Buyers increasingly ask suppliers for “ISO” evidence on environment and carbon. Two very different services can answer, and they are often confused.
Certification looks at a system
Management-system certification (ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015) confirms that your system conforms to a standard such as ISO 14001 or ISO 50001 and is effectively implemented. The result is a certificate valid for three years, maintained by annual surveillance. It does not confirm any specific number.
Verification looks at a statement
Validation and verification (ISO/IEC 17029:2019, ISO 14065:2020) examine a specific claim — an organization’s GHG inventory, a product carbon footprint, a project’s emission reductions or a carbon-neutrality claim — against criteria such as ISO 14064-1, ISO 14067 or ISO 14068-1. The result is a statement with an opinion at an agreed level of assurance, for a defined period.
How to tell which one is being asked for
If the request mentions a standard ending in “management system” or asks for a certificate, it is certification. If it mentions tonnes of CO₂e, a footprint, a reporting period or an assurance level, it is verification. When in doubt, ask the buyer what document they expect to receive.
