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ÉcoEntreprise certification is a mark of quality recognizing companies committed to sustainable, environmentally-friendly practices.
The aim of this certification is to encourage and promote eco-responsible behavior within companies, while offering official recognition of their efforts in the field of sustainable development.
Established in 2005, the program enables companies to assess and highlight their level of maturity in terms of sustainable development and corporate social responsibility.
Our article provides a comprehensive overview of the subject, and will help you choose the EcoEntreprise certification that’s right for your company.
The origins of the EcoEntreprise standard
The EcoEntreprise standard draws its inspiration from ISO 26000, defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in November 2010, which establishes the principles of corporate social responsibility.
This standard served as the basis for developing EcoEntreprise certification, a program designed to promote sustainable development within Swiss companies.
Since 2013, the EcoEntreprise program has been accessible to all organizations in Switzerland, and is continually evolving to adapt to the specificities of each company or sector.
What is EcoEntreprise certification?
In a world where the environmental transformations caused by climate change are becoming increasingly significant and frequent, a company, whatever its sector of activity, must be able to justify its positive integration within the framework of sustainable development, as well as its social responsibilities. Any company wishing to do so, whatever its sector of activity, can use a checklist available on the Internet called OK Pilotto assess its “level of integration”. This diagnosis enables the company to take stock of its situation in these areas, and to define its strengths and weaknesses. Depending on the results obtained, several rankings are possible.
Certification levels
To obtain EcoEntreprise certification, it is essential to carry out a diagnosis for your organization/company, based on the OK Pilot checklist available on the Internet.
There are two versions of this checklist: the complete version and the basic version.
Based on this checklist, an audit is then carried out by an independent body, which issues certification for a period of three years.
A follow-up audit is also organized every year.
After theexternal audit, three certifications can be issued by the certification body. Firstly, the EcoEntreprise DD (Sustainable Development) certificate. This guarantees a company’s high level of performance in the field of sustainable development. A second certificate, the Certificat EcoEntreprise Développement durable-Responsabilité sociétale (EcoEnterprise Sustainable Development-Social Responsibility Certificate), is based on ISO 26000 standards and guarantees a company’s good performance in these two areas. Finally, the EcoEntreprise Excellence Certificate rewards excellent results in both sustainable development and corporate social responsibility.
For the sake of completeness, we should point out that there is also certification based on a declaration by the company itself, but without an external audit.
This involves signing a specific form in which the company undertakes to respect a certain number of criteria.
This “light” certification is valid for one year.
In the space of twenty years, EcoEntreprise certification has established itself as the benchmark in its field in Switzerland.
This success is due first and foremost to the fact that it is based on the international ISO 26000 standard, which brings together multiple criteria and is particularly demanding.
What’s more, EcoEntreprise inspires confidence thanks to the external audit that validates and formalizes all the results, providing clear visibility and increased confidence.
Finally, EcoEntreprise certification is also recognized at European level: if your company obtains one of the two EcoEntreprise certifications (SD/RSE or Excellence), it will also benefit from the European label Responsability Europewhich is the benchmark for both corporate social responsibility and sustainable development.
As a reference certification, EcoEntreprise is already integrated and taken into account when awarding public contracts.
This is why in some cantons, if your company is not certified, it will be more difficult to obtain the award of a public contract.
Source : https://ecoentreprise.ch/
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What level of certification should my company aim for?
Every situation is different, but it’s in the interest of every company, whatever its size, to obtain the EcoEntreprise label.
Of course, depending on your company’s size, resources and sector of activity, the ideal level of certification may vary.
We can help you choose the ideal level of certification for your company.
For an SME
For SMEs, the benefits of the EcoEntreprise program are numerous. First and foremost, it enables them to carry out a comprehensive, global analysis of their environmental impact. It is also a valuable tool for assessing their CSR practices, enabling them to take appropriate decisions/actions. The assessment/audit can be carried out in-house, if the company has the necessary human skills, or by external auditors. It goes without saying that the budget will not be at all the same. The impact on potential customers will also vary, as self-assessment only allows access to basic status, which simply certifies that a company has implemented an SD/CSR approach.
For an SME, the main obstacle to obtaining certification will be cost.
Indeed, we can break down the costs associated with Eco Entreprise certification into three categories.
The first is the various costs involved in implementing the company’s CSR/DD approach, which can vary widely.
The second is the cost of using the OK Pilot software, which takes the form of a subscription, the amount of which varies according to the size of the company, the number of employees and the number of checklists to be completed.
The subscription gives access to specialist advice, as well as visibility on the EcoEntreprise website and social networks.
Finally, the third cost is the external audit.
Again, this varies greatly according to the size of the company, but also according to the certification you are aiming for.
Indeed, the higher the level of certification you are aiming for, the higher the costs will be.
You’ll find the rates on this page.
This fee includes the initial audit, the follow-up audit and the certification.
This represents a definite cost, which is why many SMEs prefer to self-declare, such as Ferrari Architects based in Lausanne
So, for an SME, self-declaration can be a good starting point, which can then be used as the basis for certification.
The main argument will be budgetary.
For a medium-sized company
The questions that arise are the same as for an SME.
Very often, the SD/CSR approach is more advanced in a medium-sized company, which implies a more in-depth analysis.
That’s why we advise you to opt for one of the three levels of certification (Eco Entreprise DD, Entreprise DD & RSE or Entreprise “Excellence”), rather than self-declaration.
This choice enables them to obtain a certification that gives them a real competitive edge over competitors, who are generally more numerous than for an SME.
Very often, these companies may already have ISO-type certifications, which makes it easier to carry out the audit and obtain EcoEntreprise certification.
In fact, EcoEntreprise takes ISO standards into account, which means that companies choosing EcoEntreprise can avoid duplication of analysis.
What’s more, EcoEntreprise has been designated as the reference certification in Switzerland, enabling equivalence and gateways with other European certifications.
You can find the rates on the subscription cost and on audit + certification directly on the EcoEntreprise website.
For large companies
For a large company, the issues are slightly different.
Brand image is a powerful argument, and in today’s world where climate change and environmental protection are at the forefront of customer concerns, it’s essential to show that your company really is taking steps to do its bit for the planet.
For this type of company, it seems essential to aim for EcoEntreprise Excellence certification, which represents a definite cost, but whose spin-offs in terms of image, reputation and competitive advantage will more than make up for the sums invested.
Nevertheless, the need for Excellence certification may vary according to the company’s sector of activity.
For example, a company whose activities are considered polluting, such as in construction, industry or transport, will be more interested in obtaining this level of certification than a service company.
What are the steps involved in obtaining certification?
Diagnosis
Once you’ve decided to apply for EcoEntreprise certification, the first step is simply to carry out an initial diagnosis by completing one of the checklists at your disposal (complete or basic). The basic checklist can be used by smaller companies with a low environmental impact. These two checklists are based on the OK Pilot software and enable a precise diagnosis of the initial situation.
This diagnosis can be carried out in-house, or by an external service provider if no-one in the company can do it.
After this initial diagnostic stage, the company needs to define the sustainable development and corporate social responsibility criteria on which it wishes/can act and position itself.
This depends on a number of criteria, such as business sector, company size, etc.
Towards certification
The diagnosis, carried out online using OK Pilot software, provides instant information on whether the company meets the standards required for certification.
All requirements are available online.
Right from this stage, your company has the opportunity to communicate the results of the assessment, so as to benefit as soon as possible from the positive spin-offs generated.
Performing the audit
Once the checklist has been completed and the modifications made, you can arrange for an external audit to be carried out by an accredited certification body.
The latter will check that the results are in line with the certification requirements.
Once the audit has been completed, the certification body will award your certificate.
This certificate provides a clear indication of the results achieved by your company, which will be all the more profitable if the results are good.
If there is room for improvement, the auditor will suggest it.
How do I keep my certification?
Once EcoEntreprise certification has been obtained, it must be maintained.
To do this, a follow-up audit will be carried out at the end of the first year, and then again in the second year.
These audits are less stringent than the initial, more comprehensive audit.
At the end of the three-year certification period, a re-certification audit will extend its validity.
Which organizations carry out the audits?
If you wish to obtain EcoEntreprise certification, you must absolutely use a recognized organization to conduct the certification audit.
You are entirely free to choose the certification body from the list of partners “Certification audits“.
Once you’ve chosen an organization, you’ll need to specify the certification you hope to obtain, as well as all the legal information about your company (location, number of employees, certifications already obtained, etc.).
To conclude...
Choosing the right level of EcoEntreprise certification is a crucial step for any organization wishing to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable development and social responsibility.
Whether you’re an SME, a mid-sized company or a large corporation, there’s a certification to suit your needs and capabilities.
SMEs can start with self-declaration before aiming for more ambitious certification, while medium-sized and large companies can opt for higher levels of certification to boost their competitiveness and brand image.
By incorporating the demanding standards of ISO 26000, and benefiting from rigorous external audits, EcoEntreprise certification offers official and rewarding recognition of the efforts made by Swiss companies to contribute to a more sustainable future.
Whatever the size of your organization, committing to this process is an investment not only for the company itself, but also for society as a whole.
