Since 1984, SCS has been a pioneer and leader in the field of sustainability standards and third-party certification, working across the economy in the natural resources, built environment, food and agriculture, consumer products and climate sectors. Partnering with companies, government agencies, NGOs, and stakeholders, we are striving to advance sustainable development goals through independent assessment, the application of sound science, and innovative solutions. Through these services, we are enabling decision-makers and purchasers to make informed decisions, giving innovators a competitive edge, and helping to drive the development of leadership standards to create a framework for continuous improvement.
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Vision & Mission
Our Vision
A sustainable future that safeguards our environment and our climate, respects and supports the dignity, health and wellbeing of workers and communities, and raises the standard of living for all.
Our Mission
To achieve this vision, we have established programs and services designed to recognize the outstanding achievements of companies, institutions, and organizations who are meeting the highest levels of performance in environmental protection, social/ethical responsibility, product safety and quality, while stimulating continuous improvement on the path toward sustainability. In this undertaking, we employ a life-cycle framework, state-of-the-art science, proven analytical methods, performance metrics and professional expertise.
Our Commitment
To deliver world-class professional service, uphold our integrity as a neutral third-party, and continually improve our programs and services in order to have the greatest possible positive impact.
Our Role As A Neutral Third Party
Third-party audits, test results, and certifications provide the independent perspective needed to help our clients evaluate their own performance, identify improvement opportunities, determine the best steps forward, and reassure customers and stakeholders.
We vigorously uphold our third-party status through the following steps:
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Independence
SCS is beholden to no other organization or entity
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Fee-for-Service Only
Our fees are transparent, and not attached to the outcome of any audit assessment or certification, or to the volume of sales of certified products
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Quality
Our internal quality system and outside accreditations insulate us from commercial, financial and other pressures that might influence the findings of a certification, verification or validation, and interpretations of test results.
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Avoiding Conflict of Interest
All staff and contractors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest, and each SCS Program Director and Manager is responsible for identifying, analyzing and documenting potential conflicts of interest in order to avoid such conflicts.
Our History
Since we were founded in 1984, sustainability has become a key business driver around the globe. Here are some of the exciting milestones in our history.
A Benefit Corporation
Founded in 1984 as Ohlone Inc., we became Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) in 1988, a name which better communicated our efforts to apply rigorous science to the task of third-party certification of claims, paying attention to holistic, system-wide ramifications. In 2012, we became SCS Global Services, communicating our international reach, and reorganized as one of California’s first Benefit Corporations, a class of corporation that has a corporate purpose to create a material positive impact on society and the environment.