eco-INSTITUT has revised and updated the test criteria for the eco-INSTITUT-Label. The criteria have been published and are valid with immediate effect.

Various organisations have published new substance classifications and requirement values since our last criteria revision. This made it necessary to adapt our criteria. We have also concretised and made additions to some of the requirements. As a result, we can continue to fulfil the ever-increasing demands placed on low-emission and low-emission products for interiors and guarantee the high quality of the eco-INSTITUT-Label in the future.

Overview of the changes:

• The test criteria now have a version number in the format eIL 01.01 (MM/YYYY) for better traceability. The first number stands for the respective product group, e.g. eIL 01 stands for sealants and sealing compounds. The second number stands for the version of the criteria, together with the issue status. In future, you will also find the version number in your report and on your certificate.
• The range of test criteria for flooring and panels based on renewable or mineral substrates is extended by the inclusion of skirting boards.
• Responsible and traceable feather and down production must now be proven for the use of feathers and down in bedding (proof: valid Responsible Down Standard or DOWNPASS certificate).
• For mattresses and latex foam, compliance with the quality criteria of loss of firmness (< 20%) and loss of height (< 15 mm) will in future only have to be demonstrated once for new certification.
• The following will apply to mattresses and bedding in future: For small elements that make up no more than 1 m% of the product or whose surface area is no more than 1% of the product, the requirement value for content analyses is 100 times higher. This regulation does not apply to small elements that regularly come into contact with the human body.
• The requirement value for antimony in upholstery fabrics as well as poster and filling materials (synthetic fibres) has been increased to 10 mg/kg.
• Testing the fastness of dyed textile cover fabrics will no longer be necessary in future. The reasons for this are new findings regarding the relevance of certifiable materials and the focus of the label on toxicological and environmentally relevant parameters.
• Construction products/floor coverings/furniture: In order to also formally cover the requirements of the EU taxonomy (Regulation (EU) 2023/2486) with the eco-INSTITUT-Label, the requirement for carcinogenic substances Cat. 1A and 1B (according to Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008) was set to < 1 µg/m³ after 28 days.
• The requirement value for benzothiazole of 15 µg/m³ is now binding. The emission requirement takes into account the indoor guide value RW I of the Committee for Indoor Guide Values of the Federal Environment Agency (it is a general requirement of the eco-INSTITUT-Label test criteria to adopt the RW I indoor guide values in the product evaluation).
• The emission requirement for sensitising substances will no longer apply in the future. This is due to an overlap with other requirements and harmonisation with natureplus.
• We will take the following reclassifications of substances into account from March 2025:
  • 1,1-dichloroethene (CAS 75-35-4): Stricter classification on the MAK list 2024 from III3 to III2, as KMR1 it is now devalued from 1 µg/m³.
  • Butyl methacrylate (CAS 97-88-1): Reclassification by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) in Group 2B, as KMR2 it is now assessed with a requirement value of 50 µg/m³ (total).
• The test method for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAK) in black plastics has been updated. The content analysis is carried out according to AfPS GS 2019:01 PAK.
• The test method for nitrosamines has been updated. The emission analysis is carried out in accordance with DGUV Information 213-523 and DIN CEN/TS 17985.
• Formal changes

The criteria are valid with immediate effect. A transition period for all changes is granted until March 2028. You can find the new criteria as PDF documents on this page under Download documents.

If you have any questions or require further information on the updates to the eco-INSTITUT-Label, please contact Hannah Laurenzen (Deputy Head of Certification Body) at hannah.laurenzen@eco-INSTITUT.de.