Reference Guide
Sustainable Packaging Certifications
A plain-English reference to every major certification in sustainable packaging — what each one actually verifies, who issues it, and which markets it covers. 24 certifications across 5 categories.
11 of these are searchable filters on Repak
Badge key
ProductApplies to a specific product or packageCompanyApplies to the company as a wholeBothCan be applied at either levelOn RepakAvailable as a search filter on Repak
Recycled Content & Ocean Plastic
These certifications verify that recycled or recovered material was actually used in production — not just claimed. Key for buyers with recycled content targets or EPR compliance requirements.
GRS
Global Recycled Standard
Both
Certifying body: Textile Exchange / Control Union / Bureau Veritas
Certifies: Recycled input material content of at least 20% by weight. Includes full chain-of-custody verification from waste source to finished product.
Key markets: Global
RCS
Recycled Claim Standard
Both
Certifying body: Textile Exchange / Control Union
Certifies: A recycled content claim only — no minimum percentage threshold. Less rigorous than GRS. Does not verify the percentage, only that some recycled content was used.
Key markets: Global
OBP
Ocean Bound Plastic Certification
Both
Certifying body: Zero Plastic Oceans (ZPO) — standard owner; Control Union — primary auditing CB
Certifies: Plastic collected within 50km of a coastline or waterway in a high ocean-plastic-risk zone, with full chain of custody from collection through manufacturing.
Key markets: Global
Forest & Fibre
For paper, cardboard, and wood-based packaging. These are the most widely recognized certifications globally and are often required by major retailers.
FSC
Forest Stewardship Council
BothOn Repak
Certifying body: FSC International / Accredited certification bodies
Certifies: Responsibly managed forests and chain of custody through the supply chain. The FSC certificate number can be verified directly at info.fsc.org — Repak checks this registry.
Key markets: Global
PEFC
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
BothOn Repak
Certifying body: PEFC International / National member organizations
Certifies: Sustainable forest management and chain of custody. The European counterpart to FSC — equally rigorous, more commonly held by European suppliers.
Key markets: Global (strongest in Europe)
SFI
Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Both
Certifying body: Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc.
Certifies: Sustainable forest management for North American forest operations. The dominant alternative to FSC for US and Canadian packaging manufacturers.
Key markets: US, Canada
Recyclability
Recyclability certifications verify that packaging is compatible with real-world recycling infrastructure — not just theoretically recyclable. Regional coverage varies significantly.
How2Recycle
How2Recycle
ProductOn Repak
Certifying body: Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC)
Certifies: Standardized on-pack recyclability labeling for US and Canadian streams. Tests actual compatibility with US Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) — not just material type. The de facto US standard; required by major retailers including Target and Walmart.
Key markets: US, Canada
APR
APR Design® Guide
Product
Certifying body: Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR)
Certifies: Plastic packaging design compatibility with US plastics recycling streams. Evaluates inks, adhesives, and closures — not just resin type. Critical for packaging claiming recyclability in the US.
Key markets: US
RecyClass
RecyClass
Product
Certifying body: RecyClass (Plastics Recyclers Europe)
Certifies: Recyclability of plastic packaging against European recycling streams. EU equivalent of the APR Design Guide. Not relevant for US suppliers.
Key markets: EU
OPRL
OPRL
Product
Certifying body: OPRL Ltd
Certifies: Recyclability labelling in UK kerbside streams. Indicates whether packaging is collected by UK councils for recycling. UK-only — does not transfer to US or EU.
Key markets: UK
ARL
Australasian Recycling Label
Product
Certifying body: PREP Design / APCO
Certifies: On-pack recycling guidance for Australian and New Zealand collection streams. Australasia-only — not applicable in the US or EU.
Key markets: Australia, New Zealand
Green Dot
Green Dot / Der Grüne Punkt
Company
Note: Green Dot does not mean the packaging is recyclable. It is an administrative record that a company paid into an EPR scheme. Do not use it to make recyclability or sustainability claims.
