Environmental Certifications & Labels
Knowing the variety of environmental certifications and labels that are commonly used, and what they mean in terms of environmental, social, or economic impacts of a company, can be a crucial factor in your decision-making. Supporting companies that go above and beyond to achieve one or multiple of these certifications and labels can make great environmental and social changes!
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
“GOTS is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibres, including ecological and social criteria, backed up by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain. GOTS certified final products may include fibre products, yarns, fabrics, clothes, home textiles, mattresses, personal hygiene products, as well as food contact textiles and more.
Having one common standard means textile processors and manufacturers can export their fabrics and garments with one organic certification that is accepted in all major markets. This transparency also gives consumers the power to choose truly organic products sourced from green supply chains.”
“OEKO-TEX® standards enable everyone to make responsible decisions and protect natural resources. Products bearing the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 and OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD labels have been scientifically tested for the presence of harmful substances and are a better and safer choice for your health. Textiles and leather carrying the OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN label are produced more sustainably in socially responsible workplaces.
The OEKO-TEX® STeP certification and the DETOX TO ZERO analysis set the highest standards for social and environmental aspects of textile and leather production. Chemicals and treatments that meet the OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT standard have been tested and analyzed against strict criteria, for a lower environmental impact. OEKO-TEX® RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS supports you on preventing or mitigating existing and potential negative impacts of business operations within your own activities, your supply chains and your further business relationships.”
“B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. In order to achieve certification, a company must:
Demonstrate high social and environmental performance by achieving a B Impact Assessment score of 80 or above and passing our risk review. Multinational corporations must also meet baseline requirement standards.
Make a legal commitment by changing their corporate governance structure to be accountable to all stakeholders, not just shareholders, and achieve benefit corporation status if available in their jurisdiction.
Exhibit transparency by allowing information about their performance measured against B Lab’s standards to be publicly available on their B Corp profile on B Lab’s website. “
“The ENERGY STAR program is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ENERGY STAR is a voluntary labeling program: EPA sets energy efficiency specifications and those that meet them can choose to display the ENERGY STAR logo. In turn, consumers and businesses who want to save energy and money can look for the ENERGY STAR label when making buying decisions.”
LEED Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
“LEED-certified buildings save money, improve efficiency, lower carbon emissions and create healthier places for people. They are critical to addressing climate change and meeting ESG goals, enhancing resilience, and supporting more equitable communities. LEED categories can also contribute toward meeting the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals. Explore synergies between LEED and SDGs.
To achieve LEED certification, a project earns points by adhering to prerequisites and credits that address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health and indoor environmental quality. Projects go through a verification and review process by GBCI and are awarded points that correspond to a level of LEED certification: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points) and Platinum (80+ points).”
“1% for the Planet is a global movement and registered 501c3 nonprofit inspiring businesses and individuals to support environmental solutions through annual membership and everyday actions. We advise on giving strategies, certify donations and amplify the impact of our network.”
“Fair trade is a global movement made up of a diverse network of producers, companies, consumers, advocates, and organizations putting people and planet first. We at Fair Trade USA™ believe that everyone wants to do what’s right — for their families, fellow global citizens, and the planet. That’s why we’re committed to making the right choices the most obvious ones. Based on the simple idea that the products bought and sold every day are connected to the livelihoods of others, fair trade is a way to make a conscious choice for a better world. A choice for Fair Trade Certified™ goods is a choice to support responsible companies, empower farmers, workers, and fishers, and protect the environment. In other words, it’s a world-changing way of doing business.”
“Organic products must be produced using agricultural production practices that foster resource cycling, promote ecological balance, maintain and improve soil and water quality, minimize the use of synthetic materials, and conserve biodiversity. Products must be:
Overseen by a USDA NOP-authorized certifying agent, following all USDA organic regulations
Produced without excluded or prohibited methods, (e.g., genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, or sewage sludge)
Produced using allowed substances”
“EWG VERIFIED™ recognizes products that meet EWG's strictest standards for your health. This means none of EWG's chemicals of concern. This means full transparency. This means a mark you can trust. It means EWG approved.Our ultimate goal is for all products on the market to be free from harmful chemicals, so that everyone's purchasing decisions can finally be stress free.
