Methodological and Disciplinary Note
METHODOLOGY & STANDARDS
METHODOLOGY & STANDARDS
How we work — and why it holds up to scrutiny.
METHODOLOGY
Working Methods & Certification Rules
The criteria, approach, and tools behind the Foundation’s work.
The certification rulebook is the governing document for any certifying body.
Working from the scientific framework, under close oversight from the Scientific Committee and in collaboration with an independent certifier, the Foundation has produced the first versions of two distinct documents — one for company-level certification, one for product-level certification.
Version: v1.0 • Date: 17.02.2026
STANDARDS
Standards
Rules, conduct standards, and accountability principles.
The Standards document sets out the principles governing the certification process — ensuring consistency, transparency, and methodological rigour throughout.
It covers three areas:
- Accountability and ethical standards
- The scientific methods applied
- The body of sector literature on which the certification’s credibility rests
Together, these make the framework open to inspection: the criteria are accessible, the reasoning is traceable, and the basis for every judgment is on the record.
Version: v1.0 • Date: 17.02.2026