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Explainers

How to read a sustainability certification (without getting greenwashed)

Sam Ojo · PhD, Materials Science. Contributor since 2024. · Published July 26, 2026

Quick answer

Only three certifications on most reusable products are independently verified and searchable: B Corp, Climate Neutral, and 1% for the Planet. Every other label is either self-declared or a marketing phrase.

How to verify in 60 seconds

  • B Corp: search the brand at bcorporation.net/find-a-b-corp.
  • Climate Neutral: search at changeclimate.org.
  • 1% for the Planet: search the member directory at onepercentfortheplanet.org.

If a brand claims one of these and does not appear in the directory, the claim is invalid.

Frequently asked

Is BPA-free a certification?
No. It is a self-declared material claim. Pair it with an independent food-safety cert (LFGB or FDA) as supporting evidence.
What does Climate Neutral Certified actually mean?
The brand has measured its cradle-to-customer emissions for the year, reduced what it can, and purchased offsets for the rest. It is verified annually.

Sources

  • B Lab certification standards
  • Change Climate methodology