Certification FAQ

Click below for answers to questions about the Seal of Approval and Certification Process.

GreenGain, our exciting online program, helps businesses measure and share their sustainability efforts, identify and implement new ways to go green, and earn Green America’s Business Certification.

Certification Overview & Eligibility

What is the Green America Seal of Approval, and how does it stand apart?

People are looking for authentic green seals of approval that stand for both the environment and social justice. The Green America Seal of Approval is the most trusted and authentic consumer trustmark in the marketplace and the first to include social and environmental criteria. After all, it is brought to you by the organization that has been building the green economy since 1982.

It is also holistic in another way – we examine the entire business’s practices and policies and not individual products or corporate divisions. Our coveted Seal of Approval is also offered in three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold, so we can recognize and reward businesses for greater progress over time.

Finally, Green America is home to both the Green Business Network and a consumer association of 160,000 households. So the Seal of Approval brings your business automatic access to the most committed green consumers in the nation.

How is your GreenGain certification program different from other certification programs?

Simply put, we offer more than a certification. GreenGain, the new online tool that drives Green America's green business certification process, is also an online assessment and learning tool. It provides businesses with a resource portal full of industry-specific recommendations, key steps, and resources to go green. It also functions as a roadmap to help businesses strategically improve their performance at their own pace. GreenGain, accompanied with our rigorous review at the Gold level, offers consumers assurance that businesses are on a credible path to deeper green.

How is the GreenGain certification process different from the old screening application?

The GreenGain certification process is different in several ways. Unlike our old screening application, GreenGain is designed for you to work at your own pace and manage your sustainability performance in real time. In your online GreenGain portal, you can easily ASSESS your sustainability performance, PLAN next steps, and PRIORITIZE new sustainability initiatives strategically.

GreenGain also offers three certification levels, Bronze, Silver, and Gold, to reward businesses as they make greater progress in sustainability. Finally, the new certification process emphasizes transparency. GreenGain generates a public Sustainability Profile linked to your Seal of Approval, which allows you to REPORT your progress to your stakeholders.

For those who have already joined us as Members, click here to start GreenGain today. For those who are not yet part of the Green Business Network, please join as a Member and you will then be sent a personalized link to start GreenGain.

How is the GreenGain process similar to the screening process?

At the Bronze and Silver levels, responses are based solely on self-reporting by each company. The Gold level includes an independent review of all completed initiatives, additional information provided by the business, and public information gathered by the Standards Committee.

When is the right time to apply?

If your business is operational, has a website and green practices in place, please do apply to earn Bronze or Silver certification!

To be considered for Gold level certification, your business must be fully operational for at least six months.

Two exceptions for Gold:

If your business has a network marketing (MLM) structure, your business must be operational for one full year before applying and must provide additional documentation.
If your business has a franchise model, your business must have at least one established franchisee and must provide additional documentation.

If you wonder whether you qualify, read on for more insight or give us a call.

Is my business eligible to apply?

Several factors impact a business’s eligibility for Green America Green Business Certification. We’ll list them here, BUT don’t disqualify yourself! If you wonder whether you’re eligible, just give us a call.

The most common reason is age. You can apply to earn Bronze or Silver certification as long as you are fully operational, have a website and green practices in place. To be considered for Gold level certification, your business must be operational for at least six months.
The second most common reason is company ownership. If you are a franchise, MLM, brand, division or subsidiary, the parent company must submit the application.

Reasons for ineligibility include:

If a business operates in any of the following industries: weapons, pornography, gambling, gas/oil/coal, or nuclear. C’mon, did we need to say it?

If formal legal complaints exist in these areas: product integrity, worker/labor abuse, fraud, or financial mishandling.

If a product base is primarily composed of or uses significant amounts of the following:

Conventional products with no extraordinary sustainable aspect or contribution to community/workers/customers; or,
Toxic chemicals such as pesticides, “poison plastics” like PVC and vinyl, chlorine, PFOA (non-stick coatings), or industrial chemicals.

Finally, the Green Business Network is currently utilizing the Precautionary Principle with regards to nanotechnology. Cosmetic and body-care companies that include nano-particles in their ingredients should contact our Standards department.

I'm a member of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF), First Affirmative Financial Network (FAFN), Progressive Asset Management (PAM), US Social Investment Forum (US SIF), or a federally certified CDFI; do I still need to go through GreenGain?

GreenGain generates a public Sustainability Profile linked to your Seal of Approval, which allows you to REPORT your progress to your stakeholders. All Green Business Network members must access GreenGain to achieve their certification level and generate a public Sustainability Profile. However, at the Gold level, members of these organizations will be able to move through the process more quickly.

GreenGain Certification Process

How long will the Assessment take?

