Explore · Standards & schemes

Understand what a standard actually does.

Browse neutral profiles of reporting standards, assurance frameworks, certification schemes and rating platforms. Profiles explain scope and evidence without scores, rankings or recommendations.

92 profiles

Certification scheme

4C Certification

Issuer
4C Services GmbH
Geography
Global
Open profile
Assurance standard

AA1000 Assurance Standard v3

Issuer
AccountAbility
Geography
Global
Open profile
Meta-framework

Accountability Framework initiative

Issuer
AFi coalition (CDP, WRI, WWF, Proforest, TNC et al.)
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Aluminium Stewardship Initiative

Issuer
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)

Issuer
ASC
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

AS 5810 / NF T51-800 (home compostable)

Issuer
Standards Australia / AFNOR
Geography
Australia / France (+ recognition)
Open profile
Assurance standard

ASSA 5010 (Australia)

Issuer
AUASB
Geography
Australia
Open profile
Certification scheme

AWS International Water Stewardship Standard

Issuer
Alliance for Water Stewardship
Geography
Global
Open profile
Company certification

B Corp Certification

Issuer
B Lab
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP)

Issuer
Global Seafood Alliance
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Better Cotton (BCI)

Issuer
Better Cotton Initiative
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Bonsucro

Issuer
Bonsucro
Geography
Global
Open profile
Proprietary programme

C.A.F.E. Practices

Issuer
Starbucks (verified by SCS Global)
Geography
Global
Open profile
Reporting standard

CDP Disclosure Framework

Issuer
CDP
Geography
Global
Open profile
Rating platform

CDP Scores (A List)

Issuer
CDP
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

CertifHy EU Voluntary Scheme (hydrogen)

Issuer
CertifHy (scheme operator)
Geography
EU (issuance expanding beyond)
Open profile
Proprietary programme

Cocoa Horizons

Issuer
Barry Callebaut (Cocoa Horizons Foundation)
Geography
West Africa, Latin America, SE Asia
Open profile
Certification scheme

CORSIA (aviation offsetting)

Issuer
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
Geography
Global (international aviation)
Open profile
Rating platform

EcoVadis

Issuer
EcoVadis
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

EN 13432 family (industrial compostability, ASTM D6400, AS 4736)

Issuer
CEN / ASTM International / Standards Australia; certification via TÜV Austria, DIN CERTCO, BPI
Geography
EU / US / AU
Open profile
Certification scheme

EN 16785 (bio-based content)

Issuer
CEN; certification via DIN CERTCO / TÜV Austria
Geography
EU / Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Enveritas

Issuer
Enveritas (non-profit); Enveritas Certification LLC (independent certification body)
Geography
Global (35+ countries, 14M+ farms assessed in 2026)
Open profile
Certification scheme

EU Ecolabel

Issuer
European Commission / national bodies
Geography
EU/EEA
Open profile
Certification scheme

EU Organic (Reg 2018/848)

Issuer
European Commission / national control bodies
Geography
EU (+ imported equivalents)
Open profile
Meta-framework

EU PEF / OEF method

Issuer
European Commission (Joint Research Centre)
Geography
EU
Open profile
Reporting standard

European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS)

Issuer
EFRAG / European Commission
Geography
EU
Open profile
Certification scheme

Fair for Life

Issuer
Ecocert (scheme owner)
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Fair Labor Association accreditation

Issuer
Fair Labor Association
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Fairtrade International

Issuer
Fairtrade International / FLOCERT
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

Issuer
FSC International
Geography
Global
Open profile
Meta-framework

GFANZ & net-zero alliances (NZBA, NZAM, NZIA, NZAOA)

Issuer
Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero
Geography
Global
Open profile
Reporting standard

GHG Protocol Corporate Standards

Issuer
WRI / WBCSD
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Global Coffee Platform — Baseline Coffee Code

Issuer
Global Coffee Platform
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

Issuer
GOTS International
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Global Recycled Standard / Recycled Claim Standard

Issuer
Textile Exchange
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Gold Standard

Issuer
Gold Standard Foundation
Geography
Global
Open profile
Reporting standard

GRI Standards

Issuer
Global Sustainability Standards Board
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

GSTC Criteria (sustainable tourism)

Issuer
Global Sustainable Tourism Council
Geography
Global
Open profile
Rating platform

Higg Index (Cascale)

Issuer
Cascale (formerly SAC)
Geography
Global
Open profile
Meta-framework

ICMA Green/Social/Sustainability Bond Principles

Issuer
International Capital Market Association
Geography
Global
Open profile
Meta-framework

ICVCM — Core Carbon Principles

Issuer
Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market
Geography
Global
Open profile
Reporting standard

IFRS S1 & S2 (ISSB)

Issuer
International Sustainability Standards Board
Geography
Global (jurisdiction adoption)
Open profile
Meta-framework

IIGCC Net Zero Investment Framework

Issuer
Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change
Geography
Europe / Global
Open profile
Assurance standard

ISAE 3000 (Revised)

Issuer
IAASB
Geography
Global
Open profile
Assurance standard

ISAE 3410

Issuer
IAASB
Geography
Global
Open profile
Meta-framework

ISEAL Code of Good Practice

Issuer
ISEAL Alliance
Geography
Global
Open profile
Company certification

ISO 14001 (Environmental Management)

