Go Green Certification
Green certification serves to encourage businesses to protect the environment and counter global warming by enabling them to adopt sustainable, environmentally friendly development practices. Getting a green business certification from a reputable third party is a way to earn the respect of customers and successfully compete and market green products.
Other People Are Reading
-
Certification
-
Green business certification varies depending on the type of business and the size of the company involved. Agencies that offer green certification include: Green Seal, Bay Area Green Business Program, Green Business Alliance and National Environmental Performance Track. Green certification is achieved when businesses meet the requirement standards set by the agencies.
Certification Programs
-
Green certification programs gauge the impact of a business's activities on the environment. Common green certification programs include those that focus on sectors of the tourism industry such as green travel. One such program is called the Climate Action Certification program. Other certification programs include those for the hospitality sector such as the Green Globe International Certification program, and those focusing on businesses that address issues of sustainability and climate change such as Earthcheck Lite program.
-
Requirements
-
Green certification requirements vary depending on the products or services a business provides. Common green business certification requirements include an organizational chart detailing key relationships between product production processes, quality control checks and environmental safety. Other requirements include a regulatory compliance report detailing the environmental compliance programs enforced by the business, training qualifications for employees in service sector businesses, and a report on the business's quality checking procedures.
Benefits
-
Earning a green certification helps reduce global environmental footprints by enforcing sustainable development measures that are aimed at reducing environmental pollution, increasing recycling, and conserving natural resources like water, raw materials and energy. Other benefits of certification include improved consumer confidence in businesses and organizations and helping large businesses meet supplier needs.
Certification Application
-
The application process for go green certification entails enrolling in a go green certification program, completing a checklist of voluntary and mandatory go green measures, showing commitment to and implementing practices that prevent pollution and conserve natural resources, and passing an onsite business inspection.
-
References
- Green Business Bureau: Green Certification Requirements
- Important Media Network: Certified Green; to Be, or Not to Be, That is the Question
- Tourism Northern Teritory Australia: Green Certification Programs
- Green-e: Why Green-e Energy Certification?
- Recycle Works: San Mateo County Green Business Program
Resources
- Photo Credit éolienne image by manuelclerc from Fotolia.com