When you see the EWG VERIFIED™ mark on a product, you will know that the product meets EWG's strictest criteria for transparency and health. When you see the mark, you can be confident that the product:
Avoids EWG's ingredients of concern - Products cannot contain any ingredients on EWG's "Unacceptable" list, meaning ingredients with health, ecotoxicity and/or contamination concerns
Provides full transparency - Must meet EWG’s standards for ingredient disclosure on the label, provide full transparency to EWG, including fragrance ingredients.
Uses good manufacturing practices - Product manufacturers must develop and follow current good manufacturing practices to further ensure the safety of their products.”
“The Rainforest Alliance seal promotes collective action for people and nature. It amplifies and reinforces the beneficial impacts of responsible choices, from farms and forests all the way to the supermarket check-out. The seal allows you to recognize and choose products that contribute toward a better future for people and planet.
The seal means that the certified product or ingredient was produced using methods that support the three pillars of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental. Independent, third-party auditors—critical to the integrity of any certification program—evaluate farmers against requirements in all three areas before awarding or renewing certification. Our data-informed certification programs emphasize a commitment to continuous improvement, sustainability training, and clear benefits for farmers.”
“The Goal of American Consumer Council’s Green C™ Certification Program: Our primary goal is to recognize and certify the Green practices of deserving businesses and organizations throughout North America. We also seek to promote Corporate Social Responsibility on the part of all organizations. We achieve this goal through ACC’s Green C™ Certification program and recognizing businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations that operate in an environmentally sensitive manner. We also want to encourage our members to do business with those deserving companies.“
“Through Scientific Certification System's new Certification Standard for Carbon Neutral Entities, Buildings, Products, and Services or the internationally recognized carbon neutral standard, PAS 2060, companies can certify that they have successfully negated their carbon footprint. SCS offers complete service options to achieve carbon neutrality that include establishing your product carbon footprints and guidance on purchasing verified carbon offsets from credible sources that align with your company’s mission. In addition, SCS is an approved assessor under the Carbon Neutral Protocol for those companies looking to become certified under the CARBON NEUTRAL® CERTIFICATION standard.”
The Sustainable SITES Initiative®
“SITES is a rating system that guides, evaluates and certifies a project’s sustainability in the planning, design, construction and management of landscapes and other outdoor spaces. SITES supports landscape architects, planners and others in implementing nature-based solutions. SITES projects enhance biodiversity and mitigate climate change, while conserving resources, improving public health and protecting critical ecosystems.”
“TRUE is a whole systems approach aimed at changing how materials flow through society, resulting in no waste. TRUE encourages the adoption of sustainable resource management and waste reduction practices which contribute to positive environmental, health and economic outcomes. TRUE supports the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused. TRUE promotes processes that consider the entire lifecycle of products used within a facility. With TRUE, your facility can demonstrate to the world what you’re doing to minimize your waste output.”
“The Green Business Bureau is the trusted authority in green business. Our sustainability framework, EcoAssessment™ and EcoPlanner™ online tools enable businesses to understand, prioritize, implement and certify green initiatives and sustainable business practices. As a trusted 3rd party, we provide businesses with a public EcoProfile™, sustainable business scorecard and an official seal to validate and promote their green commitments and accomplishments.”
“The Leaping Bunny Program, operated by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics in the US and Canada, has been connecting compassionate consumers to cruelty-free companies under its Corporate Standard of Compassion for Animals. Companies must pledge to end animal testing at all stages of product development in addition to recommitting to the program annually and being open to third party audits.”
“PETA opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview, and focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: in laboratories, in the food industry, in the clothing trade, and in the entertainment business. We also work on a variety of other issues, including the cruel killing of rodents, birds, and other animals who are often considered “pests” as well as cruelty to domesticated animals.
PETA works through public education, investigative newsgathering and reporting, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and protest campaigns.
