Sustainability Standards + Links

 

In this Page we present standards in the context of sustainable business practices. Standards serve as essential tools for business to manage environmental impacts, improve energy efficiency and demonstrate a commitment to sustainable development. Standards are designed to help organisations manage their environmental responsibilities in a way that positively impacts people, planet, and profit.  The following table presents a list of standards with an overview of each, identifying the area of applicability as well as a link to the where the standard can be sourced.

By adopting these standards and frameworks, business can meet stakeholder expectations for sustainability and corporate responsibility, manage environmental risks, reduce operational costs through improved resource use, and gain access to new markets by differentiating themselves from competitors and adhering to necessary environmental standards.

Heading	Name	Overview	Link
Air Quality Management	ISO 14064	Focuses on quantifying and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and removals, supporting businesses in achieving climate-related objectives.	ISO 14064
Animal Welfare	Animal Welfare Approved	Certifies family farms using high-welfare methods of farming, particularly those raising animals.	Animal Welfare Approved
Biodiversity	Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) Certification	Encourages wildlife habitat conservation and education in corporate lands through partnerships and certifications.	WHC Certification
Biodiversity Conservation	Conservation Alliance	Empowers businesses to fund and partner with organizations to protect wild places for their habitat and recreation value.	Conservation Alliance
Carbon Emission Reduction	Verified Carbon Standard (VCS)	The world’s most widely used voluntary GHG program. Over 1600+ certified VCS projects have collectively reduced or removed more than 200 million tonnes of carbon and other GHG emissions from the atmosphere.	VCS
Carbon Footprint Reduction	PAS 2060	Specifies requirements for quantification, reduction, and compensation of greenhouse gas emissions for organizations, products and events.	PAS 2060
Carbon Management	Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)	A global disclosure system for companies, cities, states, and regions to manage their environmental impacts.	CDP
Carbon Neutrality	Carbon Trust Standard	Recognizes organizations that follow best practices in measuring, managing, and reducing their carbon emissions.	Carbon Trust
Carbon Offset	Gold Standard	A certification standard for carbon offset projects, ensuring they deliver measurable and verifiable life-changing benefits in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.	Gold Standard
Chemical Reduction	Clean Production Action	Provides strategies and tools to promote the use of chemicals that are safer for humans and the environment.	Clean Production Action
Chemicals Management	GreenScreen Certified	A rigorous certification for safer chemicals in products to reduce the use and generation of hazardous substances.	GreenScreen Certified
Climate Action	Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)	Enables companies to set ambitious emissions reductions targets in line with the latest climate science.	SBTi
Climate Adaptation	Adaptation Fund Certification	Provides funding to projects and programmes that help vulnerable communities in developing countries adapt to climate change.	Adaptation Fund
Climate Resilience	Climate Bonds Standard	Provides robust criteria to screen investments that contribute to addressing climate change.	Climate Bonds
Corporate Governance	Global Governance Initiative	Assesses and supports the adoption of best practices in corporate governance to foster business sustainability and stakeholder confidence.	Global Governance Initiative
Corporate Social Responsibility	Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Standards	Encourages corporations to take responsibility for their company’s effects on environmental and social wellbeing.	N/A
Corporate Social Responsibility	UN Global Compact	Encourages businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies, and to report on their implementation.	UN Global Compact
Corporate Sustainability	Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI)	Assesses the performance of companies in terms of economic, environmental, and social criteria.	DJSI
Eco-Friendly Construction	Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)	A globally recognized certification system that rates the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings, homes, and neighborhoods.	LEED
Eco-Friendly Manufacturing	Responsible Manufacturing Practices	Focuses on increasing efficiency and reducing environmental impacts in the manufacturing process.	N/A
Eco-Friendly Product	Blue Angel	The German ecolabel that recognizes products and services which are environmentally friendlier than others.	Blue Angel
Eco-Friendly Products	Green Seal	Identifies high-performance, environmentally preferable products and services across 32 categories.	Green Seal
Eco-Friendly Textiles	MADE-BY Environmental Benchmark for Fibres	A tool that ranks the environmental impact of textile fibres based on five key parameters including greenhouse gas emissions, human toxicity, ecosystem toxicity, water use, and energy use.	MADE-BY Benchmark
Eco-Label	Nordic Swan Ecolabel	Helps consumers and professional buyers to choose the environmentally best goods and services.	Nordic Swan
Eco-Labeling	EcoLogo	An environmental standard and certification mark that indicates a product has undergone rigorous scientific testing and exhaustive auditing to prove its compliance with stringent, third-party, environmental performance standards.	EcoLogo
