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Updated September 2026: this post now covers the EU's new rules on green claims (ECGT), ISO 14068-1, the VCMI Claims Code, and the end of Australia's Climate Active certification.
Proving the ROI of Climate Certifications
Sustainability teams are often asked to show that public climate commitments pay off. That's hard to measure, because ROI is usually tied to clear, quantifiable outcomes. This post collects the data on how recognized climate certifications affect business results, and helps you choose one.
We frequently hear that sustainability efforts drive higher employee satisfaction and retention, strengthen investor confidence, and build a more loyal customer base. In this blogpost, we dive into the data that backs this up and show how businesses that integrate sustainability, especially by using recognized climate certifications, consistently see positive returns.
We’ll also break down the key differences between various certifications, helping you choose the best fit based on your industry, company size, and target audience.
The Impact of Climate Certifications on Business Outcomes
To understand the ROI of climate certifications, we explore the impact of certificates on:
- Revenue growth and business performance
- Consumer trust and purchasing behaviors
- Stock market performance
1. Revenue Growth and Business Performance
Adopting reputable climate or sustainability certifications can drive tangible business growth. Numerous studies indicate that companies embracing certifications like B Corp, LEED, and climate pledges often match or outperform their peers financially.
- Increased Revenue Growth
- Certified B Corporations (B Corps) show stronger top-line growth than conventional firms. Between 2019 and 2022, 76% of B Corps saw revenue increase, versus only ~60% of non–B Corps
- A ranking of the top 100 impact-focused B Corps found they averaged 14.4% annual revenue growth vs. 8.3% for S&P 500 companies
- LEED-certified buildings yield 11% higher rents and lower vacancy than non-certified peers
- Operational Savings and Efficiency
- Energy Star or ISO 14001 certifications help manufacturers achieve energy savings, reducing operational costs.
- 95% of B Corps remained operational through the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to 88% of non-B Corps. Leaders attribute this to strong stakeholder relationships and long-term thinking.
Case Study: Unilever’s Sustainable Brands
Unilever reports that its “Sustainable Living” product lines (which have eco/social goals) grow significantly faster than the rest of the business. In 2017, these purpose-driven brands grew 46% faster than others and contributed 70% of sales growth. By 2018, they accounted for 75% of Unilever’s growth.
2. Consumer Trust and Purchasing Behavior
Recognizable climate and sustainability certifications strongly boost consumer trust and influence purchasing decisions.
- Sales Uplift for Certified Products
- Purchase Preference & Willingness to Pay
- Increased Consumer Trust & Loyalty
- 80% of consumers who recognize FSC say they are more likely to trust a brand if it offered FSC-certified products
- 88% of North Americans see B Corp certification as a mark of accountability
- Among U.S. consumers who have bought from a B Corp, 63% actively seek out the B Corp logo when shopping
- 66% of global consumers say they would switch to brands aligning with their climate values
- Brands with purpose see 2.5x higher consumer loyalty on average.
3. Stock Market Performance of Climate-Conscious Companies
Investors are increasingly rewarding companies with strong sustainability credentials.
- ESG Index Outperformance
- The S&P 500 ESG Index outperformed the standard S&P 500 over 1-, 3-, and 5-year horizons.
- The MSCI KLD 400 Social Index has outperformed the general market benchmark for 30+ years.
- Risk Management and Long-Term Value
- Companies with high ESG profiles tend to fare better during market shocks
- In the early 2020 COVID crash, 24 out of 26 sustainable indices outperformed conventional counterparts
The Benefits Are Clear. Now, How Do You Get Started?
It’s clear that companies with credible sustainability certifications gain multiple business benefits, from stronger financial performance to increased consumer loyalty. Our own customers have seen increased customer acquisition as a direct result of their climate certifications.
However, it can be difficult to understand where to start on sustainability initiatives - that’s where quality certifications can help.
Besides giving customers a recognizable label, certifications also provide a clear framework that lowers the barrier to entry for companies and eliminates the need to navigate the process alone. With the right guidance on selecting a certification, your business gains the tools and credibility to implement a recognized program, reducing the risk of missteps.
Below, we have put together a list of climate certifications. To find a certification that aligns with your business, filter by things like industry, type of companies that follow the certification, and level of bandwidth required to implement the requirements.
What changed in 2026
- EU rules on green claims (ECGT). The EU's Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition directive went into effect on September 27, 2026. It bans the use of claims that a product has a neutral, reduced or positive impact on greenhouse gas emissions when the claim rests on offsetting. It also limits sustainability labels to those based on a certification scheme or set by a public authority. Certification schemes are making updates to ensure compliance with the act.
- 1% for the Planet expands its impact partners. 1% for the Planet previously required members to donate 1% of their annual revenue to nonprofit environmental partners. In 2026, they updated their model to include enterprise partners, expanding the type of impact members can have.
- Climate Active is shutting down. Australia's government-backed Climate Active program ends certification on June 30, 2027. If you're an Australian company looking for alternatives, our recommended certifications are below.
- VCMI Claims Code. The Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) sets rules for company-level claims about buying carbon credits alongside science-aligned targets. VCMI published version 3.2 of its Claims Code in September 2026.
