In October 2020, the German energy company E.ON put eco-labels on their Swedish biomethane filling stations, showing the climate intensity, renewable share, and raw materials of the fuel. Similar eco-labels were introduced by the Swedish company Kraftringen earlier this year. E.ON and Kraftringen are the first companies in the world to offer such consumer information.
From October 1st 2021, fuel retailers in Sweden must put eco-labels on their fuel pumps, methane-dispensers and charging stations. They will show the climate intensity of the fuel, together with its renewable share and raw materials. The labels will point to a web page with more information, including the country of origin of the raw materials.
E.ON is a large German energy company that runs more than 50 biomethane filling stations in Sweden, serving some of the country’s 50 000 natural gas cars. E.ON does not want to wait until next year. They put eco-labels of this kind on their filling stations already in October 2020.
The data shown by E.ON on the eco-labels are reported to and approved by the Swedish Energy Agency, and apply to the sales during 2019. The climate intensity of the biomethane is calculated in a life cycle perspective (well-to-wheels) according to the methodology determined by the European Union.
Eco-labels of this type fulfil a double purpose: they provide a warning against fossil fuels with high climate intensity and unsustainable origin, and they advertise renewable and sustainable fuels.
– To be able to transform into a sustainable society, independent of fossil fuels, we have to drive the transformation together with our customers. It is a no-brainer for E.ON to put eco-labels on our biomethane already now, well ahead of legislation from the Swedish Energy Agency. The eco-labels give us an opportunity to show how biomethane contributes to less greenhouse gas emissions and a circular economy, says Marc Hoffmann, CEO of E.ON Sweden.
This summer the energy company Kraftringen put similar eco-labels on their biomethane and charging stations. E.ON and Kraftringen are the first companies in the world to offer such consumer information.
– The Swedish Association of Green Motorists has been campaigning for eco-labels on fuel pumps and charging stations for many years under the headline We Want to Know, says Marie Pellas, chairperson of the Green Motorists. Finally, the seed of knowledge starts to grow, thanks to E.ON and Kraftringen. We encourage more companies to follow, in Sweden and abroad.
Read more
Eco-labels will be mandatory on fuel pumps and charging stations in Sweden from October 2021
The eco-labels introduced previously this year by the energy company Kraftringen
Climate and health warnings will soon be placed on gas pumps in Cambridge, MA.
The Green Motorists’ campaign We Want to Know
Arnold Schwarzenegger praises the Swedish initiative.
The importance of taking the lead and being an inspiration
For more information, please contact
Per Östborn,+46 73 819 61 54, per.ostborn@gronamobilister.se
The coloured horizontal bar shows the greenhouse gas emissions per unit energy of biomethane in life cycle perspective, where green is low and red is high. Fossil petrol and diesel would be placed on the red upper end of the scale. The ”Biogas 100” label (left) tells us that the fuel is made mostly from sewage sludge (56 %), waste from food industry (24 %) and food waste (15 %). The ”Biogas Bas” label (right) tells us that the fuel is made mostly from manure (45 %), food waste (17 %), slaughterhouse waste (10 %), and fossil propane (7 %).
