Natural beauty in the garden: environmentally friendly garden furniture
Spring is coming! And with it comes the time when we particularly enjoy being outside again. The green garden oasis can be embellished with attractive garden furniture that invites you to linger. If you want to think about the environment as well as your own comfort, make a conscious decision in favour of sustainable garden furniture that ensures an environmentally friendly outdoor feel-good experience. So how can the outdoor area be furnished sustainably?
Black gold: composting correctly
Before the beds can be planted in spring, the waste collection point from last year must first be moved and the windrow from the year before last can finally be sieved to obtain fresh compost - the black gold of the garden.
Win an eco-friendly school bag set
The new school bag should be "cool" and sustainable. With a little luck, you can win an environmentally friendly school bag set in the competition organised by the "Clever shopping for school" initiative.
Review: Green Loans and the new requirements in UZ49
The Austrian Ecolabel for sustainable financial products has been the standard for sustainable financial products in Austria since 2004. The Ecolabel thus provides guidance for (sustainable) investors.
The Ecolabel at WeFair
For the second time, WeFair will take place from 12-14 April in Vienna's Marx Halle. Get information and win with the Austrian Ecolabel at the WeFair.
Cycling together for the environment - every bike ride counts!
The successful motivation and awareness-raising campaign "Austria is cycling" will start a new main season from 20 March to 30 September 2023. Many municipalities, businesses, clubs and schools throughout Austria are already on board as organisers, because cycling is known to make people fit and happy. In addition, they are also committed to climate protection.
22 Carinthian Companies awarded with the Austrian Ecolabel at Lake Weissensee
On February 9, 2024, 22 sustainably managed companies were awarded the Austrian Ecolabel by Federal Minister Leonore Gewessler at the Weißensee Haus in Techendorf at Lake Weißensee, Carinthia.
Filming with responsibility: costumes and sustainability
The production of films and other audiovisual works for cinemas and television is associated with a high consumption of resources and therefore has a negative impact on our environment. In view of the climate crisis, the film industry is also called upon to act more sustainably. In recent years, this realisation has led to a growing movement within the industry.
Eco-friendly costumes in the theatre - a look behind the scenes
As a pressing issue of our time, the climate crisis has long since found its way onto the stage and has been increasingly in the spotlight in contemporary theatre productions for years. As places of cultural education, theatres offer space to sensitise people to social issues and challenges and to encourage sustainable action and thinking. However, it is not enough to simply address the topic in terms of content.
Sustainability in office purchasing
Many retailers of office supplies publish new product catalogs at the beginning of the year. New products with the Austrian Ecolabel and the UmweltTipp! environmental tip, which highlights particularly environmentally friendly products, are also presented in the reference works.
Updated Ecolabel guidelines for building products
In times of growing environmental awareness and increased commitment to sustainability, the selection of environmentally friendly building materials is of the utmost importance. In this context, the Austrian Ecolabel for construction products is a decisive orientation aid and becomes the basis for sustainable procurement programmes of the federal government (naBe) and the provinces of Vienna, Lower Austria and Vorarlberg.
Railway clear to the wintry mountains
Our eco-labelled tourism region of Seefeld in Tyrol shows that winter holidays don't have to mean traffic jams and the smell of exhaust fumes or fitting snow chains and laboriously scraping off windscreens, but can also be comfortable and climate-friendly. Be inspired and get ideas for your stress-free winter holiday.
From Vienna: Winter excursion destinations with the ecolabel
Even in the cold season, there are a number of eco-labelled excursion destinations that can be reached relatively quickly from Vienna. These include recommended indoor and outdoor destinations. Depending on the weather, you can decide whether you prefer to stay indoors or outdoors.
A winter holiday full of contrasts in Saalfelden Leogang
Saalfelden Leogang is one of the three tourism destinations that have been certified with the Austrian Ecolabel in 2023. This destination is characterised by a wide variety of tourist offers - even in winter! It advertises itself as the "most contrasting region in the Alps".
Sustainable financial products: new version of the guidelines
On 13 December 2023, the new version of the Austrian Ecolabel guidelines for sustainable financial products (UZ 49) was adopted by the Ecolabel Advisory Board. The biggest change: from now on, sustainable loans (green loans) can also be certified.
Green events for Austria - the administration as a pioneer
At the naBe & Green Events Austria symposium, 120 event experts from all over Austria from both the administrative sector and the industry met at the Ankersaal in the Kulturhaus Brotfabrik in Vienna. The event was certified as a Green Event with the Austrian Ecolabel.
