In 1989, the Nordic Council of Ministers decided to introduce a common and official environmental label in Nordic countries. The Swan was chosen as a symbol, a variation on the logo of the Nordic Council of Ministers. This ecolabel is named Svanen, that can be translated by Swan Environmental Label. The Nordic ecolabel covers 67 different products. This year, on july 2008, a list of requirements and criteria was established for a fuel to be ecolabellised. Several energy providers have already contacted the organization to receive a Svanen. On november the 11th, 2008, Fordonsgas Sverige AB, a swedish company, received it for its gaz for vehicle.

Fuels have to fulfil very stringents criteria. The requirements concern the entire product lifecycle, from the raw materials to the final product (in this case, the fuel available to consumers at the filling stations). Svanen ecolabelled fuels have to fulfil essential criterion which are:

• Reduction of emissions that negatively affect global warming and climate change
• An absolute threshold value to the amount of CO2 that may be released to the atmosphere during the entire lifecycle of the fuel
• Restrictions on the total energy used at the production stage
• Traceability of crops and certified sustainable farming
• Defined limitations on health effects of these fuels.
  

Fordonsgas is quite satisfied with this award : « We believe that our receipt of this ecolabel will increase interest within the automotive industry for alternative fuels, which is of critical importance both for our company and for the environment », says Bo Ramberg, CEO Fordonsgas Sverige AB. It’s clear that in Sweden, the interest in (bio)methane-powered vehicles has risen exponentially : today, there are 15000 swedish cars and buses using methane, an increase of 60% over the past few years.