ISO 14021-2016 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 14021:2016 — Environmental labels and declarations — Self-declared environmental claims (Type II environmental labelling). This International Standard specifies requirements and guidance for self-declared environmental claims (statements, symbols and graphics) made by manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers or any party that can benefit from such claims, including requirements for accuracy, clarity, substantiation and availability of supporting information.

Abstract

ISO 14021:2016 defines terms commonly used in environmental claims, gives qualifications for their use, and describes general and specific evaluation and verification methods for self-declared environmental claims related to products. The standard emphasises transparency (evidence must be made available on request), avoidance of misleading or ambiguous claims, life‑cycle thinking to prevent burden‑shifting, and rules for visual elements and symbols used in claims. An amendment (Amd 1:2021) adds requirements and guidance for carbon‑related claims such as carbon footprint and carbon neutral.

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard).
• Publication date: March 2016 (ISO 14021:2016).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.020.50 (Ecolabelling).
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2016); amended by ISO 14021:2016/Amd 1:2021 (carbon footprint / carbon neutral guidance).
• Number of pages: 27 (main document) — amendment adds 3 pages.

Scope

The standard applies to self‑declared environmental claims (Type II) for products and product components. It sets requirements for the formulation, presentation and substantiation of claims (including quantitative and comparative claims), describes evaluation and verification approaches, and provides specific guidance for common claim types (for example recycled content, degradability, compostability, energy or resource savings, and, via amendment, carbon‑related claims). ISO 14021 does not replace legal labelling requirements but provides harmonised, voluntary rules for credible self‑declaration.

Key topics and requirements

• Definitions and terms for common environmental claims and their qualified use (clarity on words such as “recyclable”, “biodegradable”, “compostable”, “recycled content”).
• Requirement that claims be accurate, specific, measurable where appropriate, and supported by evidence that is made available to interested parties on request.
• Rules for comparative claims — the basis of comparison must be clearly stated (what product or baseline is being compared).
• Life‑cycle consideration to avoid burden‑shifting between stages (manufacturing, use, end‑of‑life).
• Guidance and constraints on symbols, graphics and logos (including correct use of the recycling/Möbius symbol and limits on implying third‑party endorsement).
• Specific evaluation/verification methods for selected claim types (e.g., recycled content, reduced energy use, reduced emissions) and requirements for documentation of methodologies and test data.
• Requirements introduced by Amendment 1:2021 covering carbon‑related claims (carbon footprint, carbon neutral), including how such claims must be substantiated and presented.
• Obligation to update or withdraw claims if they become inaccurate due to changed circumstances.

Typical use and users

Primary users are manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers and marketing teams that make or control product environmental claims. Other users include conformity assessment bodies, testing laboratories, product procurement officers, consumer protection and regulatory agencies, sustainability consultants, and NGOs monitoring greenwashing. Organizations use ISO 14021 to develop internal claim policies, prepare product declarations, and demonstrate that voluntary environmental claims are credible and verifiable.

Related standards

ISO 14021 sits within the ISO 14020 family of environmental labelling standards and is closely related to: - ISO 14020 (general principles for environmental labels and declarations), - ISO 14024 (Type I — eco‑labeling, third‑party program), - ISO 14025 (Type III — environmental product declarations), - ISO 14040 / ISO 14044 (life cycle assessment standards) — used for LCA‑based substantiation, and a newer draft/final draft development for ISO/FDIS 14021 (revision/third edition) is in progress.

Keywords

Self‑declared environmental claims, Type II labelling, ecolabel, recycled content, recyclability, biodegradability, compostability, carbon footprint, carbon neutral, substantiation, verification, life‑cycle, environmental marketing, green claims.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 14021:2016 is an International Standard that specifies requirements and guidance for self‑declared (Type II) environmental claims made by suppliers about products, including rules for wording, symbols, substantiation and verification to ensure claims are not misleading.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers definitions and permitted use of common environmental claim terms, presentation and documentation of claims (including comparative claims), evaluation and verification principles, and specific requirements for selected claim types (with Amendment 1:2021 adding carbon‑related guidance). It does not replace mandatory legal labelling requirements.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers, marketers, procurement officers, conformity assessment bodies, testing labs, and regulators use it to make, assess or audit self‑declared environmental claims and to reduce the risk of misleading claims.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The published base text is ISO 14021:2016 (Edition 2) and it was amended by ISO 14021:2016/Amd 1:2021. As of 27 February 2026 the 2016 edition with the 2021 amendment remains the current published standard while a revision has been processed as ISO/FDIS 14021 (final draft stage). Users should check the ISO catalogue or their national standards body for the absolute latest publication status before relying on a subsequent revision.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 14021 is part of the ISO 14020 family of standards on environmental labels and declarations (ISO 14020, ISO 14021, ISO 14024, ISO 14025) and aligns with life‑cycle standards such as ISO 14040/14044 used for LCA‑based claims.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Self‑declared environmental claims, Type II label, substantiation, verification, recycled content, recyclability, biodegradability, carbon footprint, carbon neutral, life‑cycle consideration, environmental marketing.