Mapping Certification Systems in the Amazon Bioeconomy
Sustainability certifications and standards play different roles across production systems, supply chains, and corporate practices. While often grouped together, these initiatives vary significantly in what they verify—from on-farm and forest management practices, to product-level attributes, ethical sourcing, traceability, and company-wide sustainability performance.
In the Amazon bioeconomy, these systems form a layered architecture that extends beyond environmental compliance. At the production level, standards shape land use, biodiversity conservation, and agricultural practices. At the product level, certifications such as organic, non-GMO, and food safety systems determine access to international markets. Supply chain and ethical trade frameworks influence how value is distributed, embedding principles of equity, traceability, and accountability—particularly for Indigenous and smallholder producers. This table organizes key certifications by their primary point of intervention within the value chain, highlighting what each framework evaluates, who it applies to, and how it functions within broader market systems. While many certifications operate across multiple stages, they are categorized here based on their primary role. Together, these systems form an interconnected infrastructure that shapes market access, influences producer practices, and governs how Amazonian products are validated and integrated into global markets.| Name | Website | Description | Category | Focus Area | Primary Actors | Sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sustainable Agriculture & Land Use | ||||||
| Rainforest Alliance – Sustainable Agriculture Standard | rainforest-alliance.org | Certifies agricultural production systems based on environmental, social, and economic criteria, including biodiversity conservation, labor standards, and farm management practices. It supports traceability and continuous improvement across supply chains, and is widely used to enable market access and substantiate sustainability claims. | Certification (Core Standard) | Biodiversity, labor standards, environmental management, traceability | Farm + supply chain actors | Agriculture |
| Rainforest Alliance – Regenerative Agriculture Standard Add-On | rainforest-alliance.org | Certification that builds on the Sustainable Agriculture Certification by introducing deeper requirements focused on restoring ecosystems and improving long-term resilience. It strengthens criteria related to soil health, biodiversity, and climate resilience, providing a more outcomes-oriented pathway for companies seeking to demonstrate regenerative sourcing and ecosystem restoration. | Certification (Advanced / Add-on) | Soil health, biodiversity, climate resilience, ecosystem restoration | Farms + supply chain actors | Agriculture |
| Global G.A.P. | globalgap.org | Certifies good agricultural practices across food safety, environmental sustainability, and worker health and safety. It is commonly required by global retailers and serves as a baseline certification for suppliers seeking access to international fresh produce markets. | Certification | Good agricultural practices (GAP), food safety, traceability, worker health & safety | Farms + exporters + retailers | Agriculture |
| GRASP – GlobalG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice | globalgap.org | Verifies social practices at the farm level, focusing on labor conditions, worker welfare, and human rights risks. It complements GlobalG.A.P. by strengthening social compliance and is increasingly required by buyers seeking responsible sourcing assurance. | Certification (Add-On / Social Module) | Labor standards, worker welfare, human rights, risk assessment | Farms + auditors + buyers | Agriculture |
| Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil | rspo.org | Establishes global standards for sustainable palm oil production, focusing on eliminating deforestation, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring responsible labor practices. Certification applies across the full supply chain, providing a widely recognized framework for companies sourcing palm oil responsibly. | Certification | Deforestation / land-use change, biodiversity conservation, labor standards, supply chain transparency | Producers + supply chain actors | Agriculture |
| Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) | rtrs.org | Certifies responsible soy production with strict requirements on deforestation, land-use change, and labor practices. It enables traceability across supply chains and plays a central role in mitigating deforestation risks linked to soy expansion in Amazonian and Cerrado regions. | Certification | Deforestation / land-use change, biodiversity conservation, labor standards, traceability | Soy producers + traders + brands | Agriculture |
