Nordic Swan Ecolabel, Hotels and other accommodation

Ventilation appears only as an energy measure inside the point menu of O12, quoted here, worth 2 points. O12 is obligatory but requires only 6 points from a menu, so no individual measure is compulsory. The document contains no filter grade requirement, no fresh air supply rate, no carbon dioxide, volatile organic compound or particulate measurement requirement for guest rooms, no mould inspection protocol, and no criterion on combustion sources inside the building envelope. Mould is mentioned only as an exemption trigger in O40.

Demand-controlled ventilation system: The company's ventilation system in connection with conference facilities and dining rooms is demand-controlled. Demand-control is air supply adapted to the number of people in the premises, such as CO2 control and sensor control. Time-control is not accepted.

O42, quoted here, is a mandatory prohibition on chemical, biocidal or ionisation treatment of incoming water, with an exemption available on a documented Legionella risk assessment. O29 mandates tap serving in place of bottled water, and O14 sets consumption limits of 150 litres per hotel guest, or 200 with a pool. The document contains no filtration specification at building or room level, no tested contaminant panel and no named laboratory, and no pool or spa water chemistry or sanitation method; chapter 8 states that "The chemical products used at the spa service are exempted from the requirements in this chapter."

Water treatment of all incoming water into the company is not permitted. In this instance, water treatment refers to the use of chemicals, biocides or ionisation, e.g. copper-silver ionisation for disinfection of the water.

The mandatory lighting requirement is the outdoor control clause quoted here, from O11. Two further lighting items sit in the O12 point menu: demand-controlled lighting in guest rooms, and LED or best available energy class light sources in guest rooms and corridors, each worth 1 point. The motivation throughout is energy. The document contains no criterion on circadian or tunable lighting, colour temperature by time of day, flicker performance, blackout in sleeping areas, daylight access and glazing, or night sky and light pollution.

Outdoor lighting must be time- or demand-controlled.

The Nordic Ecolabelling 055 version 5.11 criteria document was read in full. It contains no requirement addressing radiofrequency or electromagnetic exposure, wired versus wireless network topology, shielded cabling, demand switches, field measurement in sleeping areas, or access point placement. A full text search of the 52 page document returns no occurrence of electromagnetic, wifi, radiofrequency or electrosmog.

Cleaning and laundry chemistry is the strongest area: O37, quoted here, is mandatory and absolute, and is supported by O35, O36, O38, O39 (a CLP hazard class exclusion table) and O40, which bans PFAS in floor care products. O26 bans PVC and PVDC in packaging film and O24 bans small portion bottles and single use plastic straws, stirrers and cutlery in guest rooms. Textiles, furniture and flooring appear only as optional point items under P6. The document contains no mattress composition or flame retardant criterion, no low emission building material, finish or adhesive criterion, and no VOC emission test method for interior products.

100% of the products used for general cleaning, dishwashing and internal laundry must be ecolabelled. Ecolabelled chemicals are products that carry the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, the EU Ecolabel, Blue Angel or the Bra Miljöval (Good Environmental Choice) label.

Food is addressed by mandatory requirements with numeric thresholds. O27, quoted here, requires the organic proportion to be stated against a named list of certification schemes, and O28 sets country differentiated minima. O32 bans palm oil in frying oil, O33 bans genetically modified food, O31 requires MSC certification for listed fish and seafood species, and O30 requires a vegetarian dish. P3 and P4 add optional points for organic and locally produced food, the latter defined at 250 km with full supply chain traceability. The document contains no criterion on on site growing, cookware, kitchen water treatment or ice water, allergens, or seed oils other than palm.

The company must state the proportion of purchased organic* food and drink per year. * Organic means food and drink labelled in accordance with Regulation (EC) 2018/848, KRAV, Luomu, Nyckelpigan, Debio, Statskontrollert økologisk (Ø - merket), Demeter, Biosiegel or Tún-lífrænt.

O34, quoted here, is mandatory for hotels with an outdoor area larger than 1000 square metres and also requires that trees over 100 years old and natural watercourses be protected as far as possible. This is site ecology rather than occupant experience. The document contains no criterion on direct nature access from guest rooms, views or prospect, spatial volume or ceiling height, natural material or pattern contact indoors, or published design intent.

Companies with gardens/outdoor areas must ensure that biodiversity is improved. It is required that: No chemical herbicides (pesticides) are used in the hotel's garden/outdoor area. Foreign invasive species found on the site must be removed and controlled.

The Nordic Ecolabelling 055 version 5.11 criteria document contains no requirement addressing background noise level, acoustic separation between rooms, mechanical or plant noise, or low frequency and infrasound. A full text search returns no occurrence of noise, acoustic or sound as a requirement subject. Fragrance appears only as a chemical product category subject to O39, listed as air fresheners and fragrance diffusers, with no requirement on airborne scent load in guest areas.