Award criteria, which are now identical for both eco-labels, concern requirements of the recyclability of the toner, the module labelling, and consumer information.

Common award criteria will make it easier for manufacturers of environmentally-friendly products to adopt a clearly recognised label. Anyone who already labels their products as particularly environmentally friendly with an eco-label and applies for the partner label, be it the German or the Chinese, must now only submit proof of compliance with standards in cases where they are not identical in both systems. This concerns matters of national technical standards. In all other cases proof of possession of the partner eco-label is sufficient.  In other words, German producers can now have the Chinese eco-label put on their products a lot more quickly than previously. The same is true for Chinese producers seeking to put the Blue Angel on their goods.

The objective of Germany and China is to continuously expand the list of eco-labels with shared award criteria and to make it easier for producers of other ecological products to be included.

The German Blue Angel eco-label and its Chinese counterpart label goods and services that demonstrate-- when compared to other conventional products- superior properties in terms of health and environmental protection.  This includes lower consumption of resources, low energy consumption, or low pollution levels.  Some 10,000 goods and services from 80 products and services groups are presently labelled with the Blue Angel, and the Chinese eco-label has been awarded to about 18,000 products from 65 product and services groups.