“The TECNALIA Materials and Coatings Laboratory is helping manufacturers adapt to the new requirements”
TECNALIA promotes sustainability in paints and varnishes
The revised EU Ecolabel criteria for paints and varnishes was published by the European Commission on 17 December 2025, marking a turning point for the coatings industry. The update responds to the need to bring the market into line with the latest technological developments, strengthen environmental protection and improve indoor air quality, in a context where sustainability has become a determining factor for industrial competitiveness.
The TECNALIA Materials and Coatings Laboratory is playing a key role in helping manufacturers adapt to the new requirements. Our expertise in eco-design, life cycle analysis and sustainable coatings technologies helps companies speed up the transition to safer, more efficient products in line with European regulations.
The EU raises the bar and includes new EU Ecolabel criteria for paints and varnishes
The new Decision on the EU Ecolabel includes three new product groups: decorative paints and varnishes and related products, high performance coatings and related products and water-based aerosol paints.
- It also introduces new criteria with emission limits for volatile organic compounds, aimed at reducing emissions and improving indoor air quality.
- The revised criteria will be valid until 31 December 2032, providing the industry with a stable framework for planning investments and developments.
The update is part of a wider set of European policies aimed at sustainability, including Regulation (EC) No. 66/2010 on the EU Ecolabel, Directive 2004/42/EC on limiting emissions of organic solvents, the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan.
An opportunity for innovation in the development of paints and varnishes
For manufacturers, brands and retailers, this review represents not only a regulatory challenge, but also an opportunity to innovate, set themselves apart and access markets where green public procurement and demand for sustainable products are growing strongly. Companies can turn this new regulation into a real competitive advantage and lead the next generation of sustainable coatings in Europe with the technological support of TECNALIA.