Question 1

How long is ethy verification valid for?

Accepted Answer

The term is 24 months, with 12 month fixed term. Reassessment must be submitted before 23 months. Resources, training and support are provided by ethy to reassess and accelerate sustainability strategy by achieving new ecolabels. There is no fee associated with the reassessment for existing members.

Question 2

Why should my brand get ethy verified? What are the benefits?

Accepted Answer

ethy makes it easy and affordable for brands to communicate verified sustainability achievements against transparent standards, demonstrating contribution to the UN Global Goals, and empowering people to make sustainable choices. Verifying your green claims through ethy will give you the instant tools to: Gain clear validation on sustainability claims to build trust with shoppers, while taking a stand against greenwashing. Consistently show your sustainable USPs across products and marketing, in the moments that matter, with ethy’s professional communications toolkit. Attract and engage the 40% of ‘conscious shoppers’ who now actively choose sustainable brands. Strengthen your reputation as a leading purpose-led brand that contributes toward the UN SDGs. Generate brand awareness and reach your audience on the UK's No.1 app for sustainable shopping. See our more on the benefits of ethy verification.

Question 3

How long does the verification process take?

Accepted Answer

We aim to review your answers to the assessment within 14 days. Typically it takes only a few weeks from submitting your assessment questionnaire results to a business having received verified status and having a published profile on the ethy platform. However, the actual timeline depends also on factors such as the complexity of the business, the time it takes to receive any further supporting evidence required, approval of profile content, etc.

Question 4

How frequently are ethy’s sustainability standards reviewed and revised?

Accepted Answer

ethy’s sustainability framework for brands, methodology and criteria are in constant review and development. The latest significant review and upgrade to the full framework was 01/11/2021-25/04/2022. During this time, the framework was reviewed by several industry-leading organisations and consultants see more on our Partners page. ethy framework has been developed to build on the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Those are more broadly defined guidelines for reaching a sustainable future by 2030. ethy’s aim is to translate these goals into an accessible framework for companies and consumers. This framework will serve as a blueprint for which choices and actions are the most impactful to achieve a sustainable future. As we innovate, improve and become more aware collectively about sustainability, the actions we need to and can take evolve too. This is why we review our model with the trust marks regularly to identify areas in which we can introduce new trust marks, and new standards, and improve the criteria and the communication tools. The other way we evolve ethy framework is through collaboration with companies. As we continue to work with a diverse range of industries, we know that the framework may need expanding at times to ensure it works for every business and type of product. If you would like to discuss your business with us please contact us via email: support@ethy.co.uk. We also listen to consumer trends and maintain a keen interest in consumer demand to ensure the ethy framework incorporates exciting and relevant trust marks. The consumer is at the heart of the ethy standards and so it aims to help consumers find what they’re looking for more easily.

Question 5

How does ethy ensure compliance?

Accepted Answer

ethy's assessment is designed to ensure verification of claims, without companies having to go through a full audit process that can be lengthy and expensive. The assessment uses a proof-backed method. The questionnaire is straightforward, but we do ask for supporting information and data. It’s important that the brand's claims can be backed up with hard evidence – this is central to the integrity of ethy verification and key to reassuring consumers that the brand is taking sustainability seriously. ethy’s assessment verification process includes various techniques to ensure compliance, from collaboration with other certification bodies to verification through third-party suppliers. ethy maintains the right to audit companies. Find out more on Our Standards page.

Question 6

How can I see a demo or contact customer support?

Accepted Answer

If you would like to talk to us or see a demo, please book here. You can add as many guests from your company as you need. Got unanswered questions? Email us at support@ethy.co.uk.

Question 7

Which payment methods are accepted?

Accepted Answer

We accept all major debit and credit cards from customers in every country including Visa, Mastercard, American Express as well as mobile payment options such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Through Stripe payments we also accept direct debits for subscriptions.

Question 8

How much does ethy verification for brands cost?

Accepted Answer

A one-off assessment fee of £195 covers the verification and creation of the search engine optimised brand profile. The monthly subscription is then based on your brand's annual revenue. To verify more than one brand don't hesitate to get in touch with us for multi-brand pricing. Fees are tailored to the company’s annual sales revenue, to ensure ethy is affordable to businesses of all sizes. See ethy pricing here.

Question 9

If my application is not approved, is the submission fee refunded?

Accepted Answer

The submission fee is non-refundable and covers our assessment review and verification process. We recommend reading Our Standards for the criteria and gathering the proof required before signing up and submitting your assessment questionnaire. That way you can be confident going into the assessment.

Question 10

Is there a fee for the annual reassessment?