Top performance with the Austrian Ecolabel
Federal Minister Leonore Gewessler was also able to present this year's Environmental Management Award to three companies that are certified with the Austrian Ecolabel and scored with their outstanding achievements: Druckerei Janetschek from Heidenreichstein in the Waldviertel, BKS Bank from Klagenfurt and Henriette Stadthotel Vienna.
MATR: Mattresses out of bed and back into circulation
The Viennese start-up MATR offers a digital and environmentally friendly mattress management solution for hotels. The multi-award-winning company is designed according to the principles of the circular economy and stands for a sustainable sleeping experience.
Clever einkaufen - a success story
On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of "UmweltTipp!" we asked the expert Jutta Kellner about the initiative "Clever shopping for school" about the developments.
Protecting biodiversity - what can the financial sector do?
According to the World Economic Forum (Global Risk Report 2023), the loss of biodiversity is one of the four greatest risks facing the world's population over the next 10 years, alongside a lack of climate protection and climate change adaptation as well as severe weather disasters. Biodiversity refers to the diversity of life, whether animal or plant. In order to preserve this, it is necessary to protect and maintain the various habitats.
Ecolabelled building products guarantee added value
It is not only particularly important for school buildings that tested ("healthy") building materials are used in their construction and interior design. Building products with the Austrian Ecolabel guarantee health and well-being. Dr Thomas Belazzi pays particular attention to both. He is a recognised expert in ecological building and managing director of bauXund forschung und beratung gmbh in Vienna (www.bauxund.at).
A strong Ecolabel for Scheucher Holzindustrie GmbH
The Austrian company Scheucher Holzindustrie GmbH has held the EU Ecolabel for wooden floors since March 2023. This makes the company the first parquet manufacturer in Europe to be authorised to use this cross-border Ecolabel. It guarantees the environmental friendliness, durability and high quality of the labelled products. Read more about this here.
Federal building criteria apply the Austrian Ecolabel
In Austria, the federal government spends almost 1.3 billion euros a year on building construction projects. The money flows into the refurbishment, new construction, repair and maintenance of schools, hospitals, prisons and other public buildings. The construction-relevant guidelines of the Austrian Ecolabel play an important role here!
HTL Mödling as climate champion
HTL Mödling is the largest school in Austria, has been awarded the Austrian Ecolabel and has been able to reduce energy costs by a remarkable 40 percent by switching to district heating and other measures.
Austrian Ecolabel in the EU Parliament
The Austrian Ecolabel made a strong presentation at the EU Parliament in Strasbourg from 16 to 18 October 2023. Together with the Blue Angel from Germany, the Nordic Swan from the Scandinavian countries and the Dutch Milieukeur, the importance of national quality labels was pointed out to the EU parliamentarians. The motto of the exhibition in the busy area in front of the canteen of the EU Parliament: Together we are strong.
Welcome to the future!
What do mushrooms have to do with Kaffeesud? Are algae, nettles or hair really miracle substances of the future? These and other questions are addressed in the new hands-on exhibition at the Zoom Children's Museum in Vienna. Enter our competition on Facebook and win tickets to the Zoom!
World Ecolabel Day: Into the future with credible labels
On the occasion of World Ecolabel Day on 12 October 2023, which celebrates quality labels worldwide, the Austrian Ecolabel hosted a seminar in Brussels. During a seminar, EU parliamentarians and their assistants were informed about the credibility of governmental quality labels - and pointed out future challenges. The seminar is part of a series of events - after the seminar in Brussels, there will be a fair at the European Parliament in Strasbourg to illustrate the variety of certified products for EU parliamentarians.
Pernauer - Combining resource conservation and cleaning performance
Pernauer produces many of the bigood products sold by a large Austrian drugstore chain. But other household cleaners or detergents are also produced by Pernauer and carry the Austrian Ecolabel.
Hollu - ecological cleaning made in Austria
Cleaning companies in Austria focus on environmentally friendly cleaning agents and cleaning products. Outstanding among them is the Tyrolean GmbH hollu, which has been in existence since 1905. At that time, the founder Julius Holluschek laid the foundation stone of the hygiene specialist's production.
New labelling obligation for fragrances
The EU Commission recently published a regulation that will improve transparency about fragrance allergens in cosmetics.
Disinfection - when and where is it useful?