The assessment is designed to take roughly 30-45 minutes to complete. This is a quick way to tell us what you are doing and to see whether you have earned Bronze, Silver, or qualify for the Gold level certification review. Undone initiatives will re-appear on your Dashboard where you can find descriptions, steps, facts, and resources for each initiative.

What do I have to do to reach the next certification level?

To reach the next certification level, you must complete the Core Practice initiatives and earn enough points assigned to that Seal level. At the Gold level, a business must complete a review with Green America’s Standards Committee before obtaining the Gold Level Seal of Approval.

How do I earn points in GreenGain?

You can earn more points by completing more initiatives in your Dashboard. Each initiative is assigned a certain number of points, and the list of initiatives are displayed by category in the Earn More Points section below the My Progress section on your Dashboard.

You can access the Earn More Points by clicking on the Earn More Points tab on the header in your Dashboard or simply by scrolling down the page. You can also click on each category header in My Progress to access the initiative recommendations for the respective category.

What are Core Practices?

Core Practices are initiatives you must complete to earn each Seal level. There are six Core Practice initiatives (including one split into two parts) assigned to each level, and they are displayed as a separate category in both the Assessment (at the bottom) and on your Dashboard (at the top of the Earn More Points section).

The Core Practices reflect Green America’s standards for businesses as they move deeper in their work on social and environmental responsibility.

Green America looks for businesses that balance social practices (workers, supply chains, community) with environmental as they advance through the certification levels. Businesses must also move beyond general sustainability practices towards a deeper focus on their core work.

To review Green America’s screening standards and pre-requisites in detail, click here.

How does the Gold Level review process work?

Once your business completes the Gold level Pre-requisites and has earned enough points to reach Gold, Green America’s Standards Committee will review your overall performance in GreenGain to determine the scope of your commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

The Standards Committee upholds our cumulative expertise and leadership in green business since 1982. They look for evidence that a business balances social practices (workers, supply chains, community) with environmental practices, and has moved beyond general sustainability practices into a deeper focus on their core work.

How long does the Gold Level review process take?

Once the Standards Committee has examined your GreenGain profile, they will notify you via email to log into your GreenGain account for follow-up questions. Click on the Gold Only tab on your Dashboard to review their questions and respond in the same field directly below the follow-up questions.

The Standards Committee will then review your responses and activate your Gold level Seal of Approval upon approval. Since we pride ourselves on being thorough, this process may take up to 8 weeks (a little longer for franchises and more complex business models). In the end, each business is provided detailed feedback about how it can improve. We offer concrete examples, ideas, materials, and contacts to be even more sustainable.

What information will appear in my public Sustainability Profile? Is any information provided in GreenGain confidential?

GreenGain operates in the spirit of transparency. Information submitted in the tool appears publicly in the form of a coded Seal of Approval image, which can be downloaded onto your company’s website. Consumers will have the ability to click on the seal image to obtain information about a business, including a full list of completed social and environmental initiatives in GreenGain, the duration and expiration date of Green Business Network membership, and the year in which the Seal of Approval was earned.

Note: Green America understands the sensitivity around disclosure of certain business data. Therefore, user responses to sensitive questions in GreenGain are withheld from the public Sustainability Profile and used solely for internal review purposes.

Your responses remain confidential in the following areas: answers to questions in required fields in My Profile during the registration process, any written content posted in the Comment field on Initiative Detail Pages, and any responses provided by you during the Gold level review process. The information in these areas is only seen by Standards Committee staff, all of whom have signed nondisclosure agreements.

Standards & Ratings System

How were the GreenGain initiatives developed?

Green America has been helping businesses go green since 1982. We used our extensive screening experience in conjunction with a wide range of scientific studies, consultations with sustainability stewards in each industry, and collaboration with experts in a variety of specialties, to develop a program of initiatives customized to a variety of industries.

When designing the initiatives, we focused on specific actions that can be operationalized within a company to yield a concrete social and environmental benefit. Clearly, there are many more possible initiatives.

We view our standards development process as an opportunity for mutual reflection and learning, so we want to hear ideas from you. We encourage businesses to offer feedback and suggestions for how we can evolve our standards as best practices improve and industries change.

How are the points assigned and calculated?

Green America developed a ratings system that measures the impact of each initiative in four main areas: social benefit, environmental benefit, effort level, and investment. Each initiative is weighted in these four areas using a scale from one to five, with five being the highest level of impact. The points are then calculated using an algorithm to establish the total points assigned to the initiative.

The initiatives with the highest number of total points require larger investment and effort to obtain a higher social and environmental benefit. To help you prioritize your planning strategically, GreenGain lists initiatives in order of return on investment, showing those with the highest social and environmental benefit and the least investment in time and money first. We want to help your business transition to sustainable practices without breaking the bank!

Seal of Approval Usage

How do I download my Seal of Approval to my website?

