Sustainability certification standards built for credible claims.
ABOUT GC STANDARDS
Developing and Governing Sustainability Certification Schemes
GC Standards Institute develops, owns, and governs sustainability certification schemes for use across the United States, European Union, and global markets.
GC Standards Institute is responsible for scheme development, maintenance requirements, governance, stakeholder engagement, and ongoing program integrity so sustainability claims are supported by clear, consistent standards.
Our purpose is to provide clear, credible, and consistently maintained scheme requirements that can be independently assessed by qualified certification bodies.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
GC Standards is responsible for scheme development, maintenance, governance, stakeholder engagement, and applicable mark-use requirements. Independent certification activities, including evaluation and certification decisions, are conducted separately by GreenCircle Certified, LLC or other authorized certification bodies in accordance with the applicable scheme and accreditation requirements.
Roles Support Independent Certification
GC STANDARDS INSTITUTE
Develops and maintains schemes
Establishes scheme requirements
Oversees governance
Coordinates stakeholder engagement
Maintains applicable mark-use requirements
Scheme Owner
GREENCIRCLE CERTIFIED
Evaluates certification applicants
Conducts certification activities
Assesses conformity with applicable scheme requirements
Makes independent certification decisions
Operates in accordance with applicable accrediitation requirements
Independent Certification Body
Standards for Environmental and Sustainability Claims
CERTIFICATION SCHEMES
GC Standards develops and maintains certification schemes that establish requirements for environmental and sustainability claims. Independent certification bodies conduct certification activities against these requirements.
Standards addressing product-level environmental and sustainability claims.
Standards addressing multiple environmental and sustainability attributes.
Requirements supporting material ingredient reporting and related verification programs.
Standards addressing facilities, manufacturing practices, waste management, and operational performance.
SCHEME GOVERNANCE
A Formal Process for Scheme Development and Maintenance
GC Standards Institute maintains a formal governance process to support the transparent, consistent, and impartial development and maintenance of its certification schemes. The Scheme Lead oversees scheme development, maintenance, stakeholder engagement, and implementation of approved revisions.
Development
Stakeholder
Input
Technical
Review
Approval
Maintenance
Advisory and technical committees provide relevant stakeholder perspectives and subject-matter expertise to support scheme development and review. Committee participation is structured to promote balanced representation of relevant interests and to prevent any single interest from dominating the process.
Proposed scheme revisions are reviewed through the established governance process, including stakeholder and technical input as appropriate, before final approval by GC Standards Institute.
For additional information on governance roles, committee structure, stakeholder representation, conflicts of interest, and the scheme development and revision process, download the GC Standards Institute Scheme Governance Document.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Contribute to Scheme Development
GC Standards Institute incorporates external input to support transparent, relevant, and technically sound certification schemes. Stakeholders may participate through advisory or technical committees, public consultations, targeted reviews, or direct feedback.
Stakeholders may include industry representatives, technical experts, certification bodies, customers, regulators, academics, NGOs, consumer or user representatives, and other interested parties relevant to the scheme.
When significant new schemes or revisions are proposed, GCSI may issue a public or targeted consultation for review and comment. Feedback is documented, evaluated, and considered before final approval. Comments do not automatically result in changes, but GC Standards records how substantive feedback was addressed.
To participate in a consultation or submit feedback on a GC Standards scheme, contact us.
Certification
Looking to Get Certified?
Certification against GC Standards Institute schemes is conducted independently by authorized certification bodies. GC Standards Institute does not evaluate individual applicants or make certification decisions.
Applicants should work directly with the applicable certification body to apply, complete the certification process, and receive a certification decision.