New label driving supply and demand of energy efficient products

The EU energy label for products has been a key driver supporting innovation and market development for energy efficient product technologies for more than 20 years. The label stimulated both innovation by manufacturers and demand for energy efficient products by consumers and professional buyers.

However the current labelling concept involving A+++ to D efficiency classes has become cumbersome and less transparent for stakeholders and thus has lost some of its original power. Therefore the EU has decided to reinvent the original A–G class concept which for the future shall involve rescaling of label classes depending on technology and market development.

The Label 2020 project is organised to help in the smooth market transition towards the new energy labels. The Label 2020 project has started in June 2019 and will last until January 2023. It is coordinated by the Austrian Energy Agency and takes place in 15 EU countries and the UK.

Label 2020 project objectives are to support:

• consumers and professional buyers by means of effective information campaigns, services and tools.
• retailers in the correct, efficient and effective implementation of the new label at the point of sale and in online sales channels.
• manufacturers in the provision of correct labelling and product information
• policy makers, multipliers and other stakeholders in the use and promotion of the new label within national programs, initiatives and schemes.

_{The Label 2020 project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement Number 847062. The sole responsibility for the content of this document lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union. Neither the EASME nor the European Commission are responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.}