Sustainability Certification Market Report 2026

The sustainability certification market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $3.1 billion in 2025 to $3.35 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing corporate sustainability reporting requirements, growth of global supply chain auditing, rising consumer demand for ethical products, expansion of environmental compliance frameworks, early adoption of third-party certification models.

The sustainability certification market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $4.49 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing regulatory enforcement of sustainability standards, rising integration of digital traceability tools, expansion of ESG-driven procurement policies, growing focus on lifecycle impact assessment, increasing investments in sustainability assurance services. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for verified environmental certifications, rising adoption of supply chain transparency standards, growing use of digital certification platforms, expansion of industry-specific sustainability standards, enhanced focus on compliance and audit automation.

The increasing consumer demand for green products is expected to drive growth in the sustainability certification market going forward. Green products are environmentally friendly goods designed, produced, and used in ways that minimize environmental impact throughout their lifecycle. This rising demand stems from environmentally conscious consumers seeking sustainable options that reduce ecological harm, promote health, and align with ethical values without sacrificing quality or convenience. Sustainability certification supports these green products by verifying their environmental integrity, providing consumers with confidence that the products meet credible standards for responsible and eco-friendly practices. For example, in June 2024, Converged by Propel, a US-based SaaS company, reported that U.S. consumers spent 33% more on sustainable items than the previous year, with average annual spending on green products increasing from $9,000 in 2023 to $12,000. Consequently, growing consumer demand for green products is boosting the sustainability certification market.

Key players in the sustainability certification market are focusing on single-attribute certifications to address specific environmental claims with greater transparency and regulatory compliance. Single-attribute certifications verify one particular environmental claim, such as recycled content, biodegradability, or energy efficiency. For instance, in May 2024, SGS S.A., a Switzerland-based verification, testing, and certification company, launched the SGS Green Mark, a certification program covering seven environmental claims including recycled content and biodegradability. This program enables companies across industries to demonstrate the credibility of their environmental initiatives through independent third-party validation, ensuring claims are scientifically supported and meet recognized standards. Its focus on single-attribute certifications simplifies the process, allowing businesses to clearly highlight specific environmental features and respond to increasing regulatory scrutiny on greenwashing.

In January 2025, SGS S.A. acquired Aster Global Environmental Solutions Inc., a US-based environmental services firm specializing in sustainability certification, for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to strengthen SGS’s sustainability service portfolio by expanding expertise in greenhouse gas validation and verification, enhancing its capacity to meet rising global demand for accurate environmental and social responsibility disclosures.

Major companies operating in the sustainability certification market are Technischer Überwachungsverein Rheinland, Bureau Veritas SA, DEKRA SE, Intertek Group Public Limited Company, Canadian Standards Association Group, SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA, NSF International, Scientific Certification Systems Global Services, Forest Stewardship Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - U.S. Green Building Council, The Carbon Trust, Rainforest Alliance Inc., Soil Association Limited, SustainCert SA, Bio Suisse Association, Global Organic Textile Standard International Working Group, Bureau of Indian Standards, Responsible Jewellery Council, Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand, Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute

North America was the largest region in the sustainability certification market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the sustainability certification market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the sustainability certification market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The sustainability certification market includes revenues earned by entities through the carbon footprint assessment services, life cycle assessment (LCA), sustainability reporting and disclosure support, supply chain risk assessment, pre-assessment and readiness review, and sustainability strategy development. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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