It’s a very good thing that there are so many sustainability labels in the world, although it may feel confusing at first. Independent sustainability certification of products, services, and corporations based on a life-cycle audit of performance against the Green Tick Sustainability Standards. Fair Trade Certification requires all businesses that work with them to be held to standards that include “income sustainability, community and individual well-being, empowerment, and environmental stewardship.” That includes requirements, which are updated regularly, around worker’s rights, fair labor and sustainable land management. They should be only one part of your larger plan for gaining experience, which could include other avenues such as taking on new projects at your current job, fellowships, school and skills-based volunteering. This organization was founded in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia and Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies. Contact Us. This book provides a balanced review of international certification schemes across various agricultural and natural resource sectors, aimed at advanced students, researchers and professionals. Professional certification in one of these means that you’ve demonstrated an understanding of sustainability and green building principles in general as well as the certification framework of the particular program. Green Building Initiative’s Green Globes Certification. Environmental standards are set so they both reduce impact on the planet and also meet the realities of local populations—but they do include a ban on certain pesticides and GMO seeds. Found inside – Page 52... the built environment has been evolving to alter its current sustainability purview and design priority list. With the rise of certifications such as ... Ok, so now that you’ve done your research and you know what kind of skills you need to build, and you’ve decided that training for a certification is the right way to build them, what options are out there? The list does NOT include certifications for products (like FSC) or companies (like B Corp), professional training that does not earn a credential (I have some great suggestions for that in this article and in the Training section of the Education page), graduate programs, or university-based certificates. The label certifies the entire process the material travels through, not just the final product. Follow the community of Certified B Corporations. The idea is to discourage duplicate audits of the same product. Fairtrade International runs the Fairtrade mark, which is different visually from Fair Trade Certified, but with which they have a reciprocal agreement (see above). Producers are certified through strict verification of the production process by accredited ceritifying agencies and may be withdrawn at any . We often hear the question of whether there is a label like USDA organic, but for fashion and home products. The AEE offers dozens of certifications around energy management, sustainable development and utility services for the commercial, industrial, institutional, governmental, energy services and utility sectors. In-Training Option. Your Textile Certification Guide. This widely used certification has two levels: Labelled organic for products that contain 95 percent or more organic material, and another for those that have 70 percent to 94 percent organic material, in which case they have to disclose the percentage on the GOTS label. For appliances, meeting the Energy Star standard means the product meets a standard for energy savings over other similar machines or products (specifics on savings vary by the product category) . More than 30,000 products carry the Fairtrade mark, and the standard is a combination of social, economic, and environmental criteria that “support the sustainable development of small producer organizations and agricultural workers in the Global South.”. But perhaps you noticed that the No. Since 1982, Green America has evaluated over 8,000 small businesses. Did this article help you find a new certification to consider? Talk to people already doing the type of work you want to do. Found insideIn July 2011, the EU recognized a first batch of seven certifications. By the end of 2017, there were 14 approved certification systems in the EU list (see ... Here are several other notable professional certifications that don’t fall neatly into one of the categories above: What certifications do you have or intend to pursue? The focus of this list is on professional certifications for practitioners only or, put another way, certifications that demonstrate that you as a person have a specific skill or knowledge set. Each has its own nuanced definition of what makes a building sustainable and approach for how building certification is achieved. Found inside – Page 32See Appendix B for a list of common certification programmes. Sustainability management systems So that your first sustainability projects don't end up ... To make things even more complicated, the landscape is changing at a rapid pace. We maintain a Restricted Substances List (RSL) which incorporates the requirements of all the major internationally recognised environmental standards and legal regulations (for example REACH, Oeko-Tex, The State of California's Proposition 65, CPSIA) as well as our . ISSP Credential History. We have partnered with the Rainforest Alliance for many years and highly valued their sustainability expertise and implementation skills to help us advance our farmer programmes. Thanks in advance!. But perhaps you’ve noticed that the #2 most popular certification was “Other” or that GRI was the only named certification to get more than 25%? Certifications like Rainforest Alliance have played an important role in driving sustainable supply chains at both the production and consumption end. The 2020 GreenBiz State of the Profession Report included a fantastic chart titled “Percentage of survey respondents having received training or certification” which showed the following breakdown: So, if you were going to pick a certification out of a hat, it might be a pretty safe bet to go out and get GRI or maybe some form of LEED. Take a close look at the job descriptions that excite you, what subject matter expertise or certifications do the job descriptions call for? What’s missing? Take a close look at the job descriptions that excite you. May 5, 2021. As with the green building certifications, those hoping to work in sustainability strategy or program management may find this training helpful as well. Send Us an Email. Found inside – Page 75Or is the manufacturing process being certified for sustainable practices? ... This list is not exhaustive, but it introduces you to common certifications ... There are over 400 such standards across the world. LEED is the most well-known and prolific green building certification system in the U.S.  