Recommended Certifications
At CNaught, we work with companies across industries, sizes, and revenue. Based on our experience of certifications that have both effective strategies as well as practical guidance for growing businesses, we recommend:
The Climate Label by the Change Climate Project
- Designed for ambitious climate goals with low implementation bandwidth
- New rules emphasize setting an internal climate budget, emissions reductions, and high-integrity carbon credits
- Used by leading companies like REI, Etsy, and Peak Design
- Three key tenets: measure emissions, reduce, and offset
- 500+ signatories, especially beneficial for those in the Amazon ecosystem
- Ideal for companies across industries seeking a straightforward, impactful initiative
Living Future’s Zero Carbon Certification & Canada’s Zero Carbon Building Standards
- Focused on decarbonizing the built environment
- Recognizes high-integrity carbon credits as essential to reaching zero-carbon buildings
- Ideal for builders measuring and reducing the operational and embodied carbon of buildings
Other Certifications
Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) Corporate Net Zero Standard: Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a corporate climate action organization that enables companies and financial institutions worldwide to play their part in combating the climate crisis. The SBTi’s Corporate Net-Zero Standard provides guidance and tools companies need to set science-based net-zero targets.
1% for the Planet: 1% for the Planet is a global philanthropic environmental program where businesses (and individuals) commit to spend 1% of their annual sales revenue to approved environmental partners, from nonprofit to enterprise partners. The certification isn’t about neutrality or emissions but about financial support for environmental impact – once committed, companies can use the 1% for the Planet logo to signal their pledge.
B Corp Certification: The B Corp certification is issued to for-profit companies that meet high standards of social and environmental performance. Administered by the nonprofit B Lab, B Corp Certification requires rigorous assessment of a company’s impact on workers, customers, community, and the environment.
Climate Impact Partners Certification: The CarbonNeutral product certification moved to the Climate Impact Partners certification. The new certification requires independent third-party verification and lets companies make "contribution claims" about the climate projects they fund, not neutrality claims.
RE100 (100% Renewable Energy): RE100 is a global corporate initiative led by the Climate Group in partnership with CDP, uniting companies to publicly pledge that they will source all their electricity from renewable sources by a specified year (no later than 2050).
CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project): CDP is an international nonprofit that runs the world’s largest environmental disclosure platform for companies, cities, states and regions. CDP invites corporations to report their annual data on climate change, water security, and deforestation to increase transparency and accountability.
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI): GRI provides a comprehensive sustainability reporting framework that is widely used around the world. It helps organizations understand and communicate their impacts on issues such as climate change, human rights, and corruption.
UNFCCC Climate Neutral Now: Climate Neutral Now is an initiative launched by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to encourage voluntary action toward global net-zero emissions. Participants (companies, organizations, and individuals) sign the Climate Neutral Now pledge and commit to measuring their greenhouse gas emissions, reducing them as much as possible, and offsetting the remainder, to effectively achieve climate neutrality.
VCMI Claims Code of Practice: The VCMI Claims Code of Practice provides a framework for corporations to use to underpin their investment decisions in carbon credit markets on the pathway to net zero, and governments to use it as a basis for policymaking.
ISO 14068: ISO 14068-1 is the international standard for carbon neutrality claims, and it has replaced PAS 2060. It requires companies to reduce emissions before using carbon credits
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED): Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED is a globally recognized certification for those with green building initiatives. It evaluates buildings based on criteria such as energy efficiency, water usage, material sourcing, and environmental quality.
ENERGY STAR: ENERGY STAR is a program by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that certifies buildings and products for superior energy efficiency. Buildings that perform better than 75% of similar structures nationwide can earn this certification.
FairTrade: FairTrade is a certification that promotes equitable trade practices, ensuring fair wages and conditions for producers in developing countries. It is commonly seen on products like coffee, chocolate, and other goods with internationally sourced ingredients.
Rainforest Alliance Certified™ Seal: The Rainforest Alliance Certified™ Seal indicates that a product or service meets rigorous environmental, social, and economic sustainability standards. It focuses on conserving biodiversity and ensuring sustainable livelihoods.
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC): PEFC is an international, non-profit organization that promotes sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification. PEFC works throughout the entire forest supply chain to ensure that timber and non-timber forest products are produced with respect for the highest ecological, social, and ethical standards.
Cradle to Cradle Certified™: Cradle to Cradle is a globally recognized measure of safer, more sustainable products made for the circular economy. The certification assesses products across five categories: material health, product circularity, clean air and climate protection, water and soil stewardship, and social fairness.
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): GOTS is the leading worldwide standard for organic fibers, including ecological and social criteria, backed up by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain. GOTS ensures the organic status of textiles, from harvesting of the raw materials through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing.
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Certification: MSC is an international non-profit organization that sets standards for sustainable fishing. The MSC certification ensures that seafood products are sourced from fisheries that are well-managed and sustainable, helping to protect oceans and safeguard seafood supplies for the future.
Ready to Get Started?
We’re here to help. If you’re unsure which certification aligns with your business, reach out to our team, and we’ll guide you through the process.
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