Issuer
ISO / accredited CBs
Geography
Global
Open profile
Reporting standard

ISO 14021 (Self-declared environmental claims)

Issuer
ISO
Geography
Global
Open profile
Reporting standard

ISO 14025 / EN 15804 (EPDs)

Issuer
ISO / CEN
Geography
Global
Open profile
Reporting standard

ISO 14040/14044 (LCA)

Issuer
ISO
Geography
Global
Open profile
Reporting standard

ISO 14064-1/-2/-3

Issuer
ISO
Geography
Global
Open profile
Reporting standard

ISO 14067 (Carbon Footprint of Products)

Issuer
ISO
Geography
Global
Open profile
Reporting standard

ISO 14068-1 (Carbon Neutrality)

Issuer
ISO
Geography
Global
Open profile
Reporting standard

ISO 14083 (transport chain GHG)

Issuer
International Organization for Standardization
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

ISO 20121 (event sustainability)

Issuer
International Organization for Standardization
Geography
Global
Open profile
Assurance standard

ISSA 5000

Issuer
IAASB
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions

Issuer
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Geography
Global
Open profile
Proprietary programme

JDE Peet's Responsible Sourcing / Common Grounds

Issuer
JDE Peet's
Geography
Global (coffee and tea origins)
Open profile
Certification scheme

Leaping Bunny

Issuer
Cruelty Free International (with CCIC in North America)
Geography
Global
Open profile
Meta-framework

LMA Loan Principles (GLP / SLP / SLLP)

Issuer
Loan Market Association (with LSTA, APLMA)
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

Issuer
MSC
Geography
Global
Open profile
Meta-framework

Nature Positive Initiative

Issuer
NPI partnership (WBCSD, IUCN, TNFD, WEF et al.)
Geography
Global
Open profile
Proprietary programme

Nestlé Cocoa Plan

Issuer
Nestlé
Geography
West Africa, Latin America
Open profile
Certification scheme

Ocean Bound Plastic Certification (Zero Plastic Oceans)

Issuer
Zero Plastic Oceans; audits via accredited certification bodies
Geography
Global (coastal zones)
Open profile
Meta-framework

Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Offsetting

Issuer
University of Oxford (Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment)
Geography
Global
Open profile
Reporting standard

PCAF Global GHG Accounting Standard

Issuer
Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

PEFC (endorsement system)

Issuer
PEFC International
Geography
Global
Open profile
Verification body

Preferred by Nature

Issuer
Preferred by Nature (non-profit)
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Rainforest Alliance (2020 Standard, incl. legacy UTZ)

Issuer
Rainforest Alliance
Geography
Global
Open profile
Meta-framework

RE100 Technical Criteria

Issuer
Climate Group, in partnership with CDP
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

ResponsibleSteel

Issuer
ResponsibleSteel International
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)

Issuer
RSPO
Geography
Global (production concentrated SE Asia)
Open profile
Verification body

SAI Platform — Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA)

Issuer
SAI Platform
Geography
Global
Open profile
Reporting standard

SASB Standards

Issuer
ISSB (legacy SASB)
Geography
Global
Open profile
Rating platform

SBTi Target Validation

Issuer
Science Based Targets initiative
Geography
Global
Open profile
Verification body

SMETA / Sedex

Issuer
Sedex
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Smithsonian Bird Friendly Coffee

Issuer
Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute
Geography
Latin America, Africa
Open profile
Verification body

Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP)

Issuer
SLCP
Geography
Global
Open profile
Reporting standard

TNFD Recommendations

Issuer
Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures
Geography
Global
Open profile
Reporting standard

UK Transition Plan Taskforce Framework

Issuer
TPT / IFRS Foundation
Geography
UK-origin, global use
Open profile
Certification scheme

UL 2799 (Zero Waste to Landfill)

Issuer
UL Solutions
Geography
Global
Open profile
Meta-framework

UNFCCC Race to Zero criteria

Issuer
UN Climate Change High-Level Champions
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

USDA BioPreferred Program

Issuer
US Department of Agriculture
Geography
United States
Open profile
Certification scheme

USDA National Organic Program (7 CFR 205)

Issuer
USDA / accredited certifiers
Geography
US (+ trade partners)
Open profile
Certification scheme

V-Label

Issuer
European Vegetarian Union (national licensees)
Geography
Europe and beyond
Open profile
Meta-framework

VCMI Claims Code of Practice

Issuer
Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Vegan Society Trademark

Issuer
The Vegan Society (UK)
Geography
Global
Open profile
Certification scheme

Verra — Verified Carbon Standard

Issuer
Verra (non-profit registry and standard-setter)
Geography
Global
Open profile
Reporting standard

VSME Standard

Issuer
EFRAG / European Commission
Geography
EU
Open profile
Certification scheme

Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme (AU/NZ)

Issuer
Australian Government (with New Zealand participation)
Geography
Australia / New Zealand
Open profile
Certification scheme

WaterSense

Issuer
US Environmental Protection Agency
Geography
United States
Open profile
Certification scheme

WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production)

Issuer
Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (non-profit)
Geography
Global
Open profile

A listing is informational, not an endorsement. Always check the current official rules and whether a certificate, assurance engagement or claim is within scope.