CSR certifications - What are the differences between CSR labels, certifications, assessments and standards?

You've structured and implemented a CSR approach, and now you want to promote and communicate it internally and externally? If so, you've probably identified obtaining a CSR label as one of the levers that will enable you to showcase your efforts to your customers, suppliers, employees and investors.

But how do you choose between Lucie 26000, B Corp, EcoVadis or an industry label? The proliferation of CSR evaluation systems is such that it's becoming increasingly difficult to find one's way around, and many struggle to differentiate between labels, certification, evaluation and reference systems - all the more so as the terms label and certification are often used inaccurately.

If you too are having trouble finding your way around, don't panic: in this article we explain everything to help you make the difference between :

Guiding principles

• The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• The United Nations Global Compact

Standards :

• GRI
• ISO 26000
• AA1000

Labels :

• B Corp
• Lucie 26000
• PME +
• Fair Trade
• Positive company

Evaluations :

• EcoVadis
• CDP
• Sustainalytics

And certifications:

• ISO 9001
• ISO 14001
• ISO 45001
• ISO 50001
• Committed to CSR
• SA 8000
• LEED
• BREEAM

What's the difference between a guiding principle, a standard, a label, an assessment or a CSR certification?

To help you find your way around, here is a simple definition of the various labels, certifications, etc. and their singularity:

• Guiding principles: these are voluntary, non-binding and often worldwide in scope (e.g. UN Global Compact).
• Standard: this is a benchmark of best practices, which may or may not be certifiable (e.g. ISO 14001).
• Label: this is a mark of public recognition attesting that a company has taken CSR issues into account after an evaluation or audit (e.g. B Corp). Most often, they are used to communicate with consumers, as a B2C tool.
• Assessment: this is an analysis of CSR performance by a third party, not a certification (e.g. EcoVadis).
• Certification: this is a formal attestation of conformity to a standard, issued by an accredited organization, most often used in B2B.

CSR guiding principles

Guiding principles are reference texts explaining how to implement a complete or partial CSR approach within an organization. They explain in detail what an organization needs to do to be considered responsible in a number of areas, including environmental, social and ethical issues. 

These standards often serve as a basis for CSR labels, which draw on them to build their evaluation criteria - as in the case of B Corp, which links its criteria to the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Independently of labels, these standards can be used as guides for integrating a responsible approach within an organization. They are, and usually are, sources of inspiration for labels and certifications.

The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In September 2015, the 17 SDGs were unanimously adopted by the United Nations (UN) as part of the 2030 Agenda, a program to ensure the world's transition to sustainable development.

To help put the 17 SDGs into practice, in 2015 the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the UN Global Compact and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) created a guide to the SDGs: the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Compass.

This SDG Compass aligns their strategy and operations with the 17 SDGs via concrete instructions and provides a framework.

The United Nations Global Compact

The United Nations Global Compact is an initiative launched in 2000 by the United Nations to encourage companies to adopt responsible business practices. The Compact is based on 10 universal principles:

The Global Compact is also part of a broader dynamic, supporting the SDGs adopted by the UN in 2015. It encourages organizations to play a key role in achieving these goals through their actions.

Commitment to the Global Compact is voluntary and open to all. There are no restrictions on the number of employees or specific sectors.

CSR standards

It is a reference document that establishes rules, guidelines or technical characteristics to be followed to ensure that products, services or processes meet specific criteria of quality, safety, etc. 

They are generally created by international, national or sectoral standards bodies, and are drawn up by groups of experts.

GRI - Global Reporting Initiative

The Global Reporting Initiative is a non-profit, independent international initiative that proposes a framework and a number of indicators to standardize reporting on :

• CSR strategy
• CSR performance
• social and ecological
• governance
• ethics policies and actions
• stakeholder engagement

In addition to these common dimensions, there are a number of sector-specific indices and indicators.

One of the benefits of the GRI is the standardization of non-financial reporting methods and the harmonization of the indicators measured, enabling quantitative impacts to be compared. It is the most widely used framework in the world.

ISO 26000

ISO 26000 is the benchmark for CSR: it draws on the major international founding texts (World Labor Organization, etc.) to propose a holistic approach to sustainable performance.

It breaks down corporate social responsibility into 7 central questions covering all social and societal issues:

1. Organizational governance,
2. Human rights,
3. Relationships and working conditions,
4. The environment,
5. Good business practice,
6. Consumer issues,
7. Communities and local vitality.

It does not replace other CSR instruments and initiatives, but aims to complement them by proposing a common international language around the notion of responsibility.

The standard serves as the basis for numerous labels, such as Lucie 26000 and Entreprises Engagées.

AA1000 Assurance Standard

AA1000 is a series of internationally recognized standards for sustainability assurance and management. Developed by AccountAbility, an international not-for-profit organization, they provide a framework for strengthening the credibility of non-financial performance declarations and promoting greater consideration of stakeholder expectations.

AA1000 is based on three key principles: inclusiveness, materiality and responsiveness.

