LABEL 2020 – a new label to drive the 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 products for more than 20 years. The label stimulated innovation by manufacturers and demand for energy efficient products by consumers and professional buyers. However, the former label concept involving A+++ to D efficiency classes has become cumbersome and less effective and the EU therefore has decided to reinvent the original A-G class concept combined with future rescaling of classes based on technology and market development. The transition process until the new label was fully established and effectively used required effective guidance and support of stakeholders ensuring correct implementation by suppliers and retailers as well as full understanding, high acceptance and efficient use of the new label by consumers and professional buyers.

The LABEL 2020 project was designed as a comprehensive action supporting this transition process in a most effective way by supporting consumers and professional buyers by means of effective information campaigns, services and tools. Furthermore, retailers were supported with training for sales persons and supportive tools for the label promotion in the correct, efficient and effective implementation of the new label. Suppliers were assisted with the provision of correct labels and product information, to convince them to consider the label as an important tool for promotion of efficient products. Additionally, policy makers, public administrators and multipliers were supported in using the new label within national programmes and schemes.

adelphi was responsible for developing a web-based information service for retailers and education services for salespersons including e-learning tools for the LABEL 2020 project. Moreover, adelphi was implementing information services for suppliers. The project as whole was being implemented within the framework of the European Commission’s "Horizon 2020" programme for research and innovation.