Certification Requirements
Understanding our certifications
Wondering what it takes to earn one of these certification marks? Did you spot a mark on a product or business website and want to know more about what it means? Listed below are the requirements for each of our certifications.
If you would like to join one of our programmes and earn certification for your own organisation, product or service, get started here. We give businesses the tools, actions and evidence needed to make measurable progress – and be recognised for it.
Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.
Toitū enviromark programme | Toitū carbonreduce programme | Toitū net carbonzero programme |
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Click through to learn the requirements for each certification level |
Click through to learn the requirements of each certification type |
Click through to learn the requirements of each certification type |
The Toitū enviromark programme
The Toitū enviromark programme ensures organisations are meaningfully managing their environmental impacts through a mentoring approach. Through the programme, organisations develop, implement and maintain a robust Environmental Management System (EMS). The EMS is independently audited annually to ensure it meets stringent requirements of continual improvement, applicable regulations and international standards. Organisations identify the significant environmental impacts arising from their activities, and develop plans to prevent or reduce those impacts. An organisation can achieve one of three Toitū enviromark certification levels – bronze, gold or diamond – each of which builds on and extends the work of the previous level. Toitū enviromark diamond meets and exceeds the requirements for ISO 14001 (the international standard for environmental management).
Toitū enviromark bronze certification
Enviro-Mark Bronze certified organisations have thought about which activities their EMS must control. Their EMS could cover one or all sites or a specific part of their operation. They must explain any reasoning behind excluding areas. They also meet any applicable health, safety and environmental legislation for the areas of their organisation covered by the EMS.
To achieve Enviro-Mark Bronze certification, an organisation:
- Understands the scope of their EMS (i.e., are there any parts of the organisation that need to be excluded from the EMS and why);
- Exhibits no non-compliances with New Zealand’s applicable health and safety and environmental legislation.
Toitū enviromark gold certification
Toitū enviromark gold certified organisations have developed and implemented a comprehensive plan to help them achieve their environmental policy goals. They are measuring their significant impacts and are actively managing them.
To achieve Toitū enviromark gold certification, an organisation:
- Sets objectives and targets for driving improvement and has programmes in place to meet those targets;
- Develops, implements and tests environmental emergency plans;
- Identifies and evaluates their significant environmental issues arising from activities, products and services;
- Actively monitors their ongoing compliance with New Zealand legislation and ensures they are aware of any changes to obligations;
- Produces an environmental policy statement;
- Understands the scope of their EMS (i.e., are there any parts of the organisation that need to be excluded from the EMS and why);
- Exhibits no non-compliances with New Zealand’s applicable health and safety and environmental legislation.
Toitū enviromark diamond certification
Toitū enviromark diamond certified organisations have all the components of an ISO 14001 system in place. They have internal systems to ensure that their plans and policies are followed and to identify any opportunities for change and improvement. They have top management involvement in managing the EMS and its continuing stability.
To achieve Toitū enviromark diamond certification, an organisation:
- Controls all important documentation to ensure only the most up to date versions are being used;
- Has an internal EMS audit programme in operation, ensuring expected outcomes are occurring as planned;
- Periodically has top management review the performance of the EMS;
- Formalises the roles and responsibilities for people working for and on behalf of the organisation;
- Communicates appropriately both internally and externally;
- Ensures appropriate training is given to people working with the EMS;
- Documents all procedures relating to managing the system (both system and operational procedures);
- Has a good system for managing problems (non-conformities and opportunities for improvement);
- Sets objectives and targets for driving improvement and has programmes in place to meet those targets;
- Develops, implements and tests environmental emergency plans;
- Identifies and evaluates their significant environmental issues arising from activities, products and services;
- Actively monitors their ongoing compliance with New Zealand legislation and ensures they are aware of any changes to obligations;
- Produces an environmental policy statement;
- Understands the scope of their EMS (i.e., are there any parts of the organisation that need to be excluded from the EMS and why);
- Exhibits no non-compliances with New Zealand’s applicable health and safety and environmental legislation.