Buildings that are LEED certified have been designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance in energy efficiency, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reductions, improved indoor air quality, and stewardship of resources. Found inside – Page 97The forest management certification applies to those directly involved with ... The group also releases an annual list of companies that are naughty or nice ... Sustainable sourcing, production and distribution of physical marketing items. Sustainability standards and certifications are voluntary guidelines used by producers, manufacturers, traders, retailers, and service providers to demonstrate their commitment to good environmental, social, ethical, and food safety practices. The seal is overseen by certifying agents authorized by the USDA National Organic Program. Below, we look at these different programs. In addition, the only reporting framework that you’ll ultimately absolutely need to know is the one that your future employer uses, and you won’t know which one that will be until you’re working there. The WaterSense logo is the EPA’s label that indicates a product is at least 20 percent more efficient than average products. As palm oil has grown in popularity for food manufacture (especially for snack/junk foods), it has been implicated in the rapid deforestation in Malaysian Borneo, Indonesia and elsewhere. Environmental and Sustainable Development is a doctoral-level course structured around 10 lectures that cover topics like management and innovation, environmental degradation and societal . Green Certifications and Awards. My advice to people who want to pursue a reporting certification is to do your own research on each leading framework and standard to see if any resonate with you. Mizone vitamin beverage, a low-sugar product since 2012. Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) does not offer a formal certification program but TCFD e-learning courses are available on the TCFD Knowledge Hub. Found inside – Page 84Do they have a sustainability report linked to the website? ... Can visitors sign in or get on a mailing list for updated information? The companies listed below have received certification for some or all of their vineyard and winery operations. The Environmental Working Group is a non-profit that tracks chemical safety. This label indicates that in addition to the chemical standards, an item with the label is also guaranteed to have been manufactured “using sustainable practices and under socially responsible working conditions.” Every Made in Green-labelled product also has a traceable code so consumers can find out more about that particular item. The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE). Energy Star is a labelling program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to promote energy efficiency in American homes and businesses. This process must be transparent and reported to the independent certifying body who approves the label for use. Food and Farming Practices, Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Ways We Make Things, Green America's Green Business Certification, 16th iteration of their detailed standard, Environmental Protection Agency Lead-Safe, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Electronic Product Environmental Assessment, Union for Ethical Biotrade (UEBT) standard, SFI 2015-2019 (Extended through December 2021) Fiber Sourcing Standard. The Social standards cover working conditions, enable worker organization, and ban exploitative child labor, and discriminatory labor practices. GSTC does not conduct certification. 888.485.4733 . Most international certification systems such as Green Globe, EarthCheck, Green Key and Travelife follow this practice. They label low-pollutant and low-emission products with their label, based on “extensive lab tests” which focus on emissions testing (AKA offgassing) and they analyze compounds based on select parameters including heavy metals, pesticides, and others—what they test for depends on the product. The certification is managed by the nonprofit organization Vegan Awareness Foundation (AKA Vegan Action). Green building principles are a great way to reduce a building’s impact when remodeling or undergoing new construction, but there are also huge opportunities in improving the energy efficiency and management of existing buildings and connecting them to renewable energy sources. The following list is simply a starting point and resource to better understand some of the most prominent sustainability and ethics certifications out there. Hi! A plethora of sustainability certifications is available for organisations to show independent verification of their commitment to sustainability. What frameworks and tools do they use? The majority of chemical exposures most people have are via the air in their own homes, offices, or schools, GreenGuard exists to certify products with lower Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) — since VOCs offgas into the air, contributing to poor indoor air quality. There are a number of third-party organizations that verify that consumer goods are free from toxic ingredients, residues and other chemicals of environmental concerns. As a result, there are also endless possibilities for training and certification in sustainability for different industries, issues, and disciplines. Asia Pacific Found inside – Page 37Assessing sustainability - International system comparison - Economic impact ... It contains, for example, lists of organisations certified according to ISO ... Thanks in advance! These criteria, often robust and impartial, are the way this product is "judged", which usually indicate that the product is socially responsible, has minimal . 