Understanding Third-Party Certifications: A Guide to Support Better Brands (+ FREE Download!)

In today’s world, it’s become more important than ever for consumers to navigate through the sea of claims to make informed choices. Third-party certifications can often serve as a beacon of trust, offering validation and assurance that products meet certain ethical and sustainable standards. This can make your buying decisions a lot easier! But not all certifications are created equal, and understanding their nuances is important. Let’s dive into what these certifications can mean and how they can help you support companies that share your values. 😊

What Are Third-Party Certifications?

Third-party certifications are credentials awarded by independent organizations that verify whether a product, service, or process meets specific standards. Unlike self-claimed labels, third-party certifications involve rigorous assessments conducted by entities outside of the company itself. These certifications cover a wide range of areas, including environmental sustainability, fair trade, animal welfare, labor practices, and more.

The Importance of Ethical and Sustainable Certifications

In today’s world, there is an increasing awareness of environmental and social issues. Consumers are demanding transparency and accountability from the brands they support. Ethical and sustainable certifications serve as tangible evidence that companies are committed to responsible practices, from sourcing raw materials to manufacturing and distribution.

It’s kind of like going to college and getting a degree. Certifications show that companies have passed the test, and did what they needed to to get that piece of paper. Many certifications are not free either, so companies not only have to get the grades, but they have to pay their tuition too! This is part of why you don’t see really small companies go for big, well-known certifications. Sometimes the cost isn’t feasible to them. One thing to keep in mind is that super tiny companies can’t afford these certifications, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t ethical and don’t deserve our support ( because they absolutely do! ).

These certifications not only reassure consumers but also incentivize companies to adopt more ethical and sustainable approaches, driving positive change throughout supply chains. By knowing what different labels are certifications mean, you can make better choices and put more power behind your purchases.

Ethical and Sustainable Certifications To Know

Fair Trade Certification: This certification ensures that producers in developing countries receive fair wages, safe working conditions, and community development funds. It aims to empower marginalized farmers and workers by promoting equitable trade practices. You will most likely see this on things like clothing, candies, and children’s toys. This one is generally not easy to obtain, as the organization holds high standards for a company’s entire supply chain.

USDA Organic Certification: Organic certifications verify that agricultural products are grown and processed without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Organic farming practices prioritize soil health, biodiversity, and sustainable resource management.
You will often see an “organic” label on products that is different from the official one. It’s up to you what you want to support, but just know that the company could potentially just be greenwashing to try to make a sale, and it might not truly be organic. At the same time, many small companies don’t have the funds or bandwidth to be able to certify their products, so try to keep that in mind too!

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): FSC certification signifies that wood products come from responsibly managed forests that adhere to stringent environmental, social, and economic standards. It promotes sustainable forestry practices and the conservation of forest ecosystems.

Climate Neutral Certification: Brands that use this label have proven that their production, from start to finish, is climate neutral, meaning it does not contribute more carbon than it takes to produce it goods. This is a tougher certification get than most, mostly because it’s tough for companies to do this sometimes! Companies that focus on sustainable, carbon neutral goals from the start of operation have a more smooth journey obtaining this cert than companies that don’t.

LEED Certification: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is prevalent in the construction industry. It recognizes buildings that meet high standards of energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor air quality, and sustainable materials usage. I don’t see this too often on things I personally purchase since it’s more construction-based, but it’s one to mention!

B Corp Certification: B Corps are businesses certified by the nonprofit B Lab for meeting rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. This certification signifies a company’s commitment to balancing profit with purpose. They currently have a scoring system that looks at multiple aspects of a business. One issue with this system is that a company can do really well in one aspect and be lacking in others, and can still become certified. I personally take B Corp certs with a grain of salt. Just like any of these certifications, it’s not an automatic indicator that a company is a good one.

• Currently (as of February 2025), B Corp is getting sort of a “refresh” and their standards are actually in the process of being revamped. Some companies and consumers have complained, stating that this certification has gotten more lax and easier to obtain over the years. Luckily, B Corp hears us and is reevaluating their whole program! This is a good thing as it helps keep standards high.

EWG Verified: The Environmental Working Group is a massive database with tons of info on clean products, water quality, ingredients, and more. They have a whole rating system for products and they even list what ingredients are and why they approve or disprove of them. In my opinion, there are things I’ve seen listed with a bad rating that are actually not so bad, and there are products on there with good ratings that are somewhat questionable sometimes. Overall, it is a wonderful tool to use, especially if you’re someone just getting into clean and green living.

To be EWG verified, a product has to meet the standards set by EWG for health and transparency. Companies do have to pay fees for this certification. It doesn’t mean that a product has an “A” rating, but they do have to have a green/high rating in order to be verified.

