Climate Label (The Change Climate Project)

The Climate Label (formerly Climate Neutral Certified) is an international sustainability certification from the US non-profit The Change Climate Project (501c3). It documents that a company takes responsibility for the complete carbon footprint of its previous year's products: emissions are measured (Scope 1, 2 and 3 to GHG Protocol), demonstrably reduced and the remainder offset via verified climate projects (Verra VCS, Gold Standard, Click for Climate).

The process runs in three annual steps: (1) measurement using the in-house BEE tool (Brand Emissions Estimator), including cradle-to-customer scope and packaging, (2) drafting a concrete reduction action plan with at least one two-year target, (3) purchasing high-quality climate credits for remaining emissions and contributing to a common solutions fund. Only after independent review by an 'Approved Provider' is the label granted.

Among the 400+ certified brands are Allbirds, REI Co-op, Reformation, Peak Design, Vuori, Etsy, BioLite, Klean Kanteen, Nisolo and Necessaire. For garment manufacturers the label is a strong marketing tool in the US and UK markets; in Europe it is regarded as complementary to Bluesign, GRS and OEKO-TEX Made in Green. Criticism: the offset model is criticised by some NGOs (New Climate Institute) as greenwashing if reduction is neglected - the label responded in 2023 with stricter reduction evidence.