The Toitū carbonmark programmes
The Toitū carbonmark programmes certifies organisations, products and services for measuring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (or carbon footprint) and optoinally mitigating the footprint through offsets. The programmes are underpinned by the latest in climate science, measured against international best practice including ISO 14064-1, PAS 2050, ISO 14067 and the GHG Protocol, and have the credibility to be showcased to your stakeholders thanks to our accreditation from JAS-ANZ.
Toitū carbonreduce certified organisations
(Formerly known as Certified Emissions Measurement And Reduction Scheme (CEMARS))
This certification is awarded to companies that are actively working to measure and manage their carbon footprint.
Toitū carbonreduce organisation certification is proof an organisation is positively contributing to our environment through measuring and managing their carbon footprint. To achieve Toitū carbonreduce certification, an organisation must measure all operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions required under the international standard for carbon footprints, ISO 14064-1, including vehicles, business travel, fuel and electricity, paper, and waste. The emissions are measured annually, and the inventory is independently verified to ensure it is accurate and complete. The organisation must develop plans to continually manage and reduce their emissions. The organisation must reduce emissions on a six-year cycle.
Toitū carbonreduce certified products and services
(Formerly known as Certified Emissions Measurement And Reduction Scheme (CEMARS))
Toitū carbonreduce product certification is proof that goods and services are positively contributing to our environment through measuring and managing their carbon footprint. To achieve Toitū carbonreduce product certification, the producer measures the full lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for their product or service, required under the international standard for product carbon footprints, PAS 2050 and ISO 14076:2018. The footprint includes emissions from sourcing raw materials, manufacturing, distributing and using the product, and disposing of any waste. The emissions are measured annually, and the inventory is independently verified to ensure it is accurate and complete. The organisation must develop plans to continually manage and reduce the product or service’s emissions. The product must reduce emissions on a six-year cycle.
Toitū net carbonzero certified organisations
Toitū net carbonzero organisation certification is proof an organisation is positively contributing to our environment through measuring, reducing and offsetting their carbon footprint. To achieve Toitū net carbonzero certification, an organisation measures all operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions required under the international standard for carbon footprints, ISO 14064-1, including vehicles, business travel, fuel and electricity, paper, and waste. The emissions are measured annually, and the inventory is independently verified to ensure it is accurate and complete. Once they have measured their footprint, the organisation must develop plans to continually manage and reduce their emissions. Each year, unavoidable emissions are offset through the purchase of quality carbon credits to achieve neutral emissions. The organisation must reduce emissions on a six-year cycle.
Toitū net carbonzero certified products and services
Toitū net carbonzero product certification is proof that goods and services are positively contributing to our environment through measuring, reducing and offsetting their carbon footprint. To achieve Toitū net carbonzero product certification, the provider measures the full lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of their product required under the international standard for product carbon footprints, PAS 2050 and ISO 14067:2018. The footprint includes emissions from sourcing raw materials, manufacturing, distributing and using the product, and disposing of any waste. The product emissions are measured annually, and the inventory is independently verified to ensure it is accurate and complete. The provider must develop plans to continually manage and reduce their product or service’s emissions continually. Each year, unavoidable emissions are offset through the purchase of quality carbon credits to achieve neutral emissions. The product must reduce emissions on a six-year cycle.
Toitū climate positive certified organisation
Toitū climate positive certification is proof an organisation is taking science-led, meaningful climate action for a decarbonised future. To achieve Toitū climate positive certification, an organisation measures all operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions required under the international standard for carbon footprints, ISO 14064-1, including vehicles, business travel, fuel and electricity, paper, and waste. The organisation also screens its full value chain emissions as well, from suppliers to customers. The organisation has science-aligned reduction targets for direct and indirect emissions, and must demonstrate reductions on a three-year cycle. Each year, the inventory is independently verified and any unavoidable emissions that year are offset through the purchase of quality carbon credits to go beyond neutrality for 125% compensation. The organisation further contributes to positive impacts beyond their value chain equivalent to a further 75% compensation.