Certified for the Future: Convening Top Certifiers at PlanetHAUS

The rising concern about climate change has spurred an influx of environmental certification options. The positive side? More people care about the state of our planet and are taking action. The negative side? In a sea of certifications, it can be difficult for businesses to choose which one to start with. Ecolabel Index reports that 456 sustainability certifications currently exist across the globe, making the landscape more crowded than ever.

With the increase of options can come the increase in confusion from customers on which certifications to trust. The European Union clocked this issue and implemented the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (ECGT) Directive in September 2026. Simply put, the directive’s goal is to eliminate greenwashing and ensure there is no ambiguity about standalone environmental logos. The trickle-down effect empowers consumers to make purchasing decisions with easy-to-access info on the spot. It’s a high bar to reach, but 1% for the Planet took action to ensure we’re a straightforward ECGT/EmpCo-compliant certification. And, to prove we’re committed to providing our members with resources to support global compliance, we even tweaked our logos this year to increase transparency.

Just a few days before the ECGT Directive went into effect, 1% for the Planet held a first-of-its-kind event, convening certifiers—who also happen to be 1% for the Planet Impact Partners—in our network. In the midst of Climate Week NYC, we brought together B Lab, Fairtrade America and The Change Climate Project as part of PlanetHAUS NYC. With a packed room, we discussed what it means to be certified for the future, how certifiers play a critical role in setting standards and how to hold businesses accountable.

Among the excited chatter in the room at our event, B Corp Chomps announced its 1% for the Planet membership. The big news kicked off with Chomps’ Director of Sustainability and Impact, Kelley Brady, and 1% for the Planet CEO Kate Williams sharing the beginning of Chomps’ stacked certification journey and the big goals ahead. 

"Certifications can be incredibly valuable because they provide both a roadmap and accountability,” Brady said. “As Chomps has grown, we've wanted to ensure that impact grows alongside the business. Certifications like B Corp help us assess how we're operating and identify opportunities to improve, while creating a level of transparency and accountability that goes beyond what we say about ourselves. What made 1% for the Planet such a natural next step is that it creates a tangible, long-term commitment. As Chomps grows, we wanted a model that ensures our impact grows alongside the business. Joining 1% for the Planet allows us to connect our growth to environmental action in a measurable way while becoming part of a community of organizations committed to creating positive change."

Chomps wasn’t the only brand with multiple certifications in the room. Build It Boldly, an American media and leadership development company, is another example of a business with stacked certifications: 1% for the Planet and B Corp. CEO Dr. Kimberly McGlonn guided the conversation and later left us with the advice that “the urgency of this moment in human history demands our organized collaboration.”

We always seem to come back to one thing: collective action is the key to making real impact for people and planet. Being surrounded by certifiers who each have a designated purpose showed us that when we work together, we can create change at scale. 1% for the Planet certifies that businesses donate at least 1% of annual sales to vetted impact partners to accelerate smart environmental impact. B Lab sets the standards behind B Corp Certification, which ensures companies meet requirements across seven impact topics, from fair work and human rights to climate action. Fairtrade America certifies that products like coffee, cocoa and bananas meet rigorous environmental, economic and social standards—so farmers and workers get a better deal. The Change Climate Project certifies companies that measure their carbon footprint and back their climate goals with verified funding for the low-carbon transition. 

Each certification tells its own story, but having multiple certifications can paint a fuller picture of a brand’s values and commitments. And that’s why 1% for the Planet is proud to be connected to impact partners like these organizations—those who are sharing notes and gathering people together for the good of our planet and future generations. 

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