| SAI Platform (FSA) | saiplatform.org | Provides a standardized framework for assessing and benchmarking farm-level sustainability practices across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. Widely used by companies to evaluate suppliers and drive continuous improvement, it functions primarily as a business-to-business assessment tool rather than a consumer-facing certification. | Certification | Good agricultural practices (GAP), environmental sustainability, labor standards, continuous improvement | Farms + buyers | Agriculture |
| Regenagri | regenagri.org | Certifies regenerative agricultural practices focused on soil health, biodiversity, and climate resilience. It supports outcome-based improvements and traceability, enabling companies to validate regenerative sourcing claims and strengthen long-term ecosystem performance. | Certification | Regenerative practices, soil health, biodiversity conservation, climate mitigation | Farms + supply chain actors | Agriculture |
| Regenified | regenified.com | A regenerative agriculture certification program grounded in ecological outcomes, including soil health, water cycles, and ecosystem function. It emphasizes scientific measurement and third-party verification to substantiate regenerative claims, supporting both producers and brands in transitioning toward regenerative systems. | Certification | Regenerative practices, ecosystem function, soil health, biodiversity conservation | Farms + brands | Agriculture |
| Savory Institute – Land to Market | landtomarket.com | Verification program that measures regenerative land management outcomes using ecological monitoring indicators such as soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem function. It connects verified producers to brands and markets seeking regenerative products, emphasizing outcomes-based validation rather than prescriptive practices. | Verification | Regenerative practices, ecosystem function, biodiversity conservation, monitoring & reporting | Farms + brands | Agriculture |
| SENAF – Agricultura Familiar | gov.br | Certifies products originating from family farming systems, supporting smallholder inclusion and access to differentiated markets and public procurement. It plays an important role in strengthening rural livelihoods and promoting local economic development, particularly in Latin American agricultural value chains. | Certification | Smallholder inclusion, market access, livelihoods, community development | Smallholders | Agriculture |
| C.A.F.E. Practices (Starbucks) | starbucks.com | Coffee sourcing verification program that evaluates farms against environmental, social, and economic criteria. It is designed to promote transparency, responsible production, and improved livelihoods in coffee supply chains, particularly within Starbucks’ sourcing network and associated supplier ecosystems. | Standard / Framework | Environmental sustainability, labor standards, traceability, livelihoods | Coffee producers + buyers | Agriculture |
| QMGS – Quality Mark Good Soil | qualitymarkgoodsoil.com | Standard focused on soil quality, composition, and sustainability in horticultural products such as potting soils and soil improvers. It addresses product safety, environmental impact, and responsible sourcing, supporting improved soil management practices and consumer confidence in soil-related inputs. | Standard / Framework | Soil health, product composition / formulation, environmental impact, input traceability | Input suppliers | Agriculture |
| Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) | rsb.org | Certifies bio-based materials and fuels across environmental, social, and economic criteria, including greenhouse gas emissions, land-use change, and human rights. It provides a robust framework for emerging bioeconomy value chains and supports sustainable market development without driving deforestation. | Certification | Bioeconomy sustainability, GHG emissions, land-use change, human rights, biodiversity | Producers + processors + biofuel / biomaterial companies | Bioeconomy / Agriculture / Energy |
| ProTerra Standard | proterrafoundation.org | A sustainability certification standard focused on agricultural commodities—particularly soy and animal feed—that combines non-GMO requirements with strong environmental and social criteria. It includes provisions on zero deforestation, protection of high conservation value areas, labor rights, and supply chain traceability. The standard is widely used in Latin America and Europe, especially in markets that demand deforestation-free and non-GMO soy, making it highly relevant for addressing sustainability risks in Amazon-linked agricultural expansion. | Certification | Non-GMO production, deforestation / land-use change, biodiversity conservation, labor standards, traceability | Producers + traders + feed manufacturers + brands | Agriculture |
| Product & Ingredient Certification | ||||||
