Sustainability Certification Market Report 2025

The sustainability certification market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.87 billion in 2024 to $3.1 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to the increasing emphasis on corporate social responsibility, heightened awareness about climate change, growing pressure from regulatory bodies, expansion of global trade, and rising consumer demand for ethically sourced products.

The sustainability certification market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $4.17 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to the increasing adoption of sustainable procurement practices, rising government incentives for green certification, growing demand for supply chain transparency, expansion of environmental regulations across regions, and greater integration of sustainability into corporate strategies. Key trends during the forecast period include advancements in digital auditing tools, innovations in blockchain-based certification systems, research and development in sustainability metrics, development of integrated environmental and social assessment frameworks, and the incorporation of artificial intelligence in compliance verification.

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 players 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 and Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.

North America was the largest region in the sustainability certification market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in sustainability certification report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the sustainability certification market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s recommendations and conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The rapid escalation of U.S. tariffs and the resulting trade tensions in spring 2025 are significantly impacting the professional services sector, particularly in legal, consulting, architectural, and engineering domains. Higher costs for imported technology, software licenses, office equipment, and digital infrastructure have raised operational expenses for firms reliant on global tools and platforms. International consulting projects are facing delays or cost overruns due to increased travel expenses and restricted access to foreign-sourced data and tools. Additionally, clients in manufacturing, construction, and logistics, heavily affected by tariffs are cutting back on outsourced services, squeezing demand for professional expertise. As a result, service providers are reevaluating pricing structures, expanding domestic supplier relationships, and investing in AI-driven solutions to sustain profitability and client engagement amid economic uncertainty.

Sustainability certification is a formal acknowledgment granted by an independent organization to confirm that a product, service, or company complies with specific environmental, social, and economic standards. This certification assists businesses in demonstrating their commitment to responsible practices, enhancing transparency throughout supply chains, and building consumer trust by validating sustainable performance.

The primary types of sustainability certification include environmental certifications, social certifications, product certifications, and sustainable supply chain certifications. Environmental certifications are formal recognitions given to products, services, or organizations that meet defined environmental standards and exhibit sustainable and eco-friendly practices. The various service types encompass certification and auditing, training and education, consulting, and others, offered by service providers such as third-party certifying bodies, government and non-governmental agencies, and in-house corporate certification programs. Sustainability certification is applied across various verticals including industrial, commercial, and residential sectors, serving multiple end-uses such as industrial machinery, automotive, construction, food and beverage, information technology, energy and utilities, aerospace and defense, healthcare, and more.

The sustainability certification market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides sustainability certification market statistics, including the sustainability certification industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the sustainability certification market share, detailed sustainability certification market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the sustainability certification industry. This sustainability certification market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

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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