Companies may be certified by PETA under one of two designations:
Global animal test–free recognizes companies and brands that have verified that they and their suppliers do not conduct, commission, pay for, or allow any tests on animals for their ingredients, formulations, or finished products anywhere in the world and that they will never do so in the future.
Global animal test–free and vegan recognizes companies and brands that meet the same requirements and whose entire product line is free of animal-derived ingredients. These companies are truly cruelty-free.”
Forest Stewardship Council Standards
“FSC’s sustainable forestry standards translate into tangible actions that make a positive impact on the world’s forests. Our certification system verifies sustainable sourcing of forest products and ecosystem services at every step of the value chain, from forest to consumer. The most visible symbol of certification is the FSC label, which can be found on millions of products and is recognized by 56 per cent* of consumers around the world.
Every FSC label is backed by a diverse ecosystem of forest managers, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and others committed to upholding a common set of responsible forestry standards that support:
zero deforestation
safeguarding of ancient and endangered forests
fair wage and work environment
biodiversity preservation
community rights, including the rights of Indigenous Peoples.”
“Green Seal® is a global nonprofit organization that pioneered the ecolabeling movement with a mission to transform the economy for a healthier, greener world. For 30 years, Green Seal’s rigorous standards for health, sustainability and product performance have driven permanent shifts in the marketplace, empowering better purchasing decisions and rewarding industry innovators. With thousands of certified products, services and spaces from the world’s leading companies, the Green Seal certification mark is a universal symbol that a product or service meets the highest benchmark of health and environmental leadership.”
Natural Standard and Certification for Personal Care Products
“The Natural Product Association’s Natural Standard is based on natural ingredients, safety, responsibility and sustainability.
Natural Ingredients: A product labeled “natural” should be made up of only, or at least almost only, natural ingredients and be manufactured with appropriate processes to maintain ingredient purity.
Safety: A product labeled “natural” should avoid any ingredient with a suspected human health risk.
Responsibility: A product labeled “natural” should use no animal testing in its development.
Sustainability: A product labeled “natural” should use biodegradable ingredients and the most environmentally sensitive packaging.
Under the Natural Standard for Personal Care Products, allowed ingredients come from or are made from a renewable resource found in nature (flora, fauna, mineral), with absolutely no petroleum compounds.”
“Sustainable Materials Rating Technology (SMaRT) certified products “Provide Substantial Global Benefits for the world’s products with Environmental, Social, & Economic criteria:
Rating System: Sustainable, Sustainable Silver, Sustainable Gold & Sustainable Platinum
Multiple Environmental, Social, & Economic Benefits over the supply chain
Business Benefits: cost savings, design innovation, product differentiation, long term customer relationships, liability reduction
Market Definition of Sustainable Products
Life Cycle Environmental Performance Requirements for Sustainable Products
Social Performance Requirements for sustainable Products over the supply chain
Define Sustainable Agriculture”
“MADE SAFE® is the only human health and ecosystem-focused product certification program. We do not compromise on ingredient safety - this also sets us apart. We help connect shoppers with goods that reflect their values for a healthier life and planet. Our mission is to revolutionize how consumer products are made, thereby eliminating the use of harmful chemicals from the marketplace to ensure a safe and sustainable future for all. MADE SAFE is so much more than a certification program - it’s a philosophy of change in practice.”
“Cradle to Cradle Certified® is the leading multi-attribute standard used globally across industries by designers, brands and manufacturers for designing and making products that enable a healthy, equitable and sustainable future. For more than a decade, Cradle to Cradle Certified has been helping companies to innovate and optimize materials and products according to the world’s most advanced science-based measures.”
WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production®)
“We work with facilities at the ground level to bolster their compliance standing and support the long-term success of their businesses, while protecting the liberties of workers and safeguarding our environment. A WRAP certification affirms that a production unit consistently abides by all applicable laws and best practices, and our independent, third-party approach promotes accountability, transparency, and objectivity throughout the process.”
“FLA holds companies accountable to their labor rights commitments by evaluating business practices against the highest international standards for global supply chains.”