Get certified as a footprint provider

Pilot phase: ESFC currently coordinates auditor engagement for pilot participants. If you want to start certification, email info@esf-coalition.org. Auditor capacity is limited and allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Open to any organisation that calculates product footprints for climate labels on food and drink under the EU Empowering Consumers Directive (2024/825). If you are a footprint provider, or you calculate footprints in-house for your own products (self-managed pathway), follow the steps below. If you make the claims but work with an external footprint provider, go to the page for traders.

How it works

  1. 1

    Download the scheme documents

    Start by downloading the scheme documents below.

    Annex C (Trader Binding Clauses) is included in the Rulebook.

  2. 2

    Complete Annex A and Annex B

    Fill in the provider sections of Annex A (Provider Pathway Registration) and your full Annex B (Provider Scoping Brief). You can work on both in parallel. Questions? Contact us at info@esf-coalition.org.
  3. 3

    Submit Annex A to ESFC

    Submit your completed Annex A to ESFC using the form below. ESFC will complete the Layer 1 and Layer 2 administrative sections, including which questions the CAB will need to assess and which are already covered by existing reviews, and return the completed document to you.

    Submit Annex A

    Accepted formats: .docx, .pdf

  4. 4

    Request fee proposals from CABs

    Once you have received your ESFC-completed Annex A, send it together with your Annex B to one or more accepted CABs from the list below. You can request proposals from multiple CABs and compare offers before selecting one.

    The list of auditors accepted under Section 2.4a of the Rulebook will be published here. Until then, contact us at info@esf-coalition.org and we will put you in touch.

  5. 5

    Select your CAB

    Review the offers and select the CAB you want to work with.
  6. 6

    Sign and submit the Participation Agreement

    Download the Participation Agreement (pilot version) from step 1, sign it and upload it here. ESFC then lists you as "Applicant, pre-validation".

    Submit Participation Agreement

    Accepted formats: .docx, .pdf

  7. 7

    CAB validation

    Your auditor runs the validation directly with you. ESFC is not actively involved at this stage, but you can contact us at any time if questions come up or you need support.
  8. 8

    Validation statement

    Your CAB submits its validation statement to ESFC.
  9. 9

    Scheme licence issued

    ESFC issues your scheme licence, sends you a confirmation and invoice, and updates your pathway status on the portal. Traders you have bound under Individual Assurance receive individual registry entries. Traders bound collectively through your standard terms (using the Annex C model clauses) are covered by your certified pathway without needing separate entries.

Binding traders collectively

Binding traders collectively: If you are a provider with multiple traders, you can bind them all at once by incorporating the Annex C model clauses into your standard customer terms. Traders bound this way do not need to apply individually.