, do not rely on the estimate based on your rooms but look it up — the module only uses your rooms as a rough proxy.
The process
- Preparation — compiling the file and evidence. That is what this module does.
- Registration and submission — registering with the competent authority and submitting the application with the application fee.
- Assessment and site visit — the authority assesses the file, including an on-site inspection.
- Award — upon approval, you may use the logo.
- Follow-up — periodic monitoring, with potential inspection or annual costs.
In Belgium, the competent authority is the FPS Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, via ecolabel.be.
Two things we don’t know for sure: exactly how often the follow-up inspection occurs, and whether the micro-rates remain unchanged after the first license period. Check this with the authority before you count on it.
Why a site visit is necessary
It is the step that makes the label credible. A file can be correct on paper while the reality is different. That is also why this module never claims “compliance” and why it lets you answer with no: a file that looks better than your accommodation will fail during that visit and cost you time and money.
