On June 8, 2026, India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) released a draft notification proposing significant revisions to India's Ecomark eco-label certification criteria across several major product categories, including paints, batteries, paper, wood substitutes, fire extinguishers and coir products. Issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Ecomark Rules, 2024, the draft aims to strengthen environmental standards, promote sustainable manufacturing and enhance consumer transparency. Stakeholders may submit comments, objections and suggestions to the Ministry within 60 days of publication in the Official Gazette, with the final standards to be settled after the consultation period.
Common Requirements
Under the proposed changes, manufacturers seeking the Ecomark eco-label must comply with stricter environmental and health-related criteria in addition to existing Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) quality requirements. Common requirements across all revised categories are: product packaging must display a QR code detailing the environmental criteria under which the product received Ecomark certification; manufacturers must also hold valid ISO 14001:2015 environmental management system certification and comply with relevant pollution control and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations.
Paints, Varnishes and Powder Coatings
The revised standards will introduce stringent limits on volatile organic compounds (VOCs), prohibit the use of several hazardous substances including PFAS, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), bisphenol A, organotins and ozone-depleting substances, and place strict caps on heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and chromium. Restrictions are also proposed on certain phthalates, glycol ethers, alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) and formaldehyde. Manufacturers must ensure that at least 25% of their energy consumption comes from renewable sources.
Batteries
Manufacturers will face enhanced obligations on recycling, waste management and energy efficiency. The draft mandates registration under the Battery Waste Management Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, sets minimum recycled lead content requirements for lead-acid batteries, requires the installation of pollution control equipment, and demands a 20% reduction in energy consumption, preferably achieved through the integration of renewable energy.
Paper
The revised criteria place greater emphasis on recycled content, sustainable sourcing and pollution prevention. Depending on the product category, manufacturers must use agricultural residues, certified forest-based raw materials or high percentages of recovered wastepaper. The draft also proposes restrictions on chlorine-based bleaching processes, PFAS in food-contact papers, optical brightening agents in food-use papers, hazardous dyes and alkylphenol derivatives. Paper mills must install online emission monitoring systems linked to pollution control authorities and meet strict water and electricity consumption benchmarks.
Wood and Wood Substitutes
The government proposes extensive requirements promoting the use of agroforestry timber, bamboo, agricultural residues, recycled wood and industrial by-products. The revised criteria will limit formaldehyde emissions, restrict the use of plastics in furniture, ban certain hazardous flame retardants and pesticides, and require raw material traceability. Manufacturers must also conduct life-cycle assessments and implement plans for the complete utilization or recycling of production waste.
Fire Extinguishers
Manufacturers must restrict ozone-depleting substances, PFAS and other fluorinated organic compounds, halogenated plastics and heavy-metal-containing extinguishing agents. More than 90% of the metal components used in extinguisher containers must be sourced from recycled materials.
Coir Products
Manufacturers must use 100% natural coir fibre and pith extracted through mechanical processes, comply with strict limits on pesticides, formaldehyde, heavy metals, chlorides and sulphates, source 25% to 30% of their electricity from renewable energy, and implement rainwater harvesting systems alongside wastewater treatment and reuse.
According to the MoEFCC, these revisions are part of its broader efforts to promote sustainable production, reduce pollution, and guide green consumption to further improve the national eco-labelling system. Manufacturers of paints, batteries, paper, wood products, fire extinguishers, coir products and other relevant items, as well as enterprises exporting to India, should closely monitor the 60-day consultation window, promptly assess the impact of the new standards on formulations, raw material sourcing, energy mix and compliance systems, and actively submit feedback.