Accepted Answer

A one-off submission fee of £195 covers the initial assessment. There is no fee for the annual reassessment if a company is an active ethy verified member at the time.

Question 11

When is the first subscription payment taken?

Accepted Answer

ethy requires companies to subscribe at the same time as paying the one-off assessment fee. If an application is unsuccessful, we will refund the subscription fee and cancel any ongoing payments.

Question 12

What happens if I cancel my subscription?

Accepted Answer

ethy verification provides companies with Terms and Conditions, which include a licence agreement between Scratch The Surface Limited (trading name ethy) (licensor) and a successfully verified company (licensee). Subscription to verification allows the licensee to use ethy’s registered trademarks. In the event of a subscription cancellation after the initial 12-month fixed term, the agreement will effectively be terminated at the end of the current payment period, meaning that the company is no longer a licensee and no longer ethy verified and can no longer use ethy trademarks, assets, tools and will lose access to the company dashboard, training and promotional opportunities. The website and app brand profile page will also be disabled upon the end date. Please read the full licensing agreement and terms for details here. The licensing agreement end date takes effect at the end of the current payment period, which is either at the end of the month if the licensee paid with a monthly subscription, or at the end of the year if they were on the annual payment plan. Between cancellation and the end of the agreement date contract and terms of service remain in full effect and the company can use all ethy services and tools as usual.

Question 13

Is there support or resources to help me complete the assessment?

Accepted Answer

The assessment questionnaire is digital and accessed through the company's dashboard after signing up. The assessment is designed to be as clear as possible, with helpful guidance displayed next to each question throughout. For further support see the business resources section of our website. We constantly update this section with the latest resources and insights on how to turn your sustainability achievements into business opportunities with ethy accreditation. If you require further assistance then please contact us either through your account manager or by emailing support@ethy.co.uk.

Question 14

Do I have to complete the assessment in one sitting?

Accepted Answer

No, your responses and proof are saved automatically as you add them. You can return at any time to complete and submit your assessment.

Question 15

Can I resubmit the assessment to obtain new ecolabels before the next annual reassessment date?

Accepted Answer

We want to encourage and reward brands for implementing new sustainable practices, so you can apply for new ecolabels at any time, for free! Reapplying starts a new 24 month verification period for all ecolabels. Your answers and proof can be copied over automatically, but it's important to add up-to-date proof to existing ecolabels.

Question 16

What does the assessment look like?

Accepted Answer

Applying for ethy standards couldn’t be easier. No long, complicated forms. Simply let us know whether your brand meets the criteria for each ecolabel and upload the required proof. Your responses and proof are saved automatically as you add them. You can return at any time to complete and submit your assessment. Our team of experts are here to help you through the journey. You’ll always be able to talk to a real person through dashboard live chat, email or video calls. The assessment covers six key environmental and social areas that offer the widest opportunities for companies to have a positive impact on people, the planet and animals. Read more about Our Standards here.

Question 17

What are the criteria for gaining ethy ecolabels (trust marks)?

Accepted Answer

Please find the criteria and required proof here. If you are an existing ethy verified member and would like to apply for new trust marks, please let your account manager know, or email support@ethy.co.uk.

Question 18

When will my certification arrive?

Accepted Answer

Upon successfully completing the verification process, you will receive an email to notify you of this. The digital certification will be available to download from ethy’s customer portal under 'Communications Toolkit'. A new certification will be issued after each reassessment.

Question 19

My ecolabels have disappeared, what happened?

Accepted Answer

If you were an existing member since before April 2022 and have noticed changes in your verification details, specifically any ecolabels disappearing, then this may be the result of the latest significant review and upgrade to the ethy corporate sustainability framework 01/11/2021-25/04/2022. During this time, the framework was under a significant review to improve our offering and expand the model to introduce new ecolabels, and new standards, and improve the criteria and the communication tools. The review was supported by several industry-leading organisations. Within this update, ethy migrated from ethy Badges to expanded and improved ethy ecolabels. As a result of this, some Badges had to be removed and could not be mapped to the new trust marks, which now have more specific criteria. Please read more here on the benefits of the new ethy framework for companies. View the full criteria for each of the new trust marks here. If you would like to discuss your verification and trust marks with us, please contact your account manager or email support@ethy.co.uk.

Question 20

My company operates entirely virtually. Are we eligible for ethy verification?

Accepted Answer

To be eligible the company needs to have a registered address in the UK and be legally trading in the UK as a legal entity such as a Limited Company, Registered Charity, Cooperative, etc.

Question 21

Where can I download ethy ecolabels and other assets?