Eco-Labeling	EU Ecolabel	A label of environmental excellence that is awarded to products and services meeting high environmental standards throughout their life-cycle.	EU Ecolabel
Eco-Tourism	Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS)	Certifies tourism businesses committed to sustainability by measuring their impact on the environment, culture, and the local economy.	Green Tourism
Electronic Products	EPEAT	A global rating system for greener electronics, covering a comprehensive criteria of environmental attributes.	EPEAT
Energy Conservation	Building Performance Institute (BPI)	Offers certifications, standards development, and verification of residential building professionals.	BPI
Energy Conservation	Energy Star	Helps businesses and individuals save money and protect the climate through superior energy efficiency.	Energy Star
Energy Efficiency	Home Performance with ENERGY STAR	A program providing a comprehensive, whole-house approach to improving energy efficiency and comfort at home, while helping to protect the environment.	Home Performance
Energy Efficiency	ISO 50001 Energy Management	Provides organizations with a structured framework to manage energy efficiently, including implementation, maintenance, and improvement of an energy management system.	ISO 50001
Energy Management	Superior Energy Performance (SEP)	A certification that drives facilities towards continual improvement in energy efficiency while boosting competitiveness.	SEP
Environmental Design	WELL Building Standard	Focuses on enhancing people's health and wellness through the built environment.	WELL Building
Environmental Impact	Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)	A procedure used to evaluate the environmental impacts of a proposed project, ensuring that decision makers consider the ensuing environmental impacts to decide whether to proceed with the project.	EIA
Environmental Management	EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme)	A premium management instrument developed by the European Commission for companies and other organisations to evaluate, report, and improve their environmental performance.	EMAS
Environmental Management	ISO 14001	Sets criteria for an environmental management system and can be certified to. It maps out a framework that a company or organization can follow to set up an effective environmental management system.	ISO 14001
Environmental Product Declaration	EPD International	Provides verified and registered documents that communicate transparent and comparable information about the life-cycle environmental impact of products.	EPD International
Environmental Product Declarations	Global EPD System	Provides quantified environmental data for products, based on information from a life cycle assessment.	Global EPD
Environmental Reporting	Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)	Helps businesses and governments worldwide understand and communicate their impact on critical sustainability issues.	GRI
Ethical Consumerism	Fair Wear Foundation	Focuses on improving labor conditions in garment factories.	Fair Wear Foundation
Ethical Fashion	Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)	Certifies textiles from organic fibers, ensuring ecological and social criteria are met.	GOTS
Ethical Labor	Fair Labor Association	Works to improve workers' lives worldwide by ensuring the respect of labor rights through the adherence to international standards.	Fair Labor Association
Ethical Manufacturing	Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP)	A global non-profit team of social compliance experts dedicated to promoting safe, lawful, humane, and ethical manufacturing around the world.	WRAP
Ethical Sourcing	Responsible Business Alliance (RBA)	Ensures that members’ supply chains meet high standards in human rights, environmental conditions, and ethics.	RBA
Ethical Supply Chains	Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI)	A leading alliance of companies, trade unions, and NGOs that promote respect for workers' rights around the globe.	ETI
E-waste Management	e-Stewards Certification	Sets best practices for responsibly recycling electronics to prevent environmental and human health impacts.	e-Stewards
Fair Trade	Fairtrade Certification	Assures consumers that products meet specific social, economic, and environmental criteria.	Fairtrade Certification
Fair Trade	World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)	Guarantees that Fair Trade principles are adhered to regarding production standards, labor practices, and environmental sustainability.	WFTO
Forestry Management	Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)	Provides internationally recognized standard-setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services for companies, organizations, and communities interested in responsible forestry.	FSC
Green Building	Building Research Establishment (BRE)	A world-leading certification program that assesses the sustainability of buildings through the BREEAM standards.	BREEAM
Green Building	National Green Building Standard (NGBS)	Offers a flexible, rigorous, and affordable path for residential buildings and land developments to achieve green certification.	NGBS
Green Building	Passive House	Focuses on designing buildings with optimal energy efficiency to reduce their ecological footprint.	Passive House
Green Business Certification	Green Business Bureau	Provides businesses with an online tool and roadmap to green certification, offering recognition for sustainability efforts.	Green Business Bureau
