Sustainable Energy Practices
Sustainable Energy Practices Overview
GreenCircle’s Sustainable Energy Practices (SEP) certifies products that are made with lower energy impacts during manufacturing, including reduced energy use, less fossil fuel use, or more renewable and carbon-free electricity.
Products certified by GreenCircle Sustainable Energy Practices may be recognized by Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly (CPF) program, which highlights products with trusted certifications that meet sustainability standards.
Learn more about Sustainable Energy Practices certification for Amazon CPF here.
Eligible Products
Products from any category manufactured at facilities with verified sustainable energy management and energy sourcing
Manufactured using measurable energy efficiency improvements, renewable or lower-carbon energy use, or reduced fossil fuel intensity
Certification applies to facility and process-level manufacturing practices only — not product design, performance, or in-use energy consumption
Eligibility for Sustainable Energy Practices Certification under the Audit Plan is through at least one of three achievements:
Energy Usage Reduction
Greater than or equal to 1% energy usage reduction per product through a company’s demonstration that energy efficiencies have been achieved through implemented conservation measures compared to a baseline period, benchmarked to production.
Onsite Fossil Fuel Usage Reduction
Greater than or equal to 1% onsite fossil fuel usage reduction per product through a company’s demonstration that onsite fossil fuel sources have been replaced with lower carbon energy sources, such as electric heating, compared to a baseline period, benchmarked to production.
Renewable / Carbon-Free Energy Usage
Increase in renewable/carbon-free energy usage (compared to baseline and benchmarked to production) or demonstrated achievement of 100% renewable or carbon-free electricity.
Minimum Criteria
Products are manufactured at facilities under the company’s direct control with verifiable energy practice improvements (energy reduction, reduced fossil fuel use, and/or increased renewable or carbon-free energy)
Primary energy and production data is available for all facilities
Chain-of-custody controls that ensure renewable energy traceability and prevent double counting
Data Requirements
12-months of primary energy usage and production data for baseline and evaluation periods
Energy practice improvement evidence (energy reduction, reduced onsite fossil fuel use, and/or increased renewable or carbon-free energy)
Renewable or carbon-free energy documentation, as applicable (e.g., utility records, contracts, certificates, attribute tracking)
Process and facility records (e.g., process flow diagrams) to support product allocation, traceability, and chain of custody
Certification Framework
GreenCircle’s Sustainable Energy Practices (SEP) Certification demonstrates an organization’s commitment to integrating improvements to a product’s manufacturing process. The guideline provides details on the certification process and methodology for GreenCircle Certified SEP Certification. GreenCircle will conduct the audit for SEP Certification
in accordance with the requirements and methods set forth in the audit plan and in GreenCircle’s Certification Scheme which is in alignment with ISO17065:2012.
Timeline
Completion of the standard certification process takes approximately 75 business days.
Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly
Products certified by GreenCircle Sustainable Energy Practices may be recognized by Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly (CPF) program, which highlights products with trusted certifications that meet sustainability standards.
Eligibility for Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly must meet at least one of three pathways:
Energy Usage Reduction
Greater than or equal to 1% energy usage reduction via conservation measures.
Onsite Fossil Fuel Usage Reduction
Greater than or equal to 1% fossil fuel reduction.
Facilities can get CPF credit for reducing fossil
fuels through any measures, not just onsite
renewable generation.
Product-Level Requirements for this pathway
when using renewable energy displacement:
Products must demonstrate that renewable
generation from the onsite system makes
up at least 20% of total facility energy consumption.
Renewable / Carbon-Free Energy Usage
Option A: 100% RECs purchased for 100% of electricity consumption (not other energy sources).
Option B: Onsite generated renewable electricity representing at least 20% of total energy consumption.
Product-Level Requirements for this pathway: Products must demonstrate that RECs purchased equal 100% of total electricity consumption of the facility.
Related Resources
On Demand Webinar
Behind the Label: Why Third-Party Certifications Matter in Sustainable Marketing
Blog Article
How Consumers Use Retailer Platforms to Shop Sustainably
Ready to Get Certified?
Whether you’re just exploring SEP certification or ready to get started, our team is here to help. Connect with us.
Already a client? Contact your account manager or email clientservices@greencirclecertified.com.