Environmental and sustainable accreditation schemes
2 min. read
Demonstrating your business's green credentials can be enhanced by undergoing more formal accreditation.
This is a process where an independent organisation assesses your business against a recognised standard, such as ISO 14001 for environmental management or Carbon Trust accreditation schemes.
According to British Business Bank researchLink opens in a new window, smaller businesses are estimated to account for half of all UK's business-driven emissions.
As such, undertaking the steps required to achieve an internationally recognised certification could be a valuable path to net zeroLink opens in a new window.
From reducing carbon and greenhouse gas emissions to implementing an effective waste management system, environmental certification schemes can deliver operational efficiency, lower costs, and boost your business's reputationLink opens in a new window.
According to the British Business Bank report, 94% of small businesses have already taken at least one action to reduce emissionsLink opens in a new window.
Environmental standards such as ISO 14001 are created by independent standard organisations such as the International Organization for StandardizationLink opens in a new window.
Third-party organisations such as the British Standards Institution (BSI) and the British Assessment Bureau offer certification services designed to help you implement an environmental management system and comply with ISO 14001 standards.
There are many environmental and Sustainability standards to investigate, and it's worth comparing different standards to choose the right one for your organisation.
Further resources
To help get you started, we've rounded up a sample of accreditation schemes:
- ISO 14001Link opens in a new window
- B CorpLink opens in a new window
- BRE GroupLink opens in a new window
- British Standards InstitutionLink opens in a new window
- Carbon TrustLink opens in a new window
- Investors in the EnvironmentLink opens in a new window
- Green TourismLink opens in a new window
- FairtradeLink opens in a new window
- Green MarkLink opens in a new window
- Green AccordLink opens in a new window
- Sustainability Accounting Standards BoardLink opens in a new window
- Planet Mark
Regional support
Enter your postcode to find business support and case studies from businesses from within your region. You'll be taken to our interactive map.
Reference to any organisation, business and event on this page does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation from the British Business Bank or the UK Government. Whilst we make reasonable efforts to keep the information on this page up to date, we do not guarantee or warrant (implied or otherwise) that it is current, accurate or complete. The information is intended for general information purposes only and does not take into account your personal situation, nor does it constitute legal, financial, tax or other professional advice. You should always consider whether the information is applicable to your particular circumstances and, where appropriate, seek professional or specialist advice or support.
Discover more about sustainability
Articles you may be interested in

What is the UK Business Climate Hub?
- Commit to the UK Business Climate Hub and take steps to be greener, saving your business money and helping the planet to ...

Sustainable and environmental smaller business hubs
- Find out where to source sustainable and environment smaller business hubs that will help you make your business greener ...

Green transportation initiatives for smaller businesses
- Interested in green transportation for your business? We bring you schemes to equip your business with more sustainable ...

Making business finance work for you
Starting a business doesn’t come with a set of instructions.
We know that understanding the many different types of financial product in the marketplace can be difficult.
Our Making business finance work for you guide is designed to help you make an informed choice about accessing the right type of finance for you and your business.