🏭 Nice Class 40: Material Treatment & Recycling
The EUIPO register holds 91,230 trademarks in Class 40, the class for treatment of materials, recycling and energy production (as of July 2026). (as of July 2026).
91,230
Marks in the EU register
53,750
Registered with the EUIPO
+34 %
Growth 2020–2024
50 %
Word mark share
Class 40 is the makers' class: it covers the treatment and transformation of materials on behalf of others, from contract manufacturing, textile finishing and 3D printing to recycling and energy production. The EUIPO register holds 91,230 trademarks in Class 40, of which 53,750 are registered (as of July 2026, EUIPO register data). And the class is growing fast: new registrations climbed from 4,409 in 2020 to 5,928 in 2024, a 34 percent increase, with another 5,267 added in 2025. The top filers show just how broad this class is: Fujifilm leads with 95 trademarks, followed by denim specialist Isko (85) and UEFA (77). Right behind them sit two energy companies, E.ON (65) and EDP (64), because energy production also falls under Class 40. Exactly half of the marks in this class, 50 percent, are word marks. Founders filing here share the register with players from industry, sport and energy all at once.
What belongs in Class 40?
Class 40 covers the treatment and transformation of materials for others. The key point: you process someone else's material or manufacture to a customer's order, you are not selling your own off-the-shelf product. Typical examples: contract and custom manufacturing, 3D printing for third parties, printing services, textile and metal finishing, welding and casting, recycling and waste treatment, water and air purification, and the production of energy. One important distinction: if you make and sell your own products under the brand, you need the matching goods classes. And repair, maintenance and installation do not belong here, they sit in Class 37.
Typical examples: Processing/treatment of materials, 3D printing, recycling
New EUIPO registrations per year in Class 40
Most active applicants in Class 40
| # | Applicant | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fujifilm Corporation | 95 |
| 2 | Isko Srl | 85 |
| 3 | Union Des Associations Européennes De Football (Uefa) | 77 |
| 4 | Eon Se | 65 |
| 5 | Edp - Energias De Portugal Sa | 64 |
| 6 | Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Förderung Der Angewandten Forschung Ev | 62 |
| 7 | Bp Plc | 57 |
| 8 | Fédération Internationale De Football Association (Fifa) | 54 |
| 9 | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd | 54 |
| 10 | Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych Sa | 49 |
Word mark or figurative mark?
Often combined with
Rarely file Class 40 on its own: in practice it is most often combined with Class 42 (engineering, research, technical consulting), Class 35 (retail, advertising, brokerage) and Class 37 (installation, maintenance, repair). A manufacturing startup that also develops prototypes and services machinery covers the typical gaps with 40, 42 and 37. Also check whether your name works as a word mark: 50 percent of trademarks in Class 40 are word marks, so protecting the plain name is entirely standard here. And search the register before filing, because Fujifilm, UEFA and E.ON are among the very active filers in this class.
Common mistakes with Class 40
The most common mistake: manufacturing businesses file only goods classes even though their core business is contract work. If you mill, print or coat to customer order, you provide a Class 40 service, and a goods class alone does not protect that business. Second classic: mixing it up with Class 37. As a rule of thumb, restoring an object to its original condition is Class 37, while substantially changing or transforming the material is Class 40. Third, many sustainability startups underestimate this class: upcycling, recycling and energy production sit at the heart of Class 40, but anyone who then sells the reclaimed products under their own brand also needs the matching goods classes.
Is your brand name still free in the EU?
Check it live against the EU trademark register – 3 free checks per day, no sign-up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What belongs in Nice Class 40?
Class 40 covers the treatment and transformation of materials for third parties: contract and custom manufacturing, 3D printing to order, printing services, textile and metal finishing, recycling, waste treatment and energy production. It protects the service performed on the material, not your own off-the-shelf product, which belongs in goods classes.
Why do E.ON and UEFA file trademarks in Class 40?
According to EUIPO register data (as of July 2026), Fujifilm (95), Isko (85) and UEFA (77) lead the class, followed by energy companies E.ON (65) and EDP (64). For E.ON and EDP the reason is simple: energy production belongs in Class 40. Large rights holders such as UEFA also tend to secure their brands broadly across many classes, for example for licensing and merchandising scenarios.
Class 40 or Class 37, what is the difference?
The rule of thumb: repair, maintenance and installation belong in Class 37, while substantially changing or transforming a material belongs in Class 40. Fixing a machine is Class 37; coating metal, dyeing fabric or turning waste into new raw material is Class 40. Many businesses need both.
Which classes are typically combined with Class 40?
Most often Class 42 for engineering, research and technical consulting, Class 35 for retail and advertising, and Class 37 for installation, maintenance and repair. A contract manufacturer that also designs and services equipment covers its full business model with 40, 42 and 37.
Sources
EUIPO – European Union Intellectual Property Office: register data on EU trade marks and international registrations with EU protection, as of July 2026.
WIPO – Nice Classification: class definitions and headings (11th edition).
Methodology: own analysis by markencheck.ai; counted per filing entity, name variants merged.
Check your brand name in this class
Free quick search against the EU register, AI similarity analysis from €19.
Check for free now