Brief description

The IFS ESG Check (International Featured Standard – Environmental, Social and Governance – ESG) is a private validated assessment protocol for sustainability management systems, in accordance with ESG principles, managed by IFS Management GmbH. For the creation of the IFS ESG Check, IFS has received information and support from many experts in the fields of sustainability management systems and regulations, supply chain management, certification and verification, as well as training and business coaching.

The IFS ESG Check can be implemented by companies covered by any scope of IFS systems (i.e. food, logistics, brokering, wholesale, home and personal care products and packaