The EU Ecolabel as a mark of environmental excellence – a literature review

Abstract

Sustainable development and the reduction of the use of non-renewable resources are gradually becoming central issues for the EU growth plans. In the face of those inevitable changes, the voluntary labeling system – EU Ecolabel – is gaining in importance. The aim of the study was to conduct a systematic review of the scientific literature on the EU Ecolabel labeling system and to identify and evaluate the existing trends. In the course of the study, the main research trends regarding labeling were determined. Among the most popular research topics were those relating to a specific category of products. Within this group, the largest number of studies in the analyzed period concerned issues related to tourism. Of particular value are the publications introducing the basis for defining criteria for new products, which so far have not been subject to the EU Ecolabel certification. A negative conclusion from the conducted review is the low involvement of researchers from Poland in the studies on the EU Ecolabel.