Green Chemicals	Green Chemistry Initiative	Promotes the research and application of green chemistry that reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture, and application of chemical products.	Green Chemistry
Green Hospitality	Green Key Global	A leading standard of excellence in environmental and operational performance in the tourism industry.	Green Key
Green Infrastructure	SITES	Certifies sustainable landscapes that create ecologically resilient communities, reduce water demand, filter and reduce stormwater runoff, provide wildlife habitat, improve air quality, and provide outdoor recreation opportunities.	SITES
Green Procurement	EcoVadis	Provides holistic sustainability ratings service of companies, monitoring environmental, social, and ethical practices across global supply chains.	EcoVadis
Greenhouse Gas Management	The GHG Protocol	A comprehensive global standardized framework to measure and manage greenhouse gas emissions.	GHG Protocol
Life Cycle Assessment	ISO 14040	Provides a framework for conducting life cycle assessments to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product's life from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling.	ISO 14040
Marine Protection	Marine Conservation Alliance	Works to promote sustainable marine environments and fisheries, ensuring ecological standards are maintained in marine conservation.	Marine Conservation Alliance
Ocean Conservation	Seafood Watch	Advocates for sustainable fishing and aquaculture practices through consumer guides and business partnerships.	Seafood Watch
Organic Certification	National Organic Program (NOP)	Regulates all organic crops, livestock, and agricultural products certified to the United States organic standards.	NOP
Organic Certification	Soil Association Organic Certification	Certifies organic food and farming; standards cover all aspects of food production, from animal welfare and wildlife conservation to food safety.	Soil Association
Organic Standards	USDA Organic	Governs organic production, ensuring compliance with organic farming practices.	USDA Organic
Recycling	Responsible Recycling (R2) Standard	Sets forth requirements relating to environmental, health, and safety aspects of electronics recycling.	R2 Standard
Renewable Energy	Green-e Certification	Certifies renewable energy and carbon offset products to ensure they meet high environmental and consumer protection standards advocated by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions.	Green-e
Renewable Energy	IECRE System	An International Electrotechnical Commission system for certification to standards relating to equipment for use in renewable energy applications.	IECRE System
Renewable Energy	Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI)	Certifies hydropower facilities with minimized environmental impacts to provide a cleaner energy alternative.	LIHI
Renewable Energy Certification	Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)	Certificates that represent proof that energy has been generated from renewable sources such as wind or solar power. Each certificate represents a specific amount of energy produced and delivered to the power grid.	RECs
Renewable Energy Standards	International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)	Promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy.	IRENA
Renewable Energy Standards	Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP)	Promotes and supports the acceleration of clean energy solutions globally.	REEEP
Renewable Resources	Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)	Promotes sustainable forest management covering key values such as biodiversity, species at risk, and Indigenous rights.	SFI
Resource Efficiency	Resource Efficiency Standard	Promotes the efficient use of resources to achieve higher productivity while generating less waste.	N/A
Responsible Mining	Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA)	Provides third-party verification and certification against comprehensive environmental, social, and governance criteria for mines.	IRMA
Responsible Supply Chains	Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) Certification	Sets standards for responsible business practices throughout the jewellery supply chain.	RJC Certification
Social Accountability	Social Accountability International (SA8000)	Provides a framework for organizations to develop, maintain, and apply socially acceptable practices in the workplace.	SA8000
Sustainable Agriculture	Demeter Biodynamic	Certification for biodynamic agriculture, which uses organic farming methods with a spiritual and holistic approach.	Demeter Biodynamic
Sustainable Agriculture	Food Alliance Certification	Provides certification for farms, ranches, and food processors and distributors who follow sustainable agricultural practices.	Food Alliance
Sustainable Agriculture	Global GAP	Sets voluntary standards for the certification of agricultural products around the globe.	Global GAP
Sustainable Agriculture	Rainforest Alliance Certification	Ensures that farms or forest operations meet comprehensive standards that include environmental, social, and economic criteria.	Rainforest Alliance
Sustainable Agriculture	Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC)	A certification for food, fiber, and personal care ingredients that meet higher standards of health and sustainability.	ROC
Sustainable Aviation	CORSIA	Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation aims to stabilize CO2 emissions at 2020 levels by requiring airlines to offset the growth of their emissions after 2021.	CORSIA
Sustainable Building	Green Building Initiative (GBI)	Offers certification for green building strategies, improving the health and environmental conditions of buildings.	GBI