| USDA – United States Department of Agriculture – Organic | usda.gov/topics/organic | Certifies agricultural products produced under strict organic standards regulating synthetic inputs, genetically modified organisms, livestock practices, and processing methods. It also promotes soil health, biodiversity conservation, and traceability, making it one of the most widely recognized organic certifications globally. | Certification | Organic production, soil health, biodiversity conservation, traceability | Farms + processors | Agriculture |
| EU Organic | agriculture.ec.europa.eu | Certifies agricultural products according to European Union organic regulations, restricting synthetic inputs and promoting soil health and biodiversity. It is widely required for access to European markets and governs organic imports from Amazonian value chains. | Certification | Organic production, soil health, biodiversity, traceability | Farms + processors + exporters | Agriculture |
| Bio Suisse Organic | bio-suisse.ch | A premium organic certification standard widely recognized in Switzerland, with stricter requirements than many baseline organic systems. It emphasizes ecological farming practices, biodiversity conservation, animal welfare, and high standards for imported products, making it particularly relevant for high-value export markets sourcing from Latin America. | Certification | Organic production, biodiversity conservation, ecological farming, premium standards | Farms + exporters + brands | Agriculture |
| Canadian Organic Regime | inspection.canada.ca | Canada’s national organic certification system regulating production, processing, and labeling of organic products. It aligns with international organic standards while enabling access to Canadian markets through equivalency agreements with other jurisdictions, supporting global trade in certified organic goods. | Certification | Organic production, traceability, compliance, international equivalency | Farms + processors + exporters | Agriculture |
| JAS Organic (Japan Agricultural Standard) | maff.go.jp | Japan’s national organic certification system governing agricultural production and labeling. It establishes strict requirements for organic inputs, production methods, and traceability, and is essential for accessing the Japanese market, particularly for high-value agricultural exports. | Certification | Organic production, traceability, compliance, labeling | Farms + processors + exporters | Agriculture |
| IBD (Instituto Biodinâmico – Brazil) | ibd.com.br | A leading Brazilian certification body providing organic and biodynamic certification aligned with international standards. IBD plays a key role in certifying Amazon-linked supply chains for both domestic and export markets, supporting compliance with multiple global organic systems. | Certification | Organic production, biodynamic practices, certification compliance, traceability | Farms + processors + exporters | Agriculture |
| OCP (Organismo de Certificação de Produtos – Brazil) | (varies) | Brazilian accredited certification bodies responsible for verifying compliance with national organic regulations. OCPs ensure that products meet Brazil’s legal standards for organic production and labeling, supporting both domestic market integrity and international trade. | Certification | Organic compliance, regulatory verification, traceability | Farms + processors | Agriculture |
| Bio Latina / Orgánico México | biolatina.com / gobierno.mx | Regional organic certification systems operating across Latin America, supporting smallholder producers in meeting international organic standards. These systems play a critical role in enabling market access for Amazon-linked producers by providing locally accessible certification pathways aligned with global organic requirements. | Certification | Organic production, smallholder inclusion, certification access, traceability | Smallholders + cooperatives + exporters | Agriculture |
| COSMOS Standard | cosmos-standard.org | Establishes harmonized requirements for organic and natural cosmetics, covering ingredient sourcing, manufacturing processes, environmental management, and labeling. It ensures products meet strict criteria for natural origin and sustainability, supporting transparency and credibility in the rapidly growing natural cosmetics market. | Standard / Framework | Ingredient integrity, product composition / formulation, environmental management, labeling transparency | Manufacturers + brands | Cosmetics & personal care |
| Demeter International | demeter.net/certification | Certifies biodynamic farming practices that enhance soil health, biodiversity, and whole-farm ecosystem management. The standard goes beyond organic by requiring closed-loop systems, on-farm fertility generation, and the use of biodynamic preparations, emphasizing holistic farm stewardship and long-term ecological balance. | Certification | Biodynamic farming, soil fertility, ecosystem function, closed-loop systems | Farms + supply chain actors | Agriculture |