Read in the interview with biotechnologist Marion Jaros from the Vienna Environmental Ombudsman's Office what is important for the safe and economical use of disinfectants.
Museum & Sustainability - the Women's Museum Hittisau shows how it works
On Austrian Museum Day 2023, a visit to the ecologically important exhibition BLITZBLANK! Cleaning - inside, outside, everywhere in the Women's Museum in Hittisau.
Competition "energie:bewusst unterwegs"
The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research is starting the school year 2023/24 with the Austria-wide competition "energie:bewusst unterwegs" to bring the topic of energy saving in the area of mobility to the fore in schools.
UZ 49 Webinar "Transparency and how it can help prevent greenwashing".
EU disclosure and transparency standards should combat "green-washing". Transparency criteria should help investors to make informed investment decisions.
Exploring the Austrian Ecolabel destination Seefeld
In June 2023, the Seefeld region in Tyrol, together with Wagrain-Kleinarl in Salzburg, became the first destinations in Austria to be awarded the Ecolabel for Tourism Destinations. Read here how travel bloggers experienced the region.
First tourism destinations Seefeld and Wagrain-Kleinarl as well as 27 tourism businesses receive awards
Together, Austria's tourism industry is sending a strong signal for sustainability and future security: 27 companies from tourism and gastronomy received the Austrian Ecolabel from Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler and Tourism State Secretary Susanne Kraus-Winkler at a festive award ceremony on 6 September. 13 of the award-winning companies also received the European equivalent, the EU Ecolabel. For the first time, 2 tourism regions were certified in addition to companies.
28 cultural and event enterprises newly awarded the Austrian Ecolabel
Austria's cultural landscape is once again enriched by several resource-saving and environmentally conscious businesses: On 5 September, 28 cultural and event businesses were honoured. For the first time, institutions from the theatre and cinema sector were also included. Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler and State Secretary for the Arts and Culture Andrea Mayer presented the awards at the Haydn Cinema in Vienna.
Exploring the Austrian Ecolabel destination Seefeld
In June 2023, the Seefeld region in Tyrol, together with Wagrain-Kleinarl in Salzburg, became the first destinations in Austria to be awarded the Ecolabel for Tourism Destinations. Read here how travel bloggers experienced the region.
Environment and economy in harmony
Combining ecology and economy is one of the most important tasks of the next decades in order to reduce climate change and its consequences. It is essential to be able to count on the support of manufacturers and retailers.
Five times as many sustainable school articles
With the campaign UmweltTipp! the initiative "Clever Shopping for School" supports parents and pupils in sustainable school shopping before school starts. Since the campaign began in August 2008, the number of product recommendations for sustainable school shopping has increased almost fivefold to more than 5,700 products.
12% domestic fund assets in Ecolabel funds
The Financial Market Authority (FMA) has published its annual report for 2021. Encouraging: Investments according to the guidelines of the Austrian Ecolabel for Sustainable Financial Products (UZ 49) continue to increase strongly. Almost 12 percent of Austrian fund assets are invested in UZ 49 funds.
Unlimited outdoor pleasure
The Seebach Valley Nature Experience is now accessible for all.
With certification processes to more sustainability
Under the title "The Austrian Ecolabel in Tourism - With Certification Processes to More Sustainability", the kick-off event of the new dialogue series "Sustainability in Tourism" of the Tourism Section at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Economic Affairs took place on Wednesday, 28 June 2023.
Back to the future - the motto of the Austrian conference professionals
"Back to the Future" was the motto of this year's Convention 4 U, the meeting industry's conference that can be interpreted in many ways - and where better to do that than at the Congress Centrum Alpbach in the Village of Thinkers? The Austrian Ecolabel was there too!
Vice Chancellor and Climate Protection Minister honour sustainable green events and sports clubs
Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler and Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler, together with the Green Events Austria network, honoured the 28 most sustainable festivals, cultural events, sporting events and sports clubs in Austria and awarded the eight best as competition winners.
Green Claims Directive against greenwashing
The European Commission has presented a new law to combat misleading environmental claims. With it, Brussels wants to take stronger action against greenwashing.
Climate protection in school shopping - brochure and folder reissued
The Clever Shopping for School initiative offers the opportunity to quickly find environmentally friendly products. This gives everyone the opportunity to pay attention to climate protection when shopping at school. The best thing is to do it right away with your next purchase!
