Overview
The ECO Mark is India’s official label for environment-friendly products. It was introduced by the Government of India in 1991 and, for most of its life, was operated by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as a combined mark: the familiar ISI mark with an earthen-pot ECO logo. A product carrying it had to meet both the Indian Standard for quality and safety and additional environmental criteria for its category.
In 2024 the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notified the Ecomark Rules, 2024, which replace the 1991 scheme. Published summaries describe the new scheme as administered by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) working with BIS, with criteria set out category by category in the First Schedule to the rules. The new rules take a life-cycle view: resource use, energy efficiency, recycled content, packaging, hazardous substances and end-of-life handling.
Note: The transition from the 1991 BIS scheme to the 2024 rules is recent, and the filing route and forms have been changing. We confirm the current procedure with the authorities before filing, and treat older guidance with care.
Who needs it
The ECO Mark is voluntary. It is used by:
- Manufacturers who want to differentiate a product on environmental performance.
- Suppliers to government and institutional buyers whose tenders give preference to eco-labelled products.
- Brand owners building a credible sustainability claim, backed by a government scheme rather than a self-made label.
Products covered
The Ecomark Rules, 2024 set out broad product categories, each with its own criteria. Published summaries list categories such as:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Household chemicals | Soaps, detergents |
| Paper and packaging | Writing and printing paper, packaging materials |
| Plastics and polymers | Plastic products, recycled-content items |
| Paints and coatings | Architectural paints, powder coatings |
| Oils | Lubricating oils |
| Electrical and electronics | Electrical and electronic goods, batteries |
| Consumer goods | Cosmetics, textiles, leather, food items |
The authoritative list and criteria are in the Gazette notification of the Ecomark Rules, 2024 (MoEFCC) and on the CPCB website at https://cpcb.gov.in.
Documents required
The exact set depends on the category, but you should expect to provide:
- Valid BIS licence or certificate of conformity, or evidence that the product complies with its QCO
- Product description, specifications and bill of materials
- Evidence for each environmental criterion: material declarations, recycled-content data, energy or water data, hazardous-substance test reports
- Packaging specifications and labelling artwork
- Factory details and environmental consents where relevant
- Undertakings in the prescribed format
Process
- Check eligibility. Confirm that the product falls within a notified category and that it holds the required BIS licence or QCO compliance.
- Map the criteria. Compare the product, its materials and its packaging with every criterion for the category.
- Close the gaps. Arrange any additional tests and collect supplier declarations.
- Apply. File the application with the evidence pack through the route notified under the 2024 rules.
- Assessment. The authority reviews the evidence and may verify it at the factory or through testing.
- Grant and use. Once granted, the ECO Mark is used on the product and packaging as prescribed.
Validity, renewal & surveillance
Under the old BIS scheme, licences were granted for a fixed period and renewed based on the unit’s performance. Validity and renewal under the 2024 rules are set by the notification and the administering authority. Because the mark is linked to your BIS licence or QCO compliance, it can only stay valid while that underlying certification remains valid. Expect periodic reporting and verification.
Note: Fees and procedures under the new rules are still settling. We’ll share a current fee estimate when we assess your product.
How Aaditech helps
Aaditech was promoted in 2010 by former Directors of the Bureau of Indian Standards. Our CEO, Mr B.K. Jain, is an ex-Director of BIS, and our Chief Advisor, Mr Anupam Kaul, chairs several BIS committees. ECO Mark work starts from the BIS licence, and that is where we are strongest.
- Eligibility check: your product category, your BIS licence or QCO status and the criteria that apply.
- Criteria gap assessment across materials, energy, packaging and hazardous substances.
- Lab coordination for any extra tests the criteria call for, such as restricted-substance analysis.
- Evidence pack prepared in a structured, auditable form.
- Filing and query handling with the administering authority.
- Linking to other obligations such as EPR and RoHS, which often share the same evidence.
If you already hold an ISI licence and want to add the ECO Mark, contact us for an eligibility review.