| GOTS – Global Organic Textile Standard | global-standard.org | Verifies organic fibers and ensures environmentally and socially responsible textile processing across the entire supply chain. Requirements include chemical restrictions, wastewater treatment, labor standards, and traceability, providing a comprehensive framework for sustainable textile production. | Certification | Organic production, labor standards, chemical use reduction, traceability | Textile supply chain actors | Textiles |
| Non-GMO Project | nongmoproject.org | Verifies products that avoid genetically modified organisms through testing, traceability, and supply chain verification systems. It is widely recognized in consumer markets as a transparency and labeling initiative, particularly in North America, where demand for non-GMO products continues to grow. | Certification | Non-GMO verification, traceability, ingredient integrity | Brands + producers | Food & consumer goods |
| FSSC 22000 | fssc.com | Certifies food safety management systems based on internationally recognized ISO standards. It is commonly required by global manufacturers and retailers, serving as a baseline for accessing international food markets. | Certification | Food safety management, risk assessment, compliance, traceability | Manufacturers + processors + supply chain actors | Food & consumer goods |
| Halal Certification | (varies by certifier) | Certifies that products comply with Islamic dietary laws, covering ingredients, processing, and handling practices. It is essential for accessing Muslim-majority markets and supports global trade across food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical sectors. | Certification | Religious compliance, ingredient integrity, processing standards | Manufacturers + exporters + brands | Food & consumer goods / Cosmetics |
| Kosher Certification | (varies by certifier) | Verifies that products meet Jewish dietary laws, including restrictions on ingredients and processing methods. Kosher certification is widely used in global markets as a signal of quality, traceability, and compliance, extending beyond religious consumers into broader commercial applications. | Certification | Religious compliance, ingredient integrity, processing standards | Manufacturers + exporters + brands | Food & consumer goods |
| BRCGS – Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards (Food Safety) | brcgs.com | Certifies food production and processing against strict safety, quality, and operational criteria. It is widely required by retailers, particularly in Europe and North America, and enables market entry for food products. | Certification | Food safety, quality assurance, traceability, compliance | Manufacturers + processors + exporters | Food & consumer goods |
| ROC – Regenerative Organic Certification | regenorganic.org | Builds on organic certification by incorporating additional criteria on soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness. It aims to provide a more comprehensive regenerative framework, ensuring that agricultural systems deliver both environmental restoration and improved outcomes for farmers and workers. | Certification | Regenerative practices, soil health, animal welfare, social fairness | Farms + brands | Agriculture |
| NATRUE | natrue.org/our-standard | Certifies natural and organic cosmetic products based on verified ingredients, sustainable sourcing, and transparent formulation standards. The standard defines strict criteria for natural origin content, limits synthetic substances, and requires clear labeling, providing consumers with assurance of product integrity while promoting environmentally responsible sourcing and production practices. | Certification | Ingredient integrity, product composition / formulation, natural inputs, labeling transparency | Manufacturers + brands | Cosmetics & personal care |
| PBS – Plant Based Certification Program | plantbasedfoods.org | Certifies that products are entirely plant-based and free from animal-derived ingredients. It provides clear and credible labeling for consumers, helping companies differentiate products in a rapidly expanding plant-based market segment driven by health and sustainability considerations. | Certification | Plant-based / vegan compliance, product composition / formulation | Manufacturers + brands | Food & consumer goods |
| Certificado Producto Vegano | svb.org.br | Vegan certification ensuring that products contain no animal-derived ingredients and are not tested on animals. It is commonly used across food, cosmetics, and consumer goods, supporting transparency and ethical consumption in growing vegan and cruelty-free markets. | Certification | Plant-based / vegan compliance, no animal testing | Manufacturers | Multi-sector |
