Launched by the Ministry of the Environment in 1992, the SGLS has been administered by the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) since 1999. It is Singapore’s only ISO 14024-accredited ecolabel, with over 3,500 products certified across 30+ countries.
The Scheme helps consumers, procurement officers and businesses identify products that meet rigorous, independently verified environmental standards — from raw materials through to end of life.
What is a Type 1 Ecolabel?
The Singapore Green Label is a Type 1 Ecolabel — the most rigorous category of environmental label under the international standard ISO 14024. Unlike self-declared green claims or single-issue certifications, a Type 1 Ecolabel has four defining characteristics:
Independently verified
Assessed by a third party — not self-declared by the manufacturer
Life cycle based
Covers production, use, and end-of-life — not just one stage
Multi-criteria
Addresses the full range of significant environmental impacts
Transparent
Criteria are published and subject to stakeholder review
ISO 14024 — the international standard
ISO 14024 is the international standard that defines the principles and procedures for developing Type 1 Ecolabelling programmes. Certification under ISO 14024 means that SGLS criteria are developed using a life cycle approach, are subject to stakeholder consultation, and are periodically reviewed to reflect advances in environmental science and technology.
The SGLS is the only Type 1 Ecolabel in Singapore accredited under ISO 14024.
GEN membership
Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN)
SEC joined the Global Ecolabelling Network in 2003. GEN is a non-profit association of Type 1 Ecolabelling organisations from around the world. In 2011, SGLS earned GENICES accreditation — GEN’s international peer-review programme — confirming that its certification process meets the same standard as other member schemes.
GENICES accreditation is the basis for mutual recognition between members. On this footing, SEC has signed bilateral mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) with counterpart ecolabels — including in Japan, Australia, India, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Türkiye. For the product categories each agreement covers, SGLS certified products can benefit from a streamlined application process when seeking the equivalent overseas ecolabel. For more information about GEN, visit globalecolabelling.net.
The Enhanced SGLS
In January 2017, SEC launched the Enhanced Singapore Green Labelling Scheme for Pulp and Paper Products — a more stringent tier addressing peatland management and fire risk in the supply chain. The Enhanced SGLS was awarded ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation in 2019.