Get Certified
Friend of the Earth certification provides independent assessment against published standards for specific products and services.
Whether you grow crops, farm animals, process ingredients, manufacture or sell products, or provide services, the first step is identifying the standard and scope relevant to your activities. Our team can help you understand the requirements and prepare your application.
What certification can offer your business
Respond to buyer requirements
Provide customers and commercial partners with certification information identifying what has been assessed, which standard applies and the scope covered.
Prepare against clear requirements
Use the applicable standard to review your activities, organise supporting records and identify areas that need attention before assessment.
Communicate with a consistent label
The Friend of the Earth label provides a common identity across certified categories, including agricultural products, animal farming, fashion and textiles, furniture, packaging and other products and services.
Once authorised, your business can use the label on relevant packaging and communications in accordance with the guidelines. Linking to certification information helps buyers check the products or activities covered.
Find the right standard
The requirements depend on what you want to certify and your role in the supply chain. Before applying, identify:
The products or services you would like assessed.The species or ingredients involved, where relevant.
The sites and activities to be included.
Your role as a producer, processor, manufacturer, brand owner, distributor, retailer or service provider.
If your business covers several activities, our team can help identify the appropriate application route. For finished foods and land-based nutraceuticals, including botanical supplements and bovine collagen, confirm the applicable sourcing and traceability requirements and the exact products to be assessed. A certified ingredient or supplier does not automatically establish certification of the finished product.
How certification works
1.Tell us about your business
Complete the relevant Preliminary Information Form with details of your products, services and operations. This allows us to review your enquiry and identify the proposed scope.
Submitting the form does not commit your business to proceeding.
2. Review the scope and costs
Review the applicable requirements, Friend of the Earth agreement and fees, including any charges for label use. The certification body provides a separate quotation for the audit.
3.Prepare for assessment
Gather the evidence required by the applicable standard. Depending on your activities, this may include sourcing information, traceability records, operating procedures and site details.
Agree the audit arrangements with the certification body.
4. Complete the assessment
An independent certification body assesses conformity with the requirements. If non-conformities are identified, it explains the corrective actions and supporting evidence needed under the applicable procedure.
5. Receive the certification decision
The certification body reviews the findings and makes the certification decision. Following a positive decision, the certificate identifies the products, sites or activities covered.
This defined scope forms the basis of your certification claims.
6.Prepare for assessment
Gather the evidence required by the applicable standard. Depending on your activities, this may include sourcing information, traceability records, operating procedures and site details.
Agree the audit arrangements with the certification body.
After certification
Ready to take the next step?
Choose the application relevant to your products or services. If you need help identifying the right route, contact our team.