| VS – Vegan Standard | controlunion.com | Certification program verifying that products and processes comply with vegan requirements, including absence of animal-derived inputs and adherence to cruelty-free practices. It supports companies in substantiating vegan claims and accessing markets where such standards are increasingly valued. | Certification | Plant-based / vegan compliance, product composition / formulation, audit / compliance verification | Manufacturers | Multi-sector |
| Supply Chain Governance & Ethical Sourcing | ||||||
| Control Union Fair Choice | controlunion.com | Certification program supporting fair sourcing, traceability, and responsible supply chain practices. It is often used in emerging markets and smallholder contexts where traditional fair trade systems may not be accessible or fully applicable. | Certification | Responsible sourcing, traceability, livelihoods | Producers + traders | Multi-sector |
| ETI – Ethical Trade Initiative | ethicaltrade.org | Provides a globally recognized code of labor practice based on international standards, supporting companies in improving working conditions across supply chains. It functions as a multi-stakeholder framework rather than a certification, focusing on continuous improvement and collaboration. | Standard / Framework | Labor standards, human rights, worker health & safety | Companies + suppliers | Multi-sector |
| Fair Trade USA | fairtradecertified.org | Ensures producers receive fair prices and premiums while protecting workers through verified labor standards and safe working conditions. Certification includes traceability and community development investments, making it one of the most recognized systems for ethical sourcing across global supply chains | Certification | Fair pricing, labor standards, community development, livelihoods | Producers + brands | Multi-sector |
| Fairtrade International (FLO) | fairtrade.net | Global fair trade certification system that ensures minimum pricing, premiums for community development, and adherence to environmental and labor standards. It is widely used across global commodity supply chains such as coffee, cocoa, and bananas, and complements other sourcing standards by embedding equity and livelihood improvements into trade relationships. | Certification | Fair pricing, labor standards, community development, livelihoods | Producers + cooperatives + brands | Multi-sector |
| Fair for Life | fairforlife.org | A certification program that combines fair trade principles with environmental and social responsibility criteria across agricultural, manufacturing, and trading operations. It emphasizes fair pricing, long-term partnerships, and respect for human rights, while also integrating sustainability requirements, making it a flexible alternative to traditional fair trade systems. | Certification | Fair pricing, labor standards, environmental responsibility, supply chain ethics | Producers + processors + traders + brands | Multi-sector |
| SPP – Small Producer Symbol | spp.coop | Certifies products sourced from organized small producers under fair trade conditions, emphasizing democratic governance and direct market access. It plays a critical role in empowering Indigenous and smallholder producers within Amazonian value chains. | Certification | Smallholder empowerment, fair pricing, governance, direct trade | Small producers + cooperatives + buyers | Multi-sector |
| Origens Brasil | origensbrasil.org.br | Verifies the origin and traceability of socio-biodiversity products from the Amazon. It supports direct relationships with Indigenous communities and enables companies to substantiate ethical sourcing and conservation-linked claims. | Initiative | Traceability, origin verification, biodiversity conservation, indigenous rights | Producers + communities + brands + NGOs | Amazon bioeconomy |
| SMETA – Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit | sedex.com | Widely used ethical audit methodology that assesses labor standards, health and safety, environmental practices, and business ethics across global supply chains. It supports companies in monitoring supplier compliance and improving working conditions, functioning as a verification and audit system rather than a certification. | Audit / Verification | Labor standards, worker health & safety, business ethics, audit / compliance verification | Suppliers + companies | Multi-sector |
| URSA – Unilever Responsible Sourcing | unilever.com | Corporate supplier standard that defines environmental and social performance requirements for suppliers. It is used to drive ESG compliance and continuous improvement within Unilever’s supply chain, functioning as an internal sourcing framework rather than an independent certification. It covers areas such as human rights, labor standards, environmental impact, and business integrity, and is embedded into supplier qualification, monitoring, and performance management processes. | Standard / Framework | Responsible sourcing, labor standards, environmental impact, business ethics | Companies + suppliers | Multi-sector |
