More than one-third of shoppers now actively choose brands that can demonstrate good sustainability practices and values, while one in three have stopped buying from certain companies because of environmental concerns (1).
For brands, this means that understanding and maximising social and environmental responsibilities make good business sense.
However, consumers need – and want – help in making sustainable choices. Some 88% of shoppers in the UK and USA say they’d like brands to help them be more environmentally friendly (2), while more than a third say that a lack of information is stopping them from choosing the most sustainable brands(3).
Becoming ethy verified helps businesses give consumers the information they want at the moments that matter most, so they can make informed purchasing decisions. Give consumers the reasons they’re looking for to choose your brand.
Using sustainability standards benefits businesses in a whole range of areas, from improved reputation and profitability to reduced costs and increased production(4).
ethy’s corporate sustainability certification benefits:
Amplify and safeguard brand reputation
Proof-back your claims to ensure brand credibility. Consumers are more aware of greenwashing than ever before. Third-party verification shows that you have hard evidence of your sustainability efforts and are transparent about your business practices. This is key to avoiding accidental greenwashing and minimising the risks associated with making green claims. This authenticity is key to building trust and brand reputation.
With ethy’s expert-backed verification framework developed in partnership with some of the most important authorities in the field of sustainability, ESG and CSR, you can be confident that your business is pioneering best practice.
Supercharge sales with powerful communication
66% of global shoppers are willing to pay more for sustainable goods, according to the Nielsen Global Corporate Sustainability Report. However, it’s not always easy for consumers to identify the brands that are having a positive impact. Sustainability-smart consumers want accessible, no-fuss indicators of quality and distinction when they make shopping choices.
ethy verified companies gain access to powerful visual communications tools that instantly convey a company’s verified positive impact on people, environment and animals, capturing the attention of potential shoppers. Using a third-party verification helps your company credibly stand out for all the good reasons.
Showcase positive impact across products, shop windows, sales materials, marketing campaigns and corporate communications to give consumers the reasons to choose your brand.
Increase reach and brand awareness
Sustainability champions are a growing audience, yet with sustainability proving a confusing area for most consumers, we developed a top-rated digital solution that helps consumers shop by their values.
ethy verified members gain access to our multi channel platform of 10,000+ conscious shoppers across the UK. Through our in-house editorial team, we deliver your company an SEO optimised brand profile on our mobile apps and website and put your company in front of thousands of responsible shoppers. On an ongoing basis ethy members enjoy opportunities to increase reach and brand awareness through features in various marketing campaigns, on-site promotions, collaborations and participating in ethy’s Ambassador Programme, including Review Club.
Accelerate your sustainability strategy
Build employee knowledge and incorporate sustainable practices while engaging stakeholders in your sustainability strategy.
Sustainability is a journey, not a destination. It’s a path towards realigning your company to be more functional with nature. This means continuous improvement towards more sustainable practices.
We support accredited companies along their journey through corporate sustainability workshops for you and your employees. Our routine workshops provide a cost-effective way to access expert training on sustainable company performance and engage employees in your sustainability strategy.
Engaging in sustainability principles such as reduce, reuse, recycle, compost, circular economy and redesign can benefit companies financially too. Through ethy’s verified assessment and workshops companies can identify opportunities to reduce costs and improve profitability through improving operational efficiency.
Shifting towards a more sustainable future means engaging all stakeholders in your efforts, from employees to investors. Verification boosts your reputation, attracts the best possible talent and serves as a helpful barometer to potential investors who are increasingly putting sustainability and ESG at the top of their wish-lists.
Showcase contribution towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
According to the World Economic Forum, just 0.2% of companies globally were classed as acting “strongly” in line with the SDGs as of March 2021.
The Global Goals are a collection of 17 interlinked goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. We believe that consumers and businesses have a leading role to play in this and our aim is to empower both to act for a more sustainable future. We have done this by developing a sustainability verification standard that is in alignment with the SDGs.
That’s why our sustainability verification standard is developed in alignment with the SDGs.
Going through ethy’s verification process demonstrates that you’re playing an active role in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and that sustainability isn’t just a CSR exercise for your business.
Attract talent and engage your employees
Three-quarters of millennials would take a pay cut to work at an environmentally considerate company(5) whilst two-thirds of UK workers have actively sought help and support with their mental and physical health and wellbeing in 2021(6).
ethy verification helps companies communicate their sustainability agenda to attract and engage the top talent. We use positive, optimistic language in our materials, designed to get all stakeholders excited and inspired about sustainability and your company’s role within it.
Happy and healthy people make a productive and sustainable workforce. ethy’s standards guide companies to ensure employee wellbeing is considered and incorporated at the heart of company culture.
Convenient digital dashboard and dedicated support
Bringing accreditation services to the 21st century, ethy’s digital solution offers a comprehensive dashboard to manage everything in one place. Companies can submit their assessment questionnaire and upload supporting evidence; review and approve their company listing; see the ethy app and website analytics for their listing; and access their personalised communications toolkit & assets as well as business resources and FAQs.
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.
How long does it take to get ethy accredited?
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 complexity of business, time it takes to receive any further supporting evidence required, approval of profile content, etc.
How can my company get ethy accreditation?
The questionnaire is straightforward, but we do ask for supporting information and data. It’s important that your claims can be backed up with hard evidence – this is central to the integrity of ethy verification and key to reassuring consumers that your company is taking sustainability seriously. If you want to learn more about the criteria and documentation required for each trust mark before applying see here. Got unanswered questions? See our FAQs or email us at support@ethy.co.uk.
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.
Ready to start your accreditation journey? Apply here.
Sources:
(1) Deloitte: https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/consumer-business/articles/sustainable-consumer.html
(2) Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/solitairetownsend/2018/11/21/consumers-want-you-to-help-them-make-a-difference/
(3) Deloitte: https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/consumer-business/articles/sustainable-consumer.html
(4) Iseal Alliance: https://www.isealalliance.org/sites/default/files/resource/2019-05/Summary%20-%20Business%20Benefits%20of%20Standards%20Report.pdf
(5) according to the 2016 Cone Communications Millennial Employee Engagement Study.
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