Accepted Answer

Assets will be available to download through a verified brand's digital dashboard under the tab named: Communications Toolkit. You'll get the following: Certification. A variety of Ecolabels suitable for use on light and dark backgrounds, websites and product packaging. A variety of images with your ecolabels used collectively. NEW: Embeddable Widgets to display your brand’s sustainability profile and verified contributions to the UN SDGs from within your website. If you're an existing member, login here.

Question 22

Where and how can I use the ethy verification assets?

Accepted Answer

ethy assets are designed to be versatile and be used almost anywhere you need to communicate your brand's sustainable USPs, such as: Product packaging Website footer Website product pages Sustainability reports and pages Social media and other digital marketing Adverts, banners, posters, leaflets Shop windows You can find out how to use your ethy assets by following ethy Brand and Trademark Usage Guidelines, which you can download from our Media Kit page. We recommend always providing these guidelines to your designers to ensure you gain maximum value from using the assets. See more about ethy communications solutions here.

Question 23

How do I get featured in the ethy app Daily Picks?

Accepted Answer

You don't have to do anything! Daily Picks feature brands on the website and app homepage and through push notifications, helping our app users discover and engage with verified brands. Only ethy verified brands get featured in the Daily Picks. If you are an ethy verified member and have a particular marketing campaign you would like us to feature on the app, please don't hesitate to get in touch with your account manager.

Question 24

Can I update my brand profile page and how?

Accepted Answer

Yes, brands can request changes through the digital customer dashboard. Simply log in and go to your ‘Brand Profile’ page to submit your request. You can access it via this link too: https://ethy.co.uk/dashboard/listing

Question 25

How long does it take for a brand page to go live on ethy? What’s the process?

Accepted Answer

We help verified brands do well through exposure on our website and apps. Increase your reach and tell your brand's sustainability story in an SEO-optimised ethy landing page created by our editorial team. We aim to review your answers to the assessment within 14 days. After assessment approval, we will work with the brand to create the page feature. Typically it takes only a few weeks from submitting your assessment questionnaire results to a business having received verification and having a published profile on the ethy platform. However, the real timeline depends also on factors such as the complexity of the business, the time it takes to receive any further supporting evidence required, and the time it takes for the review and approval of profile content for publishing. During the assessment submission process, we ask brands to upload assets and provide any texts about the brand that will be used for the creation of the SEO-optimised feature. An account manager will contact you directly to review and approve the profile. Mostly this is done over email.

Question 26

Do you provide any data reports?

Accepted Answer

Verified brands can see which promotional activities, such as Guides and Daily Picks, they were part of in their Activity Feed on the ethy dashboard homepage. Here, brands can also see their monthly page views on the ethy app & website, and the number of clicks through to their website.

Question 27

What’s ethy’s communication solution for businesses?

Accepted Answer

A whopping 40% of the UK consumers choose to buy from brands with a positive impact on people and the planet. However, 80% of consumers don't trust unverified ​​sustainability claims due to widespread greenwashing. Yet many of the existing certifications do not provide shoppers with clear and meaningful guidance in choosing environmentally superior products. To provide a solution, ethy offers third-party verification of a brand’s credentials. A simple and affordable assessment process results in your brand receiving a cohesive set of consumer-friendly ecolabels, each one representing a specific sustainability achievement. Use the ecolabels on your website, products and marketing. You'll also receive a certification and search engine optimised brand page, which displays your brand’s sustainability profile and verified contributions to the UN SDGs. See more detail on the ethy communications solution here. The ethy communications solution enables brands to supercharge their sales and stakeholder engagement. Attract talent and engage employees in the company's sustainability strategy. Launching soon: Choose from a selection of embeddable widgets, like the example on the right, to display your brand’s sustainability profile and verified contributions to the UN SDGs from within your website. The widgets are in Beta mode currently and will be released to all customers soon.

Question 28

How to get the stickers of the ecolabels for my shop windows?

Accepted Answer

Window stickers will be sent to any successfully verified company after successful assessment if they have specified on their application form that they have a physical shop. If you require more stickers or have not received yours, please get in touch with your account manager or email support@ethy.co.uk

Question 29

What kind of webinars does ethy provide?

Accepted Answer

Our events are delivered by experts in the field of sustainability. Speakers include some of our sustainability framework partners as well as sustainability consultants and occasionally brands sharing their experiences and actions in achieving their sustainability goals. Sustainability is an ever-evolving subject area, and keeping on top of this is essential for sustainable and successful businesses. ethy helps members build on their existing sustainability credentials, achieve more trust marks and learn through the year in a convenient lecture-workshop format. Typically the events are around 1-2 hrs with an optional 30-minute Q&A at the end. Engaging in sustainability principles such as reduce, reuse, recycle, compost, circular economy and redesign can help identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs. ethy member brands also gain insights and ideas on communicating their sustainability achievements with impact using ethy communications tools. Upcoming training events will be published here. Benefits of ethy workshops: Included in your membership fee Led by industry experts Invite your whole team to live events Watch past recordings Achieve new trust marks

Question 30

What are the benefits of ethy training workshops, why should I attend?

Accepted Answer

Included in your membership fee. Led by industry experts. Invite your whole team to live events at no extra cost. Watch past recordings. Achieve new trust marks. Keep up with sustainability and Green Claims Code. Gain insights and ideas on how to communicate your sustainability achievements with impact using ethy communications tools. Get inspired! There is so much innovation and development in the area of sustainability, ESG, CSR, and some talks may give you new ideas, opportunities, contacts and inspiration.

Question 31

How many people from my brand can attend a training workshop?

Accepted Answer

Each training workshop can be attended by a maximum of 500 participants. There is no limit on how many people can attend from one brand, but you are encouraged to sign up as early as possible. That’s why registering early and also letting ethy know if you can’t attend is very important. If an event fills up and there are more people interested in attending the same session with advanced notice, ethy may run another session on the same topic. ethy will communicate with you if this occurs.

Question 32

How much do the training workshops cost?

Accepted Answer

All ethy training sessions are FREE for verified brands! It’s ethy's way to ensure brands gain as much value as possible from being an ethy verified brand and taking action for a sustainable future.

Question 33

How often are the training webinars and where can I find the next date?

Accepted Answer

The training events are typically run quarterly. Occasionally there are other events in between. For detailed information, brands can log into their brand dashboard and see the Training tab for upcoming events information, registration and past training recordings. For non-members, please see ethy's website Training page for upcoming events. Please note, currently, only members can attend the events.

Question 34

How can I sign up for upcoming training workshops?

Accepted Answer

Brands can log into their brand dashboard and view the 'Training' tab for upcoming events information, registration and past training recordings. ethy members will receive an email newsletter before the event with the signup link that can also be shared with team members in the same organisation to also register to attend. ethy encourages everyone to sign up at least one week before the training event, so the trainers collect questions and requests prior to the event to tailor the training content for the best possible value to the attendees. If you have any issues with registering for an ethy member event, please email support@ethy.co.uk.

Question 35

Are ethy webinars virtual or in person?

Accepted Answer

Currently, ethy’s training workshops will be mostly virtual, mainly conducted on Zoom and typically last 1-1.5hrs with an additional and optional 30 minute Q&A in the end. Due to different geographical locations of ethy's trainers and brands, this makes the events more accessible and ethy is able to provide brands with the best trainers without location limitations. For sustainability considerations ethy do not see the need to encourage ongoing long-distance travel for these events. In the future, ethy may organise occasional in-person or hybrid events, so watch this space!

Question 36

Will the webinars be recorded for playback?

Accepted Answer

ethy records the webinars and upload them a few days later to the brand dashboard for accredited brands to watch back. At the start of the sessions, attendees are reminded that it will be recorded and asked to turn off their cameras if they would not like to be recorded. Some of the Q&A sessions will not be recorded.

Question 37

Do I need an Eventbrite account?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is very easy to set up. When you try to register for the ethy event, Eventbrite will ask you to create an account and guide you through the process so your ticket is safely stored. You can also create an Eventbrite account beforehand here on their website.

Question 38

Do I need a zoom account?

Accepted Answer

You do not need a zoom account or the zoom software downloaded to join. You can join as a guest via your web browser. More information can be found here.

Question 39

I’m not ethy verified brand yet, can I still attend ethy webinars?

Accepted Answer

Only ethy verified members can attend ethy corporate sustainability webinars. The webinars are included in the price of the verification and help brands improve their sustainability strategy, reporting and communications as well as gain new trust marks at the next reassessment. See more about ethy verification here.

Question 40

Can I get bespoke sustainability training for my organisation?

Accepted Answer

Bespoke training workshops or lectures can be arranged at an extra cost. It can be in-person or online. Please email support@ethy.co.uk to discuss.

Question 41

My company operates outside the United Kingdom. Are we eligible for ethy verification?

Accepted Answer

At the moment ethy can only verify businesses inside the United Kingdom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Pricing and Billing

Verification

Assessment

Communication

Promotion

Webinars

Discover verified brands and shop responsibly