| Union for Ethical BioTrade | uebt.org/our-label | Promotes ethical sourcing of biodiversity-based ingredients through standards that support conservation, traceability, and fair benefit-sharing. It is particularly relevant for natural ingredients and Amazon bioeconomy products, linking sourcing practices to environmental and social outcomes. | Standard / Framework | Biodiversity conservation, benefit-sharing, traceability, responsible sourcing | Ingredient suppliers + brands | Cosmetics & personal care |
| WFTO | wfto.com | Verifies enterprises that fully integrate fair trade principles across their entire business model. It emphasizes governance, transparency, and long-term trading relationships, distinguishing it from product-level certifications and supporting organizations committed to fair trade at an institutional level. | Certification | Fair trade governance, transparency, livelihoods | Enterprises + producers + buyers | Multi-sector |
| Wildlife Friendly | wildlifefriendly.org | Promotes production systems that conserve wildlife and habitats while supporting sustainable livelihoods. It provides standards and certification approaches that align agricultural and production practices with biodiversity conservation goals. | Certification | Biodiversity conservation, habitat conservation, human-wildlife coexistence | Farms + producer groups + brands | Agriculture |
| Forestry & Natural Resource Management | ||||||
| Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) | fsc.org | Certifies forest management based on environmental, social, and economic criteria, including biodiversity conservation and Indigenous rights. It ensures full chain-of-custody traceability and is widely required for responsible timber sourcing in global markets. | Certification | Forest management, biodiversity conservation, indigenous rights, traceability | Forest managers + supply chain actors | Forestry & forest products |
| Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) | pefc.org | Provides a global framework for sustainable forest management through endorsement of national certification systems. It emphasizes biodiversity protection, sustainable harvesting, and respect for local communities, offering a scalable approach to certifying forest products across diverse geographies and regulatory contexts. | Certification | Forest management, biodiversity conservation, sustainable harvesting | Forest managers + supply chain actors | Forestry & forest products |
| Cerflor (Brazilian Forest Certification Programme) | inmetro.gov.br | National forest certification system aligned with PEFC standards, focused on sustainable forest management in Brazil. It ensures compliance with environmental regulations, worker safety, and responsible harvesting practices, supporting both domestic and export markets for certified timber products. | Certification | Forest management, regulatory compliance, sustainable harvesting | Forest managers + timber producers | Forestry & forest products |
| Rainforest Alliance (Forestry Program / SmartWood) | rainforest-alliance.org | Provides certification for sustainable forest management and chain-of-custody through its forestry program, historically known as SmartWood. It focuses on biodiversity conservation, ecosystem protection, and community livelihoods, particularly in tropical forest regions, complementing its agricultural certification systems. | Certification | Forest conservation, biodiversity conservation, livelihoods | Forest managers + supply chain actors | Forestry & forest products |
| FairWild Foundation | fairwild.org | Certifies sustainable harvesting of wild plant ingredients, ensuring biodiversity conservation and fair benefit-sharing. It supports non-timber forest product value chains and enables market access for responsibly sourced natural ingredients. | Certification | Non-timber forest products (NTFPs), biodiversity conservation, benefit-sharing | Wild-harvest producers + traders | Forestry & non-timber products |
| Timber Legality Verification (TLV) | preferredbynature.org | Verifies that timber products are legally harvested, traded, and exported in compliance with national and international regulations. It supports companies in mitigating risks related to illegal logging and ensures transparency and compliance within global timber supply chains. | Audit / Verification | Timber legality, traceability, compliance verification | Timber producers + traders + exporters | Forestry & timber trade |
| LegalSource (Preferred by Nature) | preferredbynature.org | Provides due diligence and verification services to ensure legality and responsible sourcing of forest products. It helps companies comply with regulations such as the EU Timber Regulation and supports traceability and risk mitigation in timber supply chains. | Standard / Framework | Timber legality, due diligence / risk management, traceability | Companies + supply chain actors | Forestry & timber trade |
