Dear ladies and gentlemen

We would like to inform you today of an organizational change regarding the eco-INSTITUT-Label certification program.

Ownership of the “eco-INSTITUT-Label” certification program will be transferred to LCPO GmbH (Labeling and Certification Program Organization), based in Cologne. eco-INSTITUT Germany GmbH will remain the certification body and thus the independent inspection institution responsible for regularly verifying compliance with the testing criteria and for executing the certification procedures.

The rationale behind this change is the organizational separation between the owner of the certification program (scheme owner) and the independent third-party body responsible for monitoring and verifying compliance with the certification requirements (third party). The division of these functions between two separate companies supports the eco-INSTITUT-Label certification program’s compliance with the requirements of the EU EmpCo Directive* as well as the UWG reform, which will take effect on September 27, 2026, and which transposes the European requirements into German law.

For companies with products that are already certified, there will be no significant changes with regard to the certification process. In particular, the procedures and the responsibilities of eco-INSTITUT Germany GmbH as the certification and inspection body – including the contact persons you are familiar with – will remain unchanged. Your product-specific eco-INSTITUT-Label marks will also retain the same visual format with the designated ID. Certification and testing fees will continue to be billed by eco-INSTITUT Germany GmbH as before.

LCPO GmbH will be your contractual partner in the future only with regard to the following points:

• Conclusion and administration of the licensing agreements for the use of the “eco-INSTITUT-Label,”
• Billing of annual license fees.

We will contact you shortly to adapt the existing contracts to the new legal framework. This will ensure that you can continue to use the eco-INSTITUT-Label for your certified products in accordance with the requirements of the EU EmpCo Directive.  

There will be no additional costs for you. Annual license fees already paid will be internally settled between eco-INSTITUT Germany GmbH and LCPO GmbH for the period beginning September 27, 2026.

We are, of course, happy to answer any questions you may have. To this end, we are offering a webinar on July 6, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., in collaboration with Dr. Julia Blind, attorney and partner at AVANTCORE Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaft mbB in Stuttgart. If you are interested, please register informally at info@eco-institut.de .

We thank you for your trust in the eco-INSTITUT label and look forward to our continued collaboration.

Sincerely,

LCPO GmbH

(Managing Director Dr. Frank Kuebart)

and

eco-INSTITUT Germany GmbH

(Managing Director Daniel Tigges)

*DIRECTIVE (EU) 2024/825 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 28 February 2024 amending Directives 2005/29/EC and 2011/83/EU as regards empowering consumers for the green transition through better protection against unfair practices and through better information