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