| AFI – Auditoria Florestal Independente | (varies by country/program) | Independent forest auditing approach used to assess compliance with legal, environmental, and management standards in forest operations. It supports transparency and accountability in forest governance systems, often complementing certification or regulatory frameworks. | Audit / Verification | Audit / compliance verification, forest management, environmental performance | Auditors + forest operators | Forestry |
| Corporate Sustainability & Governance | ||||||
| B Lab | bcorporation.net/en-us/ | Certifies company-wide ESG performance across governance, workers, community, and environment. It influences corporate strategy and investment decisions, and is widely recognized as a benchmark for responsible business practices. | Certification | Corporate governance, ESG performance, stakeholder engagement | Companies | Corporate |
| Capitalismo Consciente | consciouscapitalism.org | Promotes purpose-driven business models focused on stakeholder value, ethical leadership, and long-term sustainability. While not a formal certification, it provides a structured framework and network that encourages companies to integrate ESG principles into core strategy, culture, and decision-making processes. | Standard / Framework | Corporate governance, stakeholder engagement, business ethics | Company leadership | Corporate |
| Cradle to Cradle | c2ccertified.org | Assesses product sustainability across material health, circularity, renewable energy use, water stewardship, and social fairness. The certification pushes companies beyond incremental improvements by encouraging product redesign for circular systems and long-term environmental and social performance. | Certification | Circularity / resource efficiency, material health, water stewardship | Manufacturers | Manufacturing |
| Gold Standard | goldstandard.org | Certification body that verifies high-quality carbon offset and sustainable development projects, ensuring they deliver measurable climate benefits alongside social and environmental co-benefits. It emphasizes strong monitoring, reporting, and verification systems, as well as alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), making it one of the most rigorous standards in voluntary carbon markets. | Certification | Carbon / climate mitigation, sustainable development, monitoring & reporting, social impact | Project developers + companies + NGOs + investors | Multi-sector |
| Green Globe Standard | greenglobe.com | Provides certification for sustainable tourism and hospitality operations, evaluating environmental performance, social responsibility, and cultural heritage protection. It supports businesses in improving sustainability practices while offering a recognized framework for demonstrating responsible tourism management to customers and stakeholders. | Certification | Environmental management, social responsibility, cultural heritage | Tourism operators | Hospitality & tourism |
| Orijin | orijin.io | Digital traceability and compliance platform that enables companies to capture, manage, and verify supply chain data at the source. It supports transparency, audit readiness, and sustainability claims verification, functioning as enabling infrastructure rather than a traditional certification system. | Traceability Platform | Traceability, supply chain transparency, data verification | Supply chain actors | Multi-sector |
| Specialty Food Association (Tier 1 Approved) | specialtyfood.com | Industry recognition and qualification program that enables brands to access specialty food markets and distribution channels. While not focused on sustainability verification, it plays a role in market positioning and commercialization for differentiated products within premium and specialty food segments. | Industry Program | Market access, product positioning | Brands | Food & consumer goods |
| Verra (Verified Carbon Standard) | verra.org | Certifies carbon and environmental impact projects based on rigorous monitoring, reporting, and verification systems. It plays a central role in voluntary carbon markets and enables climate finance for forest conservation and restoration. | Certification | Carbon / climate mitigation, monitoring & reporting, ecosystem conservation, verification of emissions reductions | Project developers + companies + investors | Multi-sector |
| ART-TREES (Architecture for REDD+ Transactions) | artredd.org | Certifies jurisdictional REDD+ programs that generate verified emissions reductions from avoided deforestation. It enables large-scale forest conservation finance and strengthens integrity and safeguards in carbon markets. | Certification / Standard | Carbon / climate mitigation, avoided deforestation (REDD+), jurisdictional accounting, social safeguards | Governments + project developers + investors + NGOs | Forestry, Land Use & Carbon |