Hypomeeting Götzis goes Green
Sporting events can move a lot towards sustainability. The 48th edition of the Hypomeeting Götzis/Vorarlberg shows that this can also work for major events. It was the first major sporting event to achieve the Ecolabel for Green Events and was produced and broadcast according to the Ecolabel "Green Producing" standard.
Green Banking Pioneer Gunskirchen Celebrates 125 Years
The Environmental Centre of Raiffeisenbank Gunskirchen is a true pioneer for sustainable investments and green banking. In 2023, both the 125th anniversary of Raiffeisenbank Gunskirchen and the 10th birthday of the environmental centre will be celebrated
World Ecolabel Day
8 October is World Ecolabel Day - the international day for national Ecolabels. Independent, governmental Ecolabels are based on transparent criteria and sound third-party verification and are a credible barrier against greenwashing. What is your opinion? Support your colleagues by answering a short questionnaire.
European Tourism Going Green - Together we make tourism in Europe more sustainable!
Austria has been a pioneer in sustainable tourism for many years, but together we can achieve much more.
This was proven by the international "Green Tourism Conference" organised by the ÖHV, at which 70 certified best practice businesses (hotels, campsites, tour operators, apartment buildings) from six countries were presented. Eleven Austrian businesses were awarded the Austrian and European Ecolabel.
Sustainable travel experiences through and through
With the Ecolabel, what belongs together comes together: The Ecolabel group continues to grow - our tour operators can also take advantage of the growing range of sustainably certified locations and hotels to put together consistently certified travel experiences. The following offers are particularly worth highlighting in the near future.
Engagement - How can investors encourage companies to be more sustainable?
In order to demonstrate the possibilities of collaborative engagement, a webinar was held on 24 April 2023 as part of the series "Green Money for Green Investments", which was organised by ÖGUT on behalf of the Ministry of Climate Protection and in cooperation with the Austrian Ecolabel team at VKI.
Sustainable cinemas in Austria
The cultural sector is an important partner in climate protection and can benefit from common national environmental standards. Therefore, there is now also a separate Ecolabel guideline for cinema operations and already the first two licensees.
Sustainability & Resilience: Systematically into the entrepreneurial future
Active environmental and climate protection are indispensable for sustainable organisations. As an Ecolabel company, submit your best measures for environmental and climate protection to the Environmental Management Award 2023!
Diagonale #denktweiter: Attitude is needed!
The Diagonale, the festival of Austrian film, celebrated several Green Events/Green Meetings certifications in 2023 as well as Austria's first green cinema.
Ecolabel contributes to record in Salzburg!
"Our service is working," says Sabine Wolfsgruber, Managing Director of umwelt service salzburg, the regional support agency, about the most successful year so far: in 2022, more than 700 consultations were completed by the advisory and support agency for corporate environmental and climate protection - the highest number since the independent association was founded. There was also strong demand for Ecolabel certifications.
Invisible but still dangerous - microplastics!
Plastics can be found in all areas of everyday life. A new brochure informs about the effects of microplastics on humans and nature and gives helpful tips on how to avoid them.
200th financial product with Austrian Ecolabel
While it took fourteen years for the first hundred certified funds, the time had now come again after less than three years: the two hundredth financial product was awarded the Austrian Ecolabel. A brief analysis.
In focus: The Ecolabel in practice - market control
Not only the strict, transparent criteria and the independently prepared expert opinion ensure that Ecolabel products also deliver what they promise. The Association for Consumer Information (VKI) also tests products from all guidelines for correct use of the Austrian Ecolabel.
In focus: Guidelines in detail - Part IV - Ecolabel driving schools
While a driver's license allows us to use cars, it does not exclude so-called multimodal mobility, i.e. the use of multiple methods of getting around. The Austrian Ecolabel driving schools are thinking different ...
Infothek biodiversity
What does biodiversity mean? What can everyone contribute to the protection of biodiversity? Every contribution is important!
In focus: Guidelines in detail - Part III - sustainable travelling
The guideline UZ 72 "Travel Offers" is all about designing sustainable travel offers. It was known long before it came into force in 2008 that man-made climate change is a major problem. And that is also the core of the requirements.
In focus: Guidelines in detail - Part Two - sustainable education
The guideline for tourism and leisure enterprises contains specific requirements for museums. The first mandatory criterion is: "Integration of education for sustainable development into the educational work". What`s about?
In focus: Guidelines in detail - Part One - biodiversity
In the guideline for tourism and leisure businesses, there is a requirement in criterion UZ 200-F05 to motivate businesses to contribute to the promotion of biodiversity.