Your sustainability commitment, independently verified.
The people who matter most to your business, from customers and employees to investors, procurement teams, and regulators, are asking the same question with increasing urgency: where is the proof? A self-declared sustainability policy is no longer enough. The Certified Sustainable Business mark is.
days
Five working days to confirm completeness, followed by five working days to issue the certification decision once your submission is complete.
Win more business
Compete for contracts where sustainability credentials are scored and verified ESG performance matters.
Build stakeholder trust
Your certification is digitally verifiable on The ESG Institute website for customers, investors and lenders.
Access green finance
Give lenders and investors stronger assurance when sustainability credentials form part of financing criteria.
One assessment. Three levels of recognition.
Every applicant completes the same assessment. Your score across Environment, Social, and Governance determines your tier. You do not need to decide in advance which level to aim for.
Bronze
Foundational commitment
Your organisation meets essential sustainability requirements. Policies are in place, targets exist, and you can evidence both. Bronze recognises businesses at the start of a structured sustainability journey.
Silver
Solid ESG performance
You operate beyond policy. Silver-level organisations measure performance, track progress against targets, and integrate ESG into management decisions. Evidence of improvement is required, not just intention.
Gold
Sustainability leadership
Gold organisations embed sustainability at board level, report against international frameworks, and demonstrate measurable positive impact across all three pillars. Governance reflects accountability at the highest level.
Certified in ten working days.
Most sustainability certifications take months. Some take over a year. We built this programme around one principle: businesses that have done the work should not wait to be recognised for it.
Apply
Complete the application and submit your supporting documentation. Pay the applicable assessment fee shown in the pricing section below.
Completeness check
Within five working days we confirm your submission is complete, or identify anything outstanding.
Assessment
Once confirmed complete, our assessors score your submission against all 45 published criteria.
Certification
Your decision is issued within five additional working days. Digital badge and certificate included.
Working days to confirm completeness
We tell you within five working days whether your submission is complete or flag anything missing. The clock pauses until you respond.
Working days to issue your decision
From confirmed-complete submission to certificate in hand. The same commitment applies to annual renewals.
One fee to apply. Annual fee based on your tier.
Every organisation pays the same assessment fee within its applicable category. Your tier is determined by your score. No hidden costs, no audit surcharges, no surprises.
| Fee | ME / NGO * | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment fee — all tiers (one-time) | £297 | £497 |
| Annual fee — Bronze | £197 | £297 |
| Annual fee — Silver | £297 | £497 |
| Annual fee — Gold | £397 | £797 |
Multi-site organisations and group applications are welcome. Contact us for a tailored fee structure.
Start Your ApplicationWhat you need to know.
Do I need to choose a tier before applying?
No. Every organisation completes the same assessment. Your score determines your tier. You find out at the end of the process, not the beginning.
How does the ten working day commitment work?
Within five working days of submission we confirm completeness. Your certification decision follows within five additional working days. The clock pauses if we need clarification from you.
What happens if we fall below the Bronze threshold?
You receive a full scorecard showing your scores across each pillar and the specific gaps preventing certification. You can address those gaps and resubmit within 12 months at a reassessment fee of just 25% of the original application fee.
Can we move up a tier at renewal?
Yes. If your renewal score meets the threshold for a higher tier, you are upgraded automatically. Your scorecard shows exactly what you need to reach the next level.
Is the certification internationally recognised?
Yes. The Certified Sustainable Business mark is issued by The ESG Institute, one of the world's leading sustainability education, advisory, certification and accreditation organisations, with on-the-ground experts in over 70 countries and members across more than 160 countries.
What frameworks does the assessment align with?
The ESG Institute has developed its own proprietary assessment framework, informed by the world's leading sustainability standards, frameworks and recommendations, such as GRI, TCFD, TNFD, ISO 14001, ISO 26000, and the UN SDGs. Organisations already reporting under any of these frameworks will find the process significantly faster.
One assessment. A decision in ten working days.
The fastest sustainability certification in the market. Apply today and your business could be certified in just a few days.