Cruelty-Free and Vegan Certifications

Cruelty-Free Certification: This certification is very prominent in the beauty and cosmetics world. This certification is to show that the product was not tested on animals. There a few different labels that are used that belong to this certification. The official ones look like this:

Vegan Certification: Products with the certified vegan label do not contain animal products. One thing to keep in mind is that this certification does not always mean that the product is cruelty-free, since we’re just talking about ingredients. Sometimes brands will use a combined label that says “vegan and cruelty free” to let people know that they are both. There are also lots of different vegan certifications depending on industry and region, so it can be kind of easy for brands to greenwash and create their own little label. The ones that are actual certifying third-parties are these:

Lots of brands like to simply write the word “vegan” on their products because it makes their products appear to be “healthier” or more eco-friendly to consumers. They do this as a marketing tactic, even if being vegan isn’t that relevant to the product. Many brands also don’t want to pay to have their products be certified as vegan. There’s a lot of nuance here, so I recommend looking directly at the ingredient list to verify yourself if something is vegan or not. Some people are more particular about it and would prefer for a product to be certified. At the end of the day, it’s really up to you.

Partnerships and Ethical Initiatives To Know

When a brand has certifications for the quality of their supply chain and products, that’s super attractive. But when a company donates to ethical and sustainable organizations too? That’s hot. 🔥
Some companies might choose to partner with organizations to contribute part of their profits to create a larger impact. When they do this, they gain the right to put that orgs logo on their site and products. Here are some examples of organizations you might see:

1% for the Planet: This is one of the most common partnership label you will see. This label means that the company donates 1% of their annual sales directly to different environmental partners. These partners have been vetted for legitimacy and transparency. To me personally, this label doesn’t mean a ton in terms of a company’s ethics. Yes, it means that a brand is donating money to good causes, but any brand can do that. It still matters, but it does not automatically make a brand more “sustainable”, in my opinion.

One Tree Planted: This partnership is kind of self-explanatory, but One Tree Planted is an organization that plants one tree in degraded forests for every purchase or a certain dollar amount spent. Companies that display this on their products or website take part of their revenue and dedicate it to planting trees.

Ocean Conservancy: Some companies donate a percentage of their revenue to Ocean Conservancy, which is an organization that works to clean up and protect our oceans from environmental disasters. They remove trash and do work to preserve species of plants and animals to keep our oceans healthy and diverse. You’ll often see brands that have something to do with aquatic life or water recreation donate to this cause.

Rainforest Alliance: This initiative is all about protecting forests and helping farmers build better agriculture solutions. Rainforest Alliance isn’t just about “saving the tree frogs and orangutans” anymore. They’ re working to help better soil quality and promote sustainable land management practices in 62 different countries! Some companies may donate to the Rainforest Alliance, while other companies may display that their products are made using Rainforest Alliance Certified crops. You may also see their Forest Allies label on products that are FSC certified, which is an initiative specifically aimed towards the responsible management of forests.

There are tons of other organizations out there that I didn’t mention, but I wanted to cover the most common ones so you are familiar. If you’re interested, many of this initiatives are ones that you can donate to yourself as well, and some also have volunteer opportunities!

How to Evaluate Third-Party Certifications

While third-party certifications offer valuable guidance, it’s important to look at their credibility and relevance to your own values. Consider the following factors when assessing certifications:

1. Transparency: Look for certifications with transparent standards and rigorous assessment processes. Trustworthy certifications involve on-site inspections, stakeholder engagement, and periodic audits to ensure ongoing compliance.
2. Independence and Impartiality: Verify that the certifying body is independent and free from conflicts of interest. Third-party certifications should maintain impartiality and credibility by avoiding undue influence from industry or commercial interests.
3. Comprehensiveness: Assess whether the certification addresses the full scope of sustainability and ethical considerations relevant to the product or service. Comprehensive certifications account for environmental, social, and economic impacts across the entire supply chain.
4. Context: Consider the context of the certification to the product or company. Certs should be relevant to what is being sold. For example, you wouldn’t see a FSC certified label on an organic cotton sweater. You’ll only see that label on wood products.
5. Your Values: If there is anything that you take away from this post, please let it be that you shouldn’t buy a product just because it has all of these fancy certifications. Only buy what you need and actually want, and support brands and products that align with your own values too! I know some people care much more about purchasing from certified cruelty free companies over someone that is carbon neutral. At the end of the day, how you spend your money is your choice, and it’s up to you to decide what certifications are important to you.

Empowering Conscious Consumerism

As consumers, we hold the power to drive positive change through our purchasing decisions. By choosing products and services certified by ethical and sustainable standards, we can support companies that prioritize people and planet over profit. However, certifications are just one piece of the puzzle; advocating for systemic change, holding companies accountable, and staying informed are equally vital steps in fostering a more sustainable and equitable world.

Looking at the big picture, ethical and sustainable third-party certifications play a crucial role in guiding conscious consumerism and holding businesses accountable for their practices. Certifications also help you avoid greenwashing and other marketing tactics by holding clear expectations and standards. At the same time, many smaller brands can’t pay for certifications, but still provide ethical products. Certified or not, it’s really up to you to decide if it’s up to your standards. By understanding the significance of these certifications and critically evaluating their credibility, we can make informed choices that align with our values and contribute to a more ethical and sustainable future.

Download Your Free Certifications Guide

Want all of this info in a mini digestible guide? Click the button below to download your free guide that you can keep with you to easily reference while you’re shopping or doing research on brands. You can download it right to your phone or computer!

I hope this post helped empower you to make better shopping choices that align with your values. Not everyone values the same things, and that’s totally okay! But knowing what you are supporting when you buy things is an important consumer practice that shouldn’t be overlooked. Your purchases mean something more than just the product you are getting. Where you invest your dollar matters. 🫶🏻