We make it as easy as possible for you to proudly display your achievements in social and environmental responsibility online to your customers. Our new Seal of Approval is linked to your public Sustainability Profile, with information about the initiatives you completed in GreenGain. To display the Seal on your website, click on the Download your Seal of Approval Now button on your Dashboard and simply copy and paste the HTML code snippet to your website.

To obtain an electronic file of the Seal of Approval for print applications, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Please download the complete Seal of Approval Usage Policy (PDF) for your reference.

How and where can I display my Seal of Approval?

The Seal of Approval may be used:

on your Web site using the HTML code provided in your GreenGain account.
on brochures and printed business collateral such as letterhead or business cards.
at retail locations, the Seal may be placed in the store window, on in-store signage, and displays.
on your banners or poster displays–such as a Green Festival™ booth display.
in your business-specific advertisements.
in an e-mail newsletter.

The Seal of Approval may NOT be used:

on your products or product packaging of any kind, including hang tags.
to denote safety or quality of a specific product.
as an endorsement of an individual as separate from their incorporated business. (i.e. The business Seal of Approval is to be used by Bob’s Shoes, but not by Bob.)

Please download the complete Seal of Approval Usage Policy (PDF) for your reference.

CAUTION: Green America and its 170,000 individual members act as a watchdog for the integrity of our Seal. If you abuse our GreenGain certification program simply to download our Seal of Approval logo (by, for example, arbitrarily clicking on enough initiatives to achieve Bronze or Silver without truthfully completing the actual initiatives in your company), you permanently forfeit your rights to carry our seal.

Are there ways to "lose" the Seal of Approval?

Yes, several factors result in a review of a Member business’s practices.

A review may be triggered by a change in the following: ownership, industry standards, or business’s operations (such as business model or supply chain). It is quite rare, but serious and/or multiple complaints can instigate a review. The Director of Standards and Seal of Approval leads the review process. It may include a full re-assessment or interviews.

In 2013, we are implementing an annual review process – we will be reviewing the performance of a small percentage of companies every year. All Gold level members will be reviewed once every three years. This will help every business stay committed and improve upon their sustainability practices.

If we find evidence of a company abusing the GreenGain tool, e.g. arbitrarily indicating completion of initiatives that the company has not truthfully implemented for the sake of reaching the next certification level, the company will immediately forfeit its membership and usage rights of our Seal of Approval.

Lastly, companies need to ensure their Green Business Network membership remains active (by paying timely dues) to continue using the Seal of Approval and GreenGain. This level of due diligence is why our Green Pages® online receives millions of clicks a year from ethical shoppers.

GreenGain & Member Benefits

I want to be a Green Festival® exhibitor. How does this relate to the Seal of Approval?

Green Festival exhibitors are expected to go through the GreenGain certification process to identify their commitment to environmental sustainability and social justice according to Green America's standards. All businesses wishing to exhibit must have Green America’s Seal of Approval.

However, if your business has not yet received the Seal, you can pass an initial review process for the first show and must achieve Bronze level before exhibiting at a second show. All first-time exhibitors will receive a one-year free membership with the Green Business Network.

Those who earn the Seal of Approval and keep their membership active with Green America will be invited back to participate, sponsor, and exhibit in all future Festivals. Those who do not earn the Seal of Approval will be welcomed as a member of the Green Business Network but can only exhibit at future Festivals once they successfully participate in the GreenGain certification process and maintain a minimum of Bronze level certification.

I want to advertise on GreenPages.org. How does this relate to the Seal of Approval?

Showcase listings are reserved for Green Business Network members that have achieved a minimum of Bronze level certification. All Green Business Network members that have achieved a certification level appear first in the search rankings in order of certification levels. A company’s certification level is displayed with both Premium and Showcase listings. Only companies that have achieved a certification level can purchase additional web advertising.

Green Economy Allies

I'm a nonprofit / community-based organization. Do I qualify for the business Seal of Approval?

The Green Business Network is home to many cutting-edge environmental and social justice organizations throughout the country.

If you are a non-profit with revenue stream from product or service sales, you should join as a Member and complete the GreenGain assessment. Examples like this in our membership include Ten Thousand Villages and Partners for Just Trade.

If you are a non-profit organization, standards-setting entity, or municipality, we encourage you to join as a Green Economy Ally. This category of membership is designed to highlight Green America’s peers and the local and national leaders in this movement. Examples in our membership include Climate Ride, GoodWeave, and City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.

Green Economy Allies enjoy lots of the same exciting member benefits – including a special Seal of Approval, advertising opportunities, and a listing in the National Green Pages®. You will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire.
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Wondering which category is right for you? Contact our Standards and Seal of Approval department and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Still have questions?

For general GreenGain and certification questions, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
For questions about the use of the Seal of Approval logo, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
For questions about the Gold level certification audit process, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
You can also call our Director of Standards and Seal of Approval at (202)872-5329.