What Do We Mean By Green?

We award Green America’s Green Business Certification to businesses that are:

• Environmentally responsible in the way they source and manufacture products, and run their operations and facilities;
• Socially equitable and committed to extraordinary practices that benefit the well-being of workers, customers, suppliers, and the greater community; and
• Accountable for their work by continually improving and tracking their progress, and operating with radical transparency in every facet of their business.

Certified and Gold Certified

To grow a new green economy, we must do more than simply recognize the pioneers in the field. We believe a critical step is to help all entrepreneurs and business leaders deepen their work in sustainability. We award Certified and Gold Certified Seals to reward businesses as they make greater progress toward greener business practices.

The levels of Green Business Certification signify a company’s track record in using their platform for social change. They identify the leading green businesses that have laid the groundwork for the green economy, and the emerging green businesses that will help bring it to scale.

Green America does not certify companies that sell or offer services involving tobacco, non-renewable energy, gambling, pornography, weapons, the military or defense systems.

Certified

Certified Green Businesses are leaders in the green business field and certified under Green America’s rigorous standards.

Businesses earn this seal after staff at Green America’s Green Business Network reviews and approves their application.

Gold Certified

Gold Certified Green Businesses go above and beyond our standards in every facet of their work. They are leaders in their industries that embed social responsibility into the DNA of their company.

Businesses earn this seal after completing additional work beyond general certification. Their application has been reviewed and approved by the Standards and Certification Committee, appointed by Green America’s Board of Directors.