Energy Label

The EU energy label is a mandatory visual rating that shows the energy efficiency of a product on a simple scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). It helps consumers and businesses compare appliances and other energy-related products at a glance, and it supports the wider goals of energy saving and decarbonization in the European Union.

What is the EU energy label?

The energy label is a colour-and-letter classification that summarises how much energy a product uses relative to similar products on the market. It was first introduced in the European Union in 1995 and has since become one of the most recognised consumer information tools in Europe, covering products such as fridges, washing machines, dishwashers, televisions and displays, light sources, and tyres.

The label uses a colour scale from dark green (most efficient) to red (least efficient), combined with letter classes from A down to G. Its main purpose is to give clear, comparable information on energy consumption so buyers can choose more efficient options, while pushing manufacturers to keep improving their products.

The 2021 rescaling: goodbye to A+, A++ and A+++

For many years the label used added classes such as A+, A++ and A+++. As technology improved, most products ended up clustered in those top classes, which made the label far less useful: when almost everything is rated A+++, the rating no longer helps you tell products apart.

To fix this, the European Commission rescaled the label back to a clean A to G scale, without any plus signs. The new labels became mandatory for the first product groups (including fridges, dishwashers, washing machines, displays and light sources) from 1 March 2021, with other groups following. Importantly, the rescaling is stricter: a fridge that was rated A+++ under the old scale may now sit at class C or D even though it is exactly as efficient as before. Class A is deliberately left largely empty at launch so there is room to reward future, more efficient models.

How the energy label works

The class shown on the label is based on a standardised technical assessment of the product's energy performance. Depending on the product type, this can take into account:

• Energy consumption during normal use (for example annual electricity use).
• Other relevant resources, such as annual water consumption for washing machines and dishwashers.
• Performance compared with similar products, expressed through an energy efficiency index.

Many rescaled labels also include a QR code that links to the EU product database (EPREL), where shoppers can find verified, official information about the model.

Rules and legal framework

In the European Union, the energy label is governed by Regulation (EU) 2017/1369, which sets the framework for energy labelling, together with product-specific delegated regulations for each category. Suppliers must register their products in the EPREL database before placing them on the market, and the information on the label must be verifiable and auditable so that market surveillance authorities can check it.

The energy label works hand in hand with ecodesign rules, which set minimum efficiency requirements that products must meet to be sold at all. You can read more in our entries on the EU Ecodesign Directive and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which is gradually broadening these requirements and introducing tools such as the digital product passport.

The link between the energy label and the carbon footprint

The energy label and the carbon footprint are closely connected, because both are about reducing environmental impact. The carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions linked to a product or activity, while the energy label focuses on how efficiently a product uses energy in its use phase.

In general, a product with a high energy class consumes less energy and therefore causes fewer emissions when the electricity comes from fossil sources. Choosing efficient appliances is one practical way for households and companies to cut both energy bills and their Scope 2 emissions, and it supports the broader shift towards a low-carbon economy and improved energy efficiency.

Benefits of the energy label

For consumers

• Makes it easy to compare products on energy efficiency before buying.
• Helps reduce long-term energy costs.
• Encourages more sustainable consumption habits.

For businesses

• Drives innovation and the development of more efficient products.
• Improves competitiveness in a market that increasingly values sustainability.
• Helps demonstrate compliance with EU product and environmental rules.

For the environment

• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions linked to energy use.
• Promotes cleaner technologies and lower overall energy demand.
• Supports the EU transition to a low-carbon economy.

How Manglai helps measure and reduce your carbon footprint

While the energy label tells you how efficient a product is, companies also need to measure the emissions behind their energy consumption. At Manglai we help organisations calculate their carbon footprint across Scopes 1, 2 and 3, analyse energy and consumption data, and prepare their sustainability reporting. Discover how Manglai can help you.