Sustainable Business Practices	Global Sullivan Principles	Encourages corporations to support economic, social, and political justice where they do business.	Global Sullivan Principles
Sustainable Event Management	ISO 20121	Provides guidance and best practice principles to ensure sustainable management of all types of events.	ISO 20121
Sustainable Finance	Equator Principles	A risk management framework for determining, assessing, and managing environmental and social risk in projects.	Equator Principles
Sustainable Finance	Global Impact Investing Rating System (GIIRS)	A ratings and analytics platform that provides comparable and transparent data on the impact of companies and funds with a focus on social and environmental outcomes.	GIIRS
Sustainable Finance	Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)	An international network of investors working together to put the six Principles for Responsible Investment into practice.	PRI
Sustainable Finance	Social Investment Organization (SIO)	Provides a platform for financial institutions to engage in the development of responsible investment practices.	SIO
Sustainable Fisheries	Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)	Certifies and labels aquaculture products that conform to best environmental and social practices.	ASC
Sustainable Fisheries	Blue MSC Label	Recognizes and rewards sustainable fishing practices, helping to ensure that fish stocks and habitats are healthy and seafood supplies are secure.	MSC
Sustainable Fishing	Friend of the Sea	Promotes sustainable seafood from fisheries and aquaculture, to prevent overexploitation and ensure high standards of environmental performance.	Friend of the Sea
Sustainable Forestry	Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Sustainable Forest Management	Certifies forest management practices that meet sustainable, environmental, and social standards.	CSA Group
Sustainable Forestry	Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)	An international non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification.	PEFC
Sustainable IT	TCO Certified	A sustainability certification for IT products, with criteria ensuring that the manufacture, use, and recycling of IT products reflect environmental, social, and economic responsibility.	TCO Certified
Sustainable Land Management	Land Trust Alliance	Encourages and supports land conservation, ensures permanent land conservation, and fosters ethical land transactions.	Land Trust Alliance
Sustainable Manufacturing	ISO 14031 Environmental Performance Evaluation	Gives guidelines on how to conduct environmental performance evaluation to support sustainability and environmental management systems.	ISO 14031
Sustainable Mining	Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM)	A performance system developed by the Mining Association of Canada to help mining companies manage their environmental and social responsibilities.	TSM
Sustainable Packaging	Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC)	Focused on the development and implementation of sustainable packaging initiatives.	Sustainable Packaging
Sustainable Product Design	Cradle to Cradle Certified™	A globally recognized measure of safer, more sustainable products made for the circular economy. It assesses product design, manufacturing processes, and company practices across five critical performance categories.	Cradle to Cradle
Sustainable Retail	B Corporation Certification	Certifies businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.	B Corp
Sustainable Tourism	EarthCheck	Provides scientific benchmarks and certification for travel and tourism businesses to improve sustainability.	EarthCheck
Sustainable Tourism	Green Globe Certification	A structured assessment of the sustainability performance of travel and tourism businesses and their supply chain partners.	Green Globe
Sustainable Tourism	Travelife Certification	Provides a practical business sustainability management system designed for tour operators and travel agencies.	Travelife
Sustainable Wine Production	Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ)	Ensures the wine industry in New Zealand is environmentally responsible and uses sustainable practices in all aspects of wine production.	SWNZ
Textile Sustainability	Bluesign	Ensures that textiles are produced in a way that conserves resources and minimizes environmental and human impacts.	Bluesign
Textile Sustainability	OEKO-TEX Standard 100	Tests for harmful substances in textiles to ensure safety and sustainability in textile production.	OEKO-TEX
Waste Management	Zero Waste Certification	A standard for businesses and communities that divert at least 90% of waste from landfills, incinerators and the environment.	Zero Waste
Waste Reduction	Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA)	Promotes positive alternatives to landfill and incineration and brings together communities striving for zero waste.	ZWIA
Water Conservation	WaterSense	An EPA-sponsored certification for products and practices that save water without sacrificing performance.	WaterSense
Water Efficiency	Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS)	A labelling scheme that rates the efficiency of water-related products to help consumers make informed choices.	WELS
Water Management	Water Footprint Network (WFN)	Provides tools and guidelines for companies to measure and manage their water use in a sustainable manner.	WFN
Water Stewardship	Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard	Promotes responsible water use that benefits local communities and preserves the ecological integrity of water basins.	AWS Standard
Water Stewardship	Ceres Aqua Gauge	A framework to help companies and investors assess and improve their management of water resources.	Ceres Aqua Gauge