{"id":4431,"date":"2020-06-03T16:16:53","date_gmt":"2020-06-03T14:16:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/green-brands.org.w01a4918.kasserver.com\/?page_id=4431"},"modified":"2026-06-11T15:51:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T13:51:36","slug":"methodology","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/green-brands.org\/en\/procedure\/methodology\/","title":{"rendered":"Methodology"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]The <strong>GREEN BRAND<\/strong> seal of approval is a registered and protected EU certification mark for environmentally sustainable brands (companies, products, service providers, initiatives, and food products) that undergoes a neutral, transparent, and independent verification process.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>GREEN BRANDS<\/strong> procedure meets all the basic requirements applicable to a non-governmental certification system under Article 2, paragraph 1, letter s, of the ECGT Directive (EU) 2024\/825 (EmpCo):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The requirements and conditions must be publicly available and meet specific criteria set out in the Directive.<\/li>\n<li>Certification must be based on an independent third-party audit.<\/li>\n<li>Compliance must be monitored by a competent, independent third party in accordance with international, EU, or national standards (e.g., ISO 17065 or the mechanisms provided for in Regulation (EC) No. 765\/2008, etc.).<\/li>\n<li>The system must be transparent, credible, and open to all companies on fair and non-discriminatory terms.<\/li>\n<li>The system must be open to all companies that are willing and able to meet the requirements (non-exclusivity).<\/li>\n<li>The system operator shall define the requirements in consultation with relevant experts and stakeholders.<\/li>\n<li>The system must allow for the use of an appropriate sustainability label.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=&#8221;8058&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]Furthermore, we reserve the right (following prior legal review) to deny the award if, during the validation process, facts come to light that violate the new EU-Validation Code regulations. This applies, among other things, to brand names and brand claims if their validity has not been confirmed in advance by recognized certifications and cannot simultaneously be legitimized through the GREEN BRANDS process\u2014e.g., \u201corganic.\u201d As an EU guarantee mark, the GREEN BRANDS organization must comply with the strict legal regulations in all cases.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1587480574505{padding-top: 60px !important;padding-right: 60px !important;padding-bottom: 60px !important;padding-left: 60px !important;background-color: #f7f7f7 !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3><strong>The awarding procedure involves three important phases:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;20px&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1781173753102{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: #95c11f !important;border-radius: 20px !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;balkentexte&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Application \/<br \/>\nNomination<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_icon icon_fontawesome=&#8221;fas fa-arrow-right&#8221; color=&#8221;custom&#8221; size=&#8221;lg&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_color=&#8221;#95c11f&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1591194032043{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: #95c11f !important;border-radius: 20px !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;balkentexte&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Validation<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_icon icon_fontawesome=&#8221;fas fa-arrow-right&#8221; color=&#8221;custom&#8221; size=&#8221;lg&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_color=&#8221;#95c11f&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1781173762361{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: #95c11f !important;border-radius: 20px !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;balkentexte&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Monitoring<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<strong>Registration \/ Nomination \u2013 the first step toward being recognized as a GREEN BRAND<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Interested brands (companies \/ service providers \/ products \/ food products) can register informally via email. In addition, brands may also be nominated by industry associations\/NGOs, media partners, the expert panel, and previous GREEN BRAND awardees themselves.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<strong>Validation \u2013 the core of the process<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Upon participation, companies receive the relevant questionnaires and assessment forms for validation. These were developed in close collaboration with the international scientific sustainability institute SERI (Vienna), the Institute for Sustainability (INa) at HWR Berlin, and independent management consultancies specializing in climate protection and sustainability, such as ALLPLAN, as well as other experts, and are subject to ongoing review. Experts evaluate the forms and review the supporting documents or any additional certifications. Random on-site checks of the information provided are planned, as are detailed follow-up inquiries regarding unclear information. All information must be verifiable in detail through current company documentation.<\/p>\n<p>The evaluation determines the company\u2019s level on the \u201cGREEN BRANDS Index.\u201d Naturally, all participants receive the evaluation report with the transparent ratings.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<strong>The Expert Panel<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The members of the Expert Panel (drawn from academia, sustainability communications, and sustainability consulting) are provided with comprehensive insight into the entire validation process. This includes all details of the validation as well as the external, neutral, and independent evaluation. Members of the expert panel may, at their request, advise the evaluating experts, ensuring that the validation results are broadly validated and confirmed. It is ensured that advisory members of the expert panel have no economic (business) interests in the relevant market.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1590399149977{padding-top: 10% !important;padding-left: 10% !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1651586581609{border-top-width: 2px !important;border-right-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-left-width: 2px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: rgba(149,193,31,0.8) !important;*background-color: rgb(149,193,31) !important;border-left-color: #ffffff !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #ffffff !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #ffffff !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #ffffff !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 25px !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<div style=\"color: #fff !important;\">\n<h4 style=\"color: #fff !important;\">Download the GREEN BRANDS<br \/>\nvalidation forms for:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"https:\/\/green-brands.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/GREEN-BRANDS-validation-service-provider-2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Service Provider (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"https:\/\/green-brands.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/GREEN-BRANDS-validation-companies-2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Company (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"https:\/\/green-brands.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/GREEN-BRANDS-validation-productsnon-food-2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Products (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"https:\/\/green-brands.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/GREEN-BRANDS-validation-food-2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Food (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<strong>Monitoring<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Compliance with the regulations is monitored by a competent, independent third party in accordance with international, EU, or national standards (e.g., ISO 17065 or the mechanisms provided for in Regulation (EC) No. 765\/2008, etc.).<\/p>\n<p>All certified brands receive comprehensive services and benefits.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]The GREEN BRAND seal of approval is a registered and protected EU certification mark for environmentally sustainable brands (companies, products, service providers, initiatives, and food products) that undergoes a neutral, transparent, and independent verification process. The GREEN BRANDS procedure meets all the basic requirements applicable to a non-governmental certification system under Article 2, paragraph 1, letter s, of the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":4484,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4431","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Methodology - GREEN BRANDS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/green-brands.org\/en\/procedure\/methodology\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Methodology - GREEN BRANDS\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]The GREEN BRAND seal of approval is a registered and protected EU certification mark for environmentally sustainable brands (companies, products, service providers, initiatives, and food products) that undergoes a neutral, transparent, and independent verification process. 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