Energy labelling

Learn how to correctly integrate energy labelling information into your Unite catalogue to comply with legal requirements.

Unite requires the following mandatory information for energy labelling:

Product‘s energy efficiency class

Energy efficiency label as a product image

Product data sheet with technical details

Use your XML or CSV catalogue, or a separate CSV conditions file, to efficiently transmit the required data.

What is an energy efficiency label?

An energy efficiency label shows how energy-efficient a product is. It helps customers assess how economical an item is compared to others in the same category, particularly using a colour scale from green (A – very efficient) to red (G – highest consumption).

The energy efficiency label aims to contribute to the saving of energy, reduce costs for consumers and protect the environment.

Example of an energy efficiency label for household washing machines:

Which products require labelling?

List of affected product groups (EU)

For detailed information, please visit: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32017R1369

a) Household appliances

Refrigerating appliances
Washing machines
Washer dryers
Dishwashers
Electric ovens
Kitchen hoods

b) Electronic devices

Televisions and electronic displays (e.g. monitors, digital signage displays)
Smartphones and tablets

c) Lighting

Light sources and lamps (e.g. LED lamps, fluorescent tubes)

d) Heating and water heating devices

Space heaters (e.g. boilers)
Combination heaters
Water heaters (e.g. instantaneous water heaters)
Hot water storage tanks

e) Air conditioning devices

Air conditioners
Air-to-air heat pumps
Residential ventilation units

f) Commercial appliances (partially)

Refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function (e.g. commercial refrigerators)

g) Tyres

Tyres of classes C1 (passenger cars), C2 (light commercial vehicles) and C3 (heavy-duty vehicles)

List of affected product groups (CH)

For detailed information, please visit: https://www.bfe.admin.ch/bfe/en/home/efficiency/energy-labels-and-efficiency-requirements.html

a) Household appliances

Refrigerators and freezers

Washing machines

Clothes dryers

Dishwashers

Ovens

Hobs

Kitchen hoods

Coffee machines

Vacuum cleaners

Air conditioning units

b) Electronic devices

Electronic displays (e.g. monitors, digital signage displays)

Set-top boxes

Standby and network devices

Computers and servers

Smartphones and tablets

c) Lighting

Light bulbs and light sources (e.g. LED lamps, fluorescent tubes)

d) Heating and hot water devices

Space heaters (e.g. boilers)

Combination heaters

Water heaters (e.g. instantaneous water heaters)

Hot water storage tanks

Local space heaters

Ventilation systems

e) Commercial equipment (partially)

Refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function (e.g. commercial refrigerators)

Commercial kitchen equipment

Commercial dishwashers

Commercial refrigerated storage cabinets

f) Electrical machines

Electric motors

Transformers

Welding equipment

g) Passenger cars

h) Tyres

List of affected product groups (UK)

For detailed information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-energy-labelling-of-products

Air conditioners and comfort fans

Dishwashers

Domestic ovens, hobs and kitchen hoods

Electronic displays, including televisions

Lighting products

Local space heaters

Professional refrigerated storage cabinets, blast cabinets, condensing units and process chillers

Refrigerating appliances

Refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function

Smartphones (mobile phones, tablets, etc.)

Solid fuel boilers

Solid fuel local space heaters

Space heaters

Household tumble driers

Ventilation units

Washing machines and washer dryers

Water heaters, hot water storage tanks and packages of water heater and solar device

Requirements for suppliers

According to legal regulations, retailers must display the energy efficiency label prominently on a product. Additionally, a product data sheet must be included with each item.

Both documents must also be clearly visible in online offerings.

To comply with our display obligations on Unite, we rely on you as a supplier to provide complete information and documents. Labelling your products in the catalogue is therefore mandatory. The following section explains how to implement this.

Implementation of product information on Unite

For all products in the above categories, the following information is mandatory:

1. Energy efficiency class

Please include the energy efficiency class in the <ARTICLE_FEATURES>. More details are provided below.

2. Energy efficiency label as a product image

Please include the energy efficiency label for each relevant item as a product image. For more information, see our support article on product images and visuals.

3. Product data sheet with technical details

Please also include a product data sheet for each affected item. For more information, see our support article on product data sheets.

Note: To ensure correct display and categorisation of electrical appliances on Unite, the product description must include the terms described below as ARTICLE_FEATURES.

Implementation in the catalogue (XML format)

The energy consumption labelling is transmitted in the <ARTICLE_FEATURES> of the item. Here‘s an example:

<ARTICLE_FEATURES>  
<FEATURE>  
    <FNAME>energy_efficiency_class</FNAME>  
    <FVALUE>A</FVALUE> 
</FEATURE>  
</ARTICLE_FEATURES>

To transmit the energy efficiency label as a product image, use the MIME_PURPOSE element with the fixed term ‘energy_efficiency_class_label’.

<MIME_INFO> 
     <MIME> 
        <MIME_TYPE>image/jpeg</MIME_TYPE> 
        <MIME_SOURCE>eec_01.jpg</MIME_SOURCE> 
        <MIME_DESCR>energylabel</MIME_DESCR> 
        <MIME_PURPOSE>energy_efficiency_class_label</MIME_PURPOSE> 
    </MIME> 
</MIME_INFO>

If it‘s not possible to include the energy consumption labelling in XML format, you can transmit it via a separate CSV file (conditions file). More information can be found on this support page: Conditions file (CSV).

Transferring the file to Unite

Transfer the modified catalogue file via SFTP to the corresponding directory as usual.

Implementation in the catalogue (CSV format)

If you‘re using our Excel template for catalogue creation, please enter the energy consumption labelling in the ‘products file’ in the columns FNAME1, FVALUE1, FNAME2, FVALUE2, etc. 1, FVALUE1, FNAME2, FVALUE2, etc.

Note: For details on the ‘products file’, please refer to the support page How to create your product catalogue: CSV format.

If the FVALUE columns are already occupied by other attributes, simply use the next available column. If all columns are occupied, you can transmit the data via a separate CSV file. More on this in the next section.

To transmit the energy efficiency label as a product image, use the MIME_PURPOSE element with the fixed term ‘energy_efficiency_class_label’.

Energy efficiency labels can be specified in the ‘products file’ from column MIME_SOURCE1 onwards. It‘s mandatory to specify ‘energy_efficiency_class_label’ in the MIME_PURPOSE column.

Transferring the file to Unite  

Please transfer the modified catalogue file to the corresponding directory via SFTP as usual.

Using a separate CSV file (conditions file)

You can also transmit the energy consumption labelling information via a separate CSV file (conditions file).

If a CSV conditions file is already active for your catalogue, add the additional columns there and transfer the modified file via SFTP.

Note: For detailed information on CSV file creation, please refer to the support article Conditions file (CSV).

CSV structure in Excel:

This is how the structure looks in Excel:

To transmit the energy efficiency label as a product image, use the MIME_PURPOSE element with the fixed term ‘energy_efficiency_class_label’.

Explanation:  

Column	Example	Explanation
SUPPLIER_AID	122345	Item number
FEATURE_NAME1	energy_efficiency_class	Fixed term
FEATURE_VALUE1	A	Specification of energy efficiency class
MIME_SOURCE1	eec_01.jpg	Name of the referenced image file including file extension
MIME_TYPE1	image/jpeg	Defined file type: • image/jpeg • image/gif • image/png
MIME_PURPOSE1	energy_efficiency_class_label	Fixed term

Note: If FEATURE_NAME1, FEATURE_VALUE1, MIME_SOURCE1, MIME_TYPE1 etc. are already occupied, use the next available number, e.g. FEATURE_NAME24 and FEATURE_VALUE24.

Saving the table as a CSV file

Save the Excel table and then export it as a CSV file:

File > Save As > File type: "CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)"

 File naming: CatalogueID_conditionsfile.csv

Note: Your CatalogueID was provided to you during the Unite onboarding process. Please adhere to the file naming convention. Without correct naming, the CSV file cannot be processed.

Transferring the CSV file to Unite

Transfer the separate CSV file to the SFTP directory associated with the catalogue. After the initial transfer, there may be a delay as the file needs to be activated in the system. Once this process is complete, we‘ll automatically send an email to the address specified in the catalogue management tool.

Tip: You can also send your CSV file to support@unite.eu for review in advance. We‘ll check the format and return it to you as quickly as possible.