Certifying body: PRO Europe / national PROs
Certifies: The producer has paid EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) fees into a national collection scheme. This is a fee-payment record — not a recyclability claim and not a sustainability certification.
Key markets: EU (31 countries)
Compostability
Compostability certifications split on a critical axis: industrial (high-heat commercial composting) vs. home (ambient backyard conditions). These are not interchangeable — verify which type before sourcing.
BPI
BPI Certification
ProductOn Repak
Certifying body: Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)
Certifies: Industrial compostability to ASTM D6400 (plastics) and ASTM D6868 (coatings on paper). The primary US compostability mark. Accepted by most US composting facilities.
Key markets: US, Canada
OK Compost Industrial
OK Compost INDUSTRIAL
ProductOn Repak
Certifying body: TUV Austria
Certifies: Industrial compostability to EN 13432. High-heat facility required — does not break down in home compost bins or at ambient temperature.
Key markets: EU, Global
OK Compost Home
OK Compost HOME
ProductOn Repak
Certifying body: TUV Austria
Certifies: Home compostability — breaks down at ambient temperature in a standard backyard compost bin. Stricter than industrial compostability. Rare in packaging.
Key markets: EU, Global
Seedling
Seedling
ProductOn Repak
Certifying body: DIN CERTCO / European Bioplastics
Certifies: Industrial compostability to EN 13432, issued under European Bioplastics' Seedling logo scheme. A common European alternative to OK Compost INDUSTRIAL, widely recognized on compostable films and mailers.
Key markets: EU, Global
EN 13432
EN 13432
Product
Certifying body: DIN CERTCO / TUV Austria / Vinçotte
Certifies: Industrial compostability of packaging under EU standard. The European baseline for compostable packaging — required for bioplastics sold in EU markets.
Key markets: EU, Global
AS 4736
AS 4736
Product
Certifying body: Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA)
Certifies: Industrial compostability under Australasian standard. Equivalent to EN 13432 but calibrated for Australian composting infrastructure.
Key markets: Australia, New Zealand
AS 5810
AS 5810
Product
Certifying body: Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA)
Certifies: Home compostability under Australasian standard. Equivalent to OK Compost Home but for Australian/NZ conditions.
Key markets: Australia, New Zealand
Company-Level & Advanced
These apply to the company as a whole rather than a specific product. They signal broader organizational commitment to sustainability and are strong supplier vetting signals.
ISO 14001
ISO 14001
CompanyOn Repak
Certifying body: ISO / Accredited CBs (BSI, SGS, Bureau Veritas)
Certifies: A certified Environmental Management System (EMS). Does not set environmental performance targets — it certifies that the company has a documented, audited system for managing its environmental impacts.
Key markets: Global
EcoVadis
EcoVadis
CompanyOn Repak
Certifying body: EcoVadis SAS
Certifies: Supplier sustainability performance scored across four themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. Rated Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. Widely required by Fortune 500 procurement teams as a supplier qualification threshold.
Key markets: Global
Carbon Neutral
Carbon Neutral Certification
BothOn Repak
Certifying body: Climate Active (AU/NZ) / Carbon Trust (UK) / PAS 2060 (Global)
Certifies: Net zero carbon emissions for a product or company, verified by a third party. Requires measurement, reduction, and offset of emissions — not just offset purchasing.
Key markets: Australia, New Zealand, UK, Global
C2C
Cradle to Cradle
BothOn Repak
Certifying body: Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
Certifies: Material health, recyclability, renewable energy use, water stewardship, and social fairness across five categories. Rated Bronze through Platinum. One of the most comprehensive product sustainability frameworks available.
Key markets: Global
B Corp
B Corp Certification
Company
Certifying body: B Lab
Certifies: High social and environmental performance across the entire business — governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. Requires verified score of 80+ on the B Impact Assessment and legal commitment to stakeholder governance.
Key markets: Global
Find verified suppliers on Repak
Every supplier on Repak is verified against the public certification registries listed above. No self-reported claims.
Search suppliers →