By: Emma Abrams
More and more customers want to spend their money on more sustainable products: a recent study found that a sustainable lifestyle is important to 70% of Americans. Because of this, companies who make ESG-related claims are seeing more cumulative growth every year. Unfortunately for consumers, there are no universal standards for climate-related reporting or sustainability claims. Fair-trade, organic, eco-friendly: there are lots of labels and certifications that brands can put on their products. What do they all mean, and which ones are trustworthy? Read more about the most reliable, most widely-used certifications and labels here!
| Sustainability Certifications | |
|---|---|
| Perfect for any business: | |
 Climate Neutral Certified | Emerger Strategies is proud to be an certification provider for Climate Neutral, a label for companies committed to cutting their greenhouse gas emissions. To be Climate Neutral certified, brands must measure, reduce and offset their emissions. Companies must set targets and make reductions in line with current science, and recertify annually. Consumers can read about the completed and ongoing reduction projects for all certified companies, including REI, Cotopaxi and RepYourWater on the website. |
 Certified B Corporation | Certified B Corporations have scored at least 80 on the impact assessment, which covers governance, workers, community, environment and customers. Companies are accredited through an independent body called B Lab, and must update their certification every 3 years. Companies must also take on a legal framework model called stakeholder governance, making a company legally responsible for all stakeholders. More than 3,500 companies are certified, including the famous brands Ben & Jerry’s and Patagonia. |
 1% for the Planet Member | 1% for the Planet certifies that companies are making the donations to the environmental nonprofit organizations they claim. Companies must donate 1% of their annual sales to approved environmental organizations (of which there are 6,000+). 1% for the planet identifies four key areas of impact that members should contribute to: rights to nature, conservation and restoration, resilient communities, and just economies. There are 5,700 members, including Emerger Strategies, which represent $500 million in certified donations. |
 TRUE Zero Waste | The TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) certification is designed to promote waste reductions in physical facilities. Companies with this certification must divert at least 90% of their waste from landfill, incineration or the environment, and have data to document this. Companies are awarded points for reducing, reusing or composting waste, as well as leadership, innovation and other categories. For certification, companies must earn 31 points. 136 million + square footage is certified zero waste with TRUE. |
| For Food/Beverage and Plant Products: | |
 Fairtrade Certified | The logo or ‘Fairtrade Certified’ label means a product has gone through an annual certification process and third-party audit. Over 2,000 companies and nearly 2 million workers and farmers worldwide are part of the Fairtrade International network. Perhaps the most recognizable sustainable certification, Fairtrade International also sets economic and social standards. Customers buying Fairtrade products can trust that their purchases “ensures social and environmental, ethical and economic impact and therefore human impact”. |
 USDA Organic | The USDA Organic label is a well-regulated food sustainability label in the US for plant products. Farms and ranches must go through an annual review and inspection process based on the organic regulations. Those applying for certification “must demonstrate that they are protecting natural resources, conserving biodiversity, and using only approved crop, livestock and processing inputs”. For example, organic farms cannot use most synthetic fertilizers. |
 Eco-Score | A newer label being rolled out in European grocery stores, Eco-score calculates the entire environmental footprint of food products (including ‘farm to fork’ emissions). Products are graded from A (low) to E (high) environmental impact. Unlike other labels where companies must apply for certification, all products are given a score in grocery stores that chose to use Eco-Score. The scores are based on public Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data. To improve their score, producers must implement (and prove) sustainable practices. |
| Specific Textiles and Apparel Certifications: | |
 OEKO-TEX | OEKO-TEX offers a range of textile product certifications, with a main focus on ensuring products are free from harmful substances and safe for humans. The STeP (Sustainable Textile & Leather Production) certification takes into account all steps of the production chain, including environmental performance, chemical management and social responsibility. To ensure a product’s certification is legitimate, customers can use the Label Check. Additionally, companies must sign a legally-binding code of conduct. |
 Bluesign approved | Bluesign is a voluntary textile and apparel system, requiring compliance throughout the entire supply chain. The production of products with the bluesign label can be trusted to have used resources responsibly, reduced impact on the environment and people, and have the highest level of consumer safety. Requirements include measuring and setting goals for emissions, implementing a social responsibility program and complying with health and safety standards. Bluesign technologies aid in testing products to identify and replace potential hazards, and producers can utilize their FINDER database to source bluesign certified suppliers. |
These labels, and many others, help consumers make informed choices about what they’re buying. Companies can use these certifications to distinguish themselves from competitors, attract new customers and create brand-loyalty. We can help your company achieve certification(s) to communicate your environmental commitments and boost revenues in the process. Learn more about our Certification Management and Sustainability Consulting Services today!
