Your path to verified sustainability
Understand the journey to achieving credible, measurable sustainability performance with FSG Certification. We guide organisations through a clear, robust, and impartial process, ensuring your claims are backed by evidence and recognised standards.
The journey to certification
The certification process at FSG Certification is designed to verify an organisation's implementation of sustainability standards. This involves an exhaustive review where your organisation will provide confidential data and information. Information submitted during certification is treated as confidential and is accessible only to authorised persons involved in the certification process, including the independent monitoring/audit provider where necessary. All external personnel are subject to confidentiality obligations.
Step one: initial enquiry and certification pack
Your journey begins with an initial enquiry, and completion of an application form . The application will be assessed to confirm suitability of the certification to your needs and business. Following this, participants will complete some pre-certification documentation, and subsequently receive their comprehensive certification pack. This pack includes detailed standards and outlines the specific evidence required to demonstrate your organisation's commitment to sustainability. This initial step sets the foundation for a transparent and thorough assessment. Before the desk audit commences, the certification invoice must be paid in full.
Step two: desk audit and verification
Once the required evidence has been submitted, the certification audit is carried out by Agents4Change, an independent third-party organisation legally separate from FSG Certification Ltd. The assigned auditor reviews the evidence against the published certification requirements and may request additional evidence or conduct interviews where necessary. Auditors are required to meet FSG Certification's documented competence, confidentiality, impartiality and conflict-of-interest requirements.
Auditors must meet documented competence criteria relevant to the certification scheme, including appropriate sustainability knowledge, auditing competence, sector knowledge where required, scheme-specific training and understanding of impartiality and evidence requirements.
Step Three: site visit & Award
A physical audit may be required where documentary evidence is insufficient, where risks or inconsistencies are identified, or where on-site verification is required by the applicable certification scheme. A physical audit is undertaken at least once every two years for each certified organisation.
If a site visit is scheduled, your auditor will be in touch ahead of the deadline to ensure you have documentation and personal ready on the day.
On the day of the site visit the auditor will:
- Meet you, as the applicant, for a short interview.
- Conduct an audit of the building and facilities.
- Conduct interviews with staff, supervisors and managers
- Audit services & products.
- Review standards of procedures and company policies.
Depending on the size of your organisation a site visit will last half a day to 2 days. Please note for large businesses, the physical audit may require the auditor to spend two days at your property, it is required that you provide the auditor with overnight accommodation and meals during this time.
Following completion of the audit, the independent auditor prepares an Audit Report documenting the evidence reviewed, findings, any non-conformities and the auditor's recommendation. The Audit Report and supporting evidence are then submitted for an independent certification review. The Reviewer/Decision Maker, who has not participated in the audit, determines whether the certification requirements have been met and the appropriate certification level, where applicable.
FSG Certification Ltd then formally communicates the certification decision and, where certification is granted, issues the certificate and authorises use of the relevant certification mark.
Step 4: Ongoing surveillance
Certification is not treated as a one-off assessment. Certified organisations are required to continue meeting the applicable certification requirements and comply with the rules governing use of the certification mark.
FSG Certification may undertake surveillance activities during the certification period, including requests for updated evidence and independent verification where appropriate. Physical audits are undertaken at least once every two years and may be undertaken earlier where additional verification is required.
Failure to continue meeting certification requirements may result in corrective action, suspension or withdrawal of certification.
Where an organisation no longer meets the applicable requirements, fails to resolve a non-conformity or misuses the certification mark, FSG Certification may suspend or withdraw certification. Where certification is suspended or withdrawn, the organisation must cease using the applicable certification mark in accordance with FSG Certification's Certification Mark Rules.
Applicants and certified organisations have the right to appeal certification decisions. Complaints concerning FSG Certification, an audit or the certification process may also be submitted through our published Complaints and Appeals Procedure. Appeals are reviewed independently of the original evaluation and certification decision.
How we protect impartiality
FSG Certification Ltd is the owner of its certification schemes. Monitoring and verification of compliance with certification requirements is carried out by Agents4Change, a legally separate independent third-party organisation.
Auditors are required to demonstrate appropriate competence and declare any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest before undertaking an audit.
The individual responsible for the certification decision does not participate in the audit being reviewed.
Certification decisions are based solely on objective evidence of conformity with the published certification requirements.
Who Can Apply?
Our certification schemes are open to all organisations willing and able to meet the published requirements, subject only to the defined scope and eligibility requirements of the applicable certification scheme. Access is provided on transparent, fair and non-discriminatory terms and is not conditional on membership of any association or the purchase of training or consultancy services.
FSG Certification Ltd develops and reviews its certification scheme requirements in consultation with relevant experts and stakeholders. This helps ensure that requirements remain relevant, evidence-based, auditable and appropriate to the sectors and organisations to which they apply.
Ready to verify your sustainability claims?
FSG Certification Ltd is a separate legal entity from Fifty Shades Greener Ltd. Fifty Shades Greener Ltd provides sustainability training and education but does not conduct certification audits. Purchasing training or consultancy services from Fifty Shades Greener Ltd is not a requirement for certification and provides no preferential treatment or advantage in the FSG Certification process.