Filenews 10 October 2025 - by Theano Thiopoulou
Eco-labelled products are cheaper but hard to find in Cyprus, despite the fact that Cypriots are aware and appear to be eco-conscious. This, among other things, is stated in the new report published yesterday by the European Consumer Organization (BEUC) and the European Environment Bureau (EEB).
The researchers checked supermarkets in 13 European countries to assess the availability and price of products bearing the EU Ecolabel and three equivalent national and regional labels. These certifications guarantee products with lower environmental and health impacts throughout their life cycle.
In each of the 13 countries, three major supermarket chains were selected. In most cases, the "mystery shoppers" visited two stores per chain: one large and one small. The data collection was carried out by BEUC and EEB, 12 BEUC members, national consumer organisations and the German eco-labelling body, between June and August 2025.
Mystery shoppers visited 73 supermarkets from 31 different supermarket chains in Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia. In Cyprus, according to the report, the supermarkets selected to visit are Alphamega, Metro and Sklavenitis.
The results of the survey note that "in the Nordic countries, eco-labelled products are the rule, not the exception. In other countries, consumers have to search a lot to find eco-labelled products."
The results for Cyprus are disappointing. The share of products certified with the EU Ecolabel or with an official national ecolabel ranges from 80% in Denmark to 2% in Cyprus. The report indicates that the low availability of eco-label products in countries such as Cyprus in Greece contrasts with EU-level findings, which show that citizens in these countries are also interested in the ecological impact of their consumption. In a 2024 survey, Greek and Cypriot respondents were even more concerned than the EU average about the impact that harmful chemicals in everyday products have on their environment and health.
For Cyprus, the report briefly states that "it was disappointing to discover the low availability of products with a reliable eco-label in Cyprus. We call on supermarkets to increase their offer of products with the EU Ecolabel!"
But let's see what the relationship between ecological products and prices is. The report states that in Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal, eco-labelled products are on average between 9% and 27% cheaper than their non-eco-labelled counterparts. In France, there is almost no difference. Only in Slovenia and Slovakia do consumers have to pay much more for the greener option.
The report also states that when prices are competitive, this is often because the supermarket has certified its own brand product with an eco-label and offers it at a low price.