1 question I get asked by job seekers, hands down, is "What certification should I get if I want to work in sustainability?" The Sustainable Forestry Initiative is a non-profit organization that aims to inform consumers that fiber in a product “is certified to the SFI 2015-2019 (Extended through December 2021) Fiber Sourcing Standard, or comes from recycled content, or from a certified forest.” They state that all fiber must come from “non-controversial sources,” and all certified forests must go through independent audits of forests via accredited certification bodies. The organization’s EWG Verified mark has been given to over 1700 products and is an offshoot of their popular Skin Deep database where consumers can find details on over 70,000 personal care products. Across the tourism industry, these different sustainability certification schemes have been adapted, and the required practices promoted as standard operating procedures at hotels. The LEED Cities and Communities Pilot program measures and manages a city’s “water consumption, energy use, waste, transportation and human experience.”. Then, of course, there are some of these organizations that have been accused of greenwashing. The certification also ensures a facility's slaughter practices align with what is commonly thought to be humane. For nearly two decades, Treehugger has been dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream. Announced and unannounced visits by auditors several times a year monitor the “rearing conditions and keeping of the animals.” Material from foie-gras farms or farms that live-pluck is prohibited. Some of these certifications also ensure eco-friendly manufacturing processes. This standard is applied to building interiors and its overall aim is to use scientific research to “advance human health through design interventions and operational protocols and policies and foster a culture of health and wellness.” It takes into consideration ten main strategies, including air, water, light, movement, nourishment, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind and community — and within each of those are features, so the certification is incredibly detailed and looks at a variety of aspects of building health. All entities in the wool-creation process must be certified by RWS, including the farmer, traders, yarn, fabric, and final garment. To make things even more complicated, the landscape is changing at a rapid pace. Certification for Sustainable Tourism San Jose, Costa Rica. We maintain a Restricted Substances List (RSL) which incorporates the requirements of all the major internationally recognised environmental standards and legal regulations (for example REACH, Oeko-Tex, The State of California's Proposition 65, CPSIA) as well as our . If you’ve been working in sustainability for even a small amount of time, you already know that the scope of topics that could fall under the term "sustainability" is virtually limitless. Found inside – Page 169Sustainability certifications and labels have a twofold scope: on the one hand, ... Out of them, a short list has been extracted in order to identify the ... Professional certification in one of these means that you’ve demonstrated an understanding of sustainability and green building principles in general as well as the certification framework of the particular program. There is also a LEED Zero certification for projects with net zero goals in carbon and/or resources. The list of “unacceptable” ingredients includes any with “health, ecotoxicity, and/or contamination concerns.” The mark also means that Verified products have to be transparent, listing all their ingredients. Green building certifications are of most value to people whose work will focus on building design, construction or retrofitting such as designers and architects. Duration: 2 hours (LEED exam). There are significant criticisms of SFI’s practices and some environmental organizations consider it a significantly less-robust label than FSC Certification (detailed above), due to lower transparency and standards, and the fact that it was founded by logging industry groups. Certification. For each company, this information is verified and posted on the B Corporation website. There are so many green building certification standards around the world that I couldn’t possibly list them all here, so only four of the leading standards are below. PEFC, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, is the world's leading global forest certification system. Green building certifications are of most value to people whose work will focus on building design, construction, or retrofitting such as designers and architects. In September, five of the leading reporting groups (CDP, CDSB, GRI, IIRC and SASB) issued a statement of intent to work together to create a comprehensive global corporate reporting system and a mere two months later, IIRC and SASB announced an intent to merge to become the Value Reporting Foundation. General sustainability and climate professional certifications The ISSP and ACCO certifications are well-respected programs that provide the opportunity to demonstrate that you are a sustainability professional capable of performing sustainability strategy and implementation work across multiple functions, industries and regions. For new homes or apartments to qualify for Energy Star labelling, they must be at least 10 percent more energy efficient than homes built to code. The Living Building Challenge has been described as the world’s most rigorous green building and sustainable design certification standard. This post is generously sponsored by SOL Organics, a bed and bath brand that holds several ethical and sustainable certifications, including Fairtrade International, GOTS, and OEKO-TEX.As always, EcoCult only works with brands who we trust are making the world a better place. The Cradle to Cradle Certified label is meant to be a “measure of safer, more sustainable products made for the circular economy.” Towards that end, each Certified product is assessed in five categories, “material health, material reuse, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness.” Each products is then assigned one of 5 levels (Basic to Platinum) for each category, and all details are available on the organization’s website. The certification requires the successful completion of four courses, or 12 points, as well as a five-day residency in New York. Sustainable Career Pathways © 2021. Starre Vartan is an environmental and science journalist. Green America certifies businesses that are committed to using business as a platform for social change. Living Buildings strive for net-zero or net-positive energy and are free of toxic chemicals. 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