The Top Sustainability Certifications for Plastics, Chemicals and Energy: What You Need To Know?

EU Ecolabel is a prominent certification granted to goods and services that meet high environmental standards at all stages of their life from obtaining raw materials to manufacturing & distributing and disposing of them. For the plastics industry having the EU Ecolabel means meeting strict requirements that aim to reduce the industries impact on the environment.

Products with this label show their commitment to sustainability by reducing pollution & saving energy and resources and supporting recycling. This certification makes it easier for people to find plastic products that are beneficial for the environment and it forces companies to come up with new ideas and use greener practices.

EuCertPlast is a European certification program particularly designed for the recycling of used plastics. This certification guarantees the tracking and transparency of the entire recycling process for recycled plastic products. EuCertPlasts major goal is to encourage ethical recycling practices and make sure that recovered plastics meet strict standards for being socially and environmentally responsible.

To get certified, you must show the origin of the plastic waste and ensure its proper sorting and cleaning and maintain comprehensive records of all recycling activities. By obtaining EuCertPlast certification, recycling companies can reassure manufacturers and customers that their recycled plastics are of high quality and made in ways that are beneficial for the environment.

The European Bioplastics Association, which speaks for the bioplastics industry in Europe, has put together a set of standards and certifications called European Bioplastics (EUBP) Certification. EUBP doesn't give out certifications on its own, but it works with certification bodies like TÜV Austria and DIN CERTCO to support and recognize bioplastics certifications.

Important certifications offered by the EUBP include the OK Compost certification which attests to a products compostability in both residential and commercial settings and the Seedling logo which attests to a products conformity with the European standard EN 13432 for compostability. By guaranteeing that they originate from renewable resources and are biodegradable and compostable, these standards help ensure that they are sustainable to conventional plastics.

Certifications for sustainable plastics cut down on waste, encouraging recycling and minimizing emissions of greenhouse gasses. This promotes global health and advances the concept of the circular economy.

These certifications improve the reputation of a brand and give it an edge over competitors & save money by reducing waste and making better use of resources.

The Responsible Care Certification is a worldwide effort to make the chemical industry more effective in protecting the environment, health, security performance and safety.

The International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) runs this certification, encouraging companies to be responsible by adhering to strict safety and environmental rules. Companies that get this certification show that they are committed to doing things in a way that is beneficial for the environment. For instance they ensure the safe handling and use of chemicals, minimize emissions and minimize waste production.

The European Union has implemented REACH, a regulatory framework to ensure the safe use of chemicals. Chemicals produced or brought in quantities greater than one ton per year must register with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The REACH regulations goal is to protect human health and the environment by encouraging the use of safer alternatives and making sure that chemical industries provide enough information about the risks and safe ways to use chemicals. By adhering to REACH companies can demonstrate their concern for safety and the environment, avoiding market exclusion and fines.

The EcoVadis Rating is a well-known way for businesses, including those in the chemical field to show how sustainable they are. EcoVadis measures companies based on many aspects of sustainability such as ethics, human and worker rights, environmental practices and sustainable purchasing. The assessment gives companies a full scorecard that helps them see where they need to improve and how they stack up against other companies in the same field. An EcoVadis rating can help a business's reputation bring in customers who care about the environment and give it an edge in the market.

These sustainable chemical certifications aim to reduce toxic substances, resulting in safer products and a better environment.

By demonstrating a dedication to sustainability and safety, these certifications enhance the brands image and attract investors and eco-conscious customers.

An energy certification called Guarantees of Origin (GO) provides proof that a specific quantity of energy was produced from renewable sources. GOs manage the energy market at the European level, ensuring transparency and reliability. Each GO represents one megawatt-hour (MWh) of renewable electricity. It helps renewable energy projects grow and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and help us reach the climate goals. This certification builds trust among consumers and encourages the energy companies to increase their use of renewable energy.

Many know that EU Energy Label is a certification that helps customers to determine which electronics and home gadgets use the least energy. The label was created by the European Union and uses a standard range from A+++ (highest efficiency) to D (lowest efficiency). The label tells you how much energy it uses, how well it works and other important details like water usage and noise levels. The EU Energy Label aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy use and spur new developments in energy saving technologies by encouraging users to purchase goods that use less energy. This certification is crucial to meeting the EU’s energy and climate goals.

ISO 50001 is an international standard that gives companies a way to manage their energy use in a structured framework. It helps companies make policies for using more energy efficiently, set goals that can be reached and put plans into action to reach those goals. The standard promotes constant growth and data based decision making which saves energy and lowers greenhouse emissions overtime. Getting ISO 50001 certification shows that a company is dedicated to managing energy in a way that doesn’t harm the environment. It can also help the company to save a lot of money, improve the reputation and meet legal requirements. It is an important certification for companies that want to use less energy and be better for the world.

Certifications for sustainable energy help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging the use of clean and renewable energy sources. Reducing the amount of CO2 and other harmful gasses released into the atmosphere aids in combating climate change & improving the environment.

Setting standards for energy use and supporting the use of energy saving technologies are two ways that sustainable energy certifications help people use less energy. This saves natural resources, lowers running costs and amount of energy used making the energy system more sustainable.

The ISO 140001 standard for environmental management systems (EMS) is known all over the world and it is an popular standard for sustainability certification that helps businesses be more environmentally friendly by utilizing resources more wisely and producing fewer waste items. ISO 14001 sets the criteria and requirements for an environmental management system. It offers a comprehensive plan for an organization on how to establish an effective Environmental Management System (EMS). Regardless of size, type or sector, ISO 14001 relates to every firm. It forces the need for ongoing improvement and following the law.

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is a well-known organization that provides a complete plan for reporting on sustainability. Businesses, governments and other groups can use the GRI Standards to learn and communicate the effects of important sustainability problems like climate change, human rights, governance and social well being. The sustainability reports should be clear and reliable. GRI drives businesses to evaluate their environmental performance, set development goals and exhibit responsibility and transparency in their environmental policies.Many businesses around the world widely use this framework.

Multi-industry certifications like ISO 14001 give companies a structured way to handle their environmental duties which helps them lessen their impact on the environment and make sure they follow the rules.

Certifications like GRI and B Corporation encourage sustainability in all areas of an organization’s life by checking and improving its social, environmental and economic performance. This makes the organization more open and responsible.

Sustainability Certificates for Energy, Chemicals and Plastics are important for encouraging companies to be more environmentally friendly and run more efficiently. These certificates —EU Ecolabel and EuCertPlast for Plastics, Responsible Care and REACH for Chemicals and Guarantees of Origin and ISO 50001 for Energy — set high standards for doing things in a way that is beneficial for the environment. They allow companies to lower their impact on the environment, use energy more efficiently and make sure they follow the rules set by regulators. Companies not only help the environment by obtaining these certifications, but they also gain a competitive edge, boost their brand and meet the growing demand for eco-friendly goods and services. It is challenging to pick the right sustainability certification system from all the ones that are out here, but all companies need to start taking them if they want to have a more stable and sustainable future.

Instead of just following everyone else, take the lead. Our Transgenie experts will guide you through the certification process for every step. We’ll work with you to find problem areas, put sustainable practices into place and complete your certification needs. To find out more about the Sustainability Certifications, get in touch with us.