These standards are often used in conjunction with reporting frameworks such as GRI to ensure greater transparency.

The AA1000 also certifies the verification of extra-financial reports, ensuring that the information published is reliable, complete and in line with stakeholder expectations.

CSR labels

Labeling your company means having it assessed to certify that the policies and actions implemented, as well as the results obtained, meet a certain number of quality criteria defined by a recognized standard. Labels are mainly used to communicate with consumers.

B Corp

The B Corp label is aimed at organizations seeking to balance profit and positive impact, by integrating ethical practices at the heart of their strategy. It recognizes and certifies companies that take into account all their stakeholders, not just their shareholders.

Lucie 26000

The Lucie 26000 label is a French certification based on the ISO 26000 standard, which assesses companies according to their level of commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR). The label is based on seven pillars, including governance, respect for human rights, the environment and good business practices.

PME+

The PME+ label is dedicated to small and medium-sized French companies committed to corporate social responsibility (CSR). The label recognizes SMEs that adopt environmentally-friendly practices, are involved in the well-being of their employees and their local communities, and have a responsible corporate governance policy.

Fair Trade

Fair Trade is a label that guarantees that products are manufactured under ethical conditions, with a fair return for producers in developing countries. It ensures that business practices respect human rights, environmental and social standards, thus promoting fairer, more sustainable trade.

Positive Company

The Positive Company label distinguishes companies that seek to generate a positive impact on society and the environment. It assesses their commitment to contributing to the common good through their activities, products and governance, going beyond simple profitability objectives to adopt a sustainable and beneficial long-term vision.

CSR assessments

A CSR assessment is a tool that analyzes and measures a company's sustainability performance. Unlike a label, the aim is not to say whether a company meets the criteria or not, but rather to give a score within a harmonized framework. This enables customers, investors and other stakeholders to compare a company's maturity on these issues.

EcoVadis

EcoVadis is an evaluation platform that analyzes CSR performance in four areas: environment, human rights and labor, ethics, and responsible purchasing. Companies are rated out of 100 and can earn medals (bronze, silver, gold, platinum) according to their score. In general, companies ask their suppliers for EcoVadis certification.

CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project)

Initially, the CDP assessed companies on their carbon footprint, but it has now broadened its scope to include water and forest management. Companies are rated from A to D on their transparency and their efforts to reduce their ecological footprint. This is an effective tool for meeting investors' needs for harmonized data.

Sustainalytics

Sustainalytics is an American ESG rating agency that evaluates companies on environmental, social and governance criteria. It is particularly used by investors to understand the ESG risks companies face and how they respond to them. Their analysis enables companies to be ranked according to their exposure to and management of ESG risks.

CSR certifications

Certification is a formal process by which an independent body attests that a company meets specific standards or criteria in terms of corporate social responsibility. It confirms that the company has integrated responsible practices into its management and operations, covering aspects such as the environment, employee rights, business ethics and societal impact.

ISO 9001

This standard focuses on quality management. It provides a framework for improving customer satisfaction, process efficiency and quality management within the company. It applies to all types of company, and focuses on the quality of products and services.

ISO 14001

This is a standard dedicated to environmental management. It helps companies minimize their impact on the environment by implementing a management system to optimize the use of resources, reduce waste and manage environmental risks.

ISO 45001

This certification focuses on health and safety in the workplace. It helps to identify and manage health and safety risks for employees, while reducing the number of accidents in the workplace.

ISO 50001

This standard focuses on energy management. It helps companies to improve their energy performance by reducing their energy consumption and costs, while limiting their environmental impact.

Committed to CSR

This French label, based on the ISO 26000 standard, assesses companies on their social responsibility. Unlike standards, Engagé RSE focuses on social, environmental, ethical and governance aspects, but is not strictly prescriptive. It is a guide to help companies structure their CSR approach.

SA 8000

SA 8000 is a standard focusing on working conditions. It focuses on ensuring respect for employee rights, covering aspects such as forced labor, safety, remuneration and non-discrimination.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) - Industry focus

LEED is an international certification that evaluates the environmental performance of buildings. It focuses on energy efficiency, sustainable use of materials and indoor environmental quality. It is one of the leading certifications for green buildings, focusing on sustainable construction and management.

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) - Industry focus

BREEAM is another environmental certification for buildings, often compared to LEED. It also assesses the sustainability of buildings, but with a broader framework, covering more aspects related to the environment and the ecological performance of buildings. BREEAM is British in origin, and places greater emphasis on the local and contextual aspects of real estate projects.

Conclusion

The best way to choose among all these options is to look at the expectations of your stakeholders, the expectations based on your industry and what the competition is doing. 

Ask yourself the right questions:

• Do you need to prove your CSR performance to your customers, large organizations? Choose EcoVadis instead. 
• Are you a French SME looking to promote your local, responsible actions to your customers? The PME+ label would be an excellent choice.
• Do you work in textile production or have supply chains in developing countries? The Fair Trade label will be adapted.
• Would you like to assess and reduce the environmental impact of your buildings? Choose LEED or BREEAM certification.

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