Cert guide: what each certification actually requires
Ranked by rigor — because a Demeter inspection is three days on the farm and a leaf logo is an afternoon in a design tool. Every entry links to the full story: what it requires, who audits it, and what it does not cover.
- GreenSpecs sorts certifications into tiers by audit depth: farm-level audits rank highest, company-level audits next, single-attribute testing below that.
- Marketing words — "natural", "eco-friendly", "clean" — have no legal standard and no auditor, per the FTC Green Guides.
- Certifications are one of five signals in a GreenSpecs score, worth 20 of 100 points. See how we score.
Gold — Farm or company audited
Independent inspector visited.
USDA Organic
A federal inspector visits the farm annually. No synthetic pesticides, no GMOs, soil health standards, and strict processing rules. One of the most meaningful labels in food.
Demeter Biodynamic
The most rigorous farm certification. Builds on USDA Organic and treats the farm as a closed living system — composting, biodiversity corridors, livestock integration. Very few farms qualify.
Regenerative Organic Certified
Built on top of USDA Organic. Adds measurable soil carbon sequestration, robust animal welfare standards, and farmer economic resilience. The newest and most comprehensive food cert.
B Corp Certified
The whole company is audited across workers, community impact, environment, and governance. Not just a product claim — the entire business model is reviewed. Score must exceed 80/200.
Fair Trade USA
Audits that farmers and workers receive fair minimum prices and safe working conditions. A community premium fund goes directly to the farming community for schools, clinics, and infrastructure.
Silver — Real testing, specific scope
Verified but narrower.
Non-GMO Project Verified
Third-party testing confirms no genetically modified ingredients. A real test, but a narrow one — it says nothing about pesticides, soil health, or farming practices.
Rainforest Alliance
Farm-level audit covering deforestation, biodiversity, water use, and basic worker welfare. Rigor varies by region and commodity. Better than no cert, but more variable than USDA Organic.
EPA Safer Choice
The EPA reviews every single ingredient for safety to human health and aquatic ecosystems. The real standard for cleaning products. Not easy to get.
Certified Humane
Third-party audited standards for space, enrichment, and treatment of farm animals. More meaningful than cage-free or free-range, which have looser definitions.
FSC Certified
Wood and paper from forests managed for long-term health. Third-party audited. The standard for paper, wood products, and fiber-based packaging.
Bronze — Some value, limited scope
Worth noting, not the whole picture.
NSF Certified
Tests that the ingredients listed match what is actually in the product, and screens for common contaminants. Useful but does not evaluate farming, environmental impact, or full sustainability.
Made with Organic Ingredients
Contains at least 70% USDA Organic certified ingredients. The remaining 30% is conventional. Better than fully conventional, but not the same as USDA Organic.
Marketing — No standard, unverified
Anyone can print these. They have no legal standard and require no third-party audit.
If this is the only claim — ask what it actually means. Probably nothing. The greenwashing guide takes each one apart.
Scan any label and the score will weight every cert it finds by the tiers above.