Ecomark Certification for Eco-Friendly Products
Ecomark is the Government of India’s label for products that do less harm to the environment. Under the Ecomark Rules, 2024, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) grants it to products that already meet BIS standards and the Ecomark criteria. The mark is valid for three years, with an annual report due every 31 May.
What it is
Ecomark certification is a voluntary eco-label run by the Government of India. It tells buyers that a product meets environmental criteria on top of the normal quality standard: less waste, more recycled or recyclable material, lower use of non-renewable resources, or a smaller environmental impact across its life.
The scheme began in 1991. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change replaced it with the Ecomark Rules, 2024, made under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and in force from 26 September 2024. The CPCB receives applications in Form 1 through its online portal, verifies them and grants the mark. A Steering Committee oversees the scheme and a Technical Committee frames the product criteria and verification process.
For a manufacturer, Ecomark is an official way to prove a green claim instead of just making one.
Who it applies to
You already hold a BIS licence
The product needs a licence or certificate of conformity under the BIS Act, 2016. No licence yet? That comes first.
You make everyday consumer goods
Products such as soaps and detergents, paper, paints, textiles, packaging, lubricants and electrical goods are typical candidates, depending on the criteria notified for each category.
You supply buyers who ask for proof
Companies selling to large buyers or government departments that want proof behind a green label.
Why it matters
Back your green claim with the government
“Eco-friendly” printed on a pack is just a claim. Ecomark is verified by CPCB, so buyers do not have to take your word for it.
Stay clear of greenwashing complaints
A claim verified against published criteria is much harder to attack as misleading.
Give your ESG report hard facts
Your ESG report gets a verified fact to point to, not an adjective.
Ecomark, ISI mark and ISO 14001 compared
| Ecomark | ISI mark (BIS) | ISO 14001 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it certifies | A product’s environmental performance | A product’s conformity to an Indian Standard | A company’s environmental management system |
| Who grants it | CPCB | Bureau of Indian Standards | An accredited certification body |
| Law or standard | Ecomark Rules, 2024 | BIS Act, 2016 | ISO 14001 standard |
| Mandatory? | Voluntary | Mandatory for products under a Quality Control Order; voluntary otherwise | Voluntary |
| Validity | 3 years, or until the criteria change | As per the BIS licence | As per the certification body |
In short, BIS certification is the foundation and Ecomark is built on top of it. ISO 14001 certification covers how your factory manages its environmental impact, not the product itself.
Here is the catch: Ecomark is only as good as the BIS licence under it. Take a Faridabad paint maker with an ISI licence that wants a green label on its water-based range. The licence is already in place, so the work is about proving the environmental criteria. A unit without one would need it first.
Documents required
About the product
- BIS licence or certificate of conformity for the product
- Product specifications and composition
- Test reports showing the product meets the Ecomark criteria
- Label and packaging artwork
About the manufacturer
- Company registration documents and PAN
- GST registration
- Factory address and manufacturing process details
- Consent to operate from the State Pollution Control Board, where applicable
For the application
- Form 1 filed on the CPCB Ecomark portal
- Authorised signatory details
- Declarations on the environmental criteria
How it works
Check Ecomark certification criteria for your product
We match your product to the Ecomark criteria for its category and confirm its BIS licence is valid.
Close any gaps first
No BIS licence? We start there. Test reports come from an accredited laboratory; we do not run tests ourselves.
File Form 1 on the CPCB portal
We prepare the application, upload the documents and answer CPCB’s queries. CPCB may use a registered Verifier to check the claims.
Use the mark and report yearly
Once granted, the Ecomark goes on the product and its label. We file the annual report by 31 May and diarise the three-year validity. In practice, a Ballabgarh packaging unit supplying a large FMCG brand can then show the buyer’s audit team a CPCB record, not a brochure.
Timelines
Valid for three years
An Ecomark is valid for three years, or until the Ecomark criteria for that product change, whichever comes first.
Annual report by 31 May
Every holder files an annual report on the CPCB portal by 31 May.
BIS licence must stay valid
The Ecomark rests on your BIS licence, so keep its renewals on time.
What happens if you misuse the mark
CPCB cancels the Ecomark
The CPCB may cancel an Ecomark granted on false information or wilful concealment of facts.
New criteria mean you qualify again
If the criteria change, the existing Ecomark lapses and the product must qualify again.
Buyers stop trusting your label
A cancelled mark is worse than none. Buyers who relied on it will ask questions.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ecomark certification mandatory?
No, Ecomark is voluntary. No product has to carry it to be sold in India. But once you choose to use the mark, the Ecomark Rules, 2024 apply in full: the product must hold a BIS licence or certificate of conformity, meet the notified Ecomark criteria and be granted the mark by the CPCB. Buyers with sustainability targets may prefer verified green claims over marketing lines.
Who grants the Ecomark?
The Central Pollution Control Board grants the Ecomark under the Ecomark Rules, 2024. Applications go to CPCB in Form 1 through its online portal. CPCB verifies the claims, can register environmental bodies as Verifiers to help, and publishes the list of products granted the mark. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified the Rules, and a Steering Committee reviews how the scheme is working.
Do I need BIS certification before applying for Ecomark?
Yes. The product must hold a licence or certificate of conformity under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 before it can carry the Ecomark. The Ecomark criteria are an extra environmental layer on top of the quality standard. If your product does not yet have BIS certification, we handle that first and then move to the Ecomark application, so the two steps run in the right order.
How long is an Ecomark valid?
An Ecomark is valid for three years, or until the Ecomark criteria for that product category change, whichever comes first. During the three years you must file an annual report on the CPCB portal by 31 May each year. When criteria are revised, the product has to qualify again under the new criteria. Planning renewal early keeps the mark on your packs without a break.
What happened to the old 1991 Ecomark scheme?
The Ecomark Rules, 2024 replaced it. The 1991 scheme was a voluntary scheme too. The new Rules, in force from 26 September 2024, make the CPCB the body that receives applications through an online portal and grants the mark, with three-year validity and an annual report. If you held the old mark, check your product against the current criteria before using the label again.
Which products can get the Ecomark?
Products for which Ecomark criteria have been notified, such as soaps and detergents, paper, paints, textiles, packaging, lubricants and electrical goods. The criteria look at waste reduction, use of recycled or recyclable material, lower use of non-renewable resources and lower environmental impact. If no criteria exist for your category yet, the mark cannot be granted. We check this at the very first step, before any cost is incurred.
Is Ecomark the same as ISO 14001?
No. Ecomark certifies a product; ISO 14001 certifies a company’s environmental management system. Ecomark is granted by the CPCB under the Ecomark Rules, 2024, while ISO 14001 is issued by an accredited certification body against an international standard. Many manufacturers hold both, because a sound management system makes it easier to meet and prove the product-level Ecomark criteria year after year.
What does Taxhint do and what does CPCB do?
We handle the paperwork and the process; CPCB makes the decision. Our work covers the eligibility check, BIS licence status, documents, Form 1 on the CPCB portal, replies to queries and the yearly report due by 31 May. Testing is done by accredited laboratories and verification by CPCB or its registered Verifiers. We never claim to grant the mark ourselves, so you always know who is responsible for what.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
Budget separately for laboratory testing, and for BIS certification if the product does not have it yet.
Ready to begin?
Tell us the product and its BIS status, and we will tell you whether Ecomark criteria exist for it and what the application needs.