Question 1

What is Green Tick® Certification Limited?

Accepted Answer

Green Tick® Certification Limited is an independent, science-based sustainability certification company based in New Zealand. With over 35 years of experience in sustainability science and engineering from our founder companies, we are not affiliated with any government, industry, or lobby group. All our certifications automatically comply with green claim laws. For more information, download our Company Profile, Quick Summary or Certification Brochure.

Question 2

What are the Green Tick® Ecolabels?

Accepted Answer

There are 10 ecolabels - SUSTAINABLE (parent ecolabel), CLIMATE POSITIVE (a form of) CARBON NEGATIVE, CARBON CREDITS, NATURAL, ORGANIC, GE-FREE, FAIR TRADER, GREEN BOND, and GREEN TRACER® (for sustainable supply chains).

Question 3

What are the Green Tick® Certification Standards?

Accepted Answer

There are 12 Green Tick® Certification Standards covering health, safety and the environment. They are also known as ESG standards - environmental, social and governance. They are based on the ISO 14000 and 17000 sets of international standards for environment and conformity assessment. Download the Standards here.

Question 4

Is Green Tick® organic?

Accepted Answer

The Green Tick® ORGANIC ecolabel is designed for the sustainability certification of products that already hold an IFOAM® - registered organic certification (eg. Biogro, Demeter).

Question 5

What are the benefits of Green Tick® Certification?

Accepted Answer

Green Tick® Certification instantly communicates to your customers that your products or services are independently certified with a credible and authentic ecolabel. This provides you with a strong green credential, enhancing your market appeal and consumer trust.

Question 6

How does Green Tick® Certification impact sales?

Accepted Answer

Our market research indicates that Green Tick® Certification can boost sales by an average of 52%, with increases ranging from 63% to 233%. Consumers trust the Green Tick® brand, which translates to higher sales for certified products.

Question 7

What are the costs of getting Green Tick®?

Accepted Answer

1) Application Fee: $USD 50 per product or service, from $USD 500 per site, and from $USD500 per corporation (site and corporation fees depend upon their size and complexity). See Fees page for updates. Minimum application is one product (or service), and one site.

2) Audit Fee: This fee comprises the Green Tick® Auditor's fee to review your documents and check your operations, and GTC's audit processing and Certification Board fees. The details of these fees will depend upon the size and complexity of your application.

Application and Audit Fees will be specified in your Certification Programme and Pricing document for your approval before the project begins.

3) Royalty fee: 0.15% of net sales, negotiable. For example, $USD 1,500 annually on net sales of $USD 1,000,000. Paid quarterly in arrears. May be paid annually in advance by negotiation. Minimum fee applies.

We also offer an Eligibility Check service from $USD 500, depending on the scope of your application. This saves you time and money with your application by identifying gaps in your information, but does not guarantee that any application will be granted.

Application and Audit Fees are non-refundable.

Contact Us to customise your Certification Package.

Question 8

What is the timeline for obtaining Green Tick® Certification?

Accepted Answer

The timeline for obtaining Green Tick® Certification typically ranges from two to three months, depending on the size and quality of your operation and the specific parts you wish to have certified. Having all records in place can expedite the process.

Question 9

How long does Green Tick® Certification last?

Accepted Answer

Green Tick® certification is issued globally for three years, and then an organisation is audited again if it wishes to continue using the Green Tick® brand.

Question 10

What if a particular Green Tick® Standard is not relevant to my business or product?

Accepted Answer

Then this standard is noted as 'not applicable' in the Auditor's report.

Question 11

How do you define sustainability?

Accepted Answer

Sustainability: no permanent harm to people or the environment throughout the life cycle of a product or service ('cradle to grave' or 'cradle to cradle') for operations under your direct control. References: ISO 14001: 2015

Question 12

How can I get a new product or production process certified?

Accepted Answer

To certify a new product or production process, you will undergo a new product or production line audit. The main goal is to determine if the new product or process meets the required certification standards. Typically, a 12-month compliance check follows the initial certification audit. Green Tick® Certification uniquely supports innovation by allowing the certification of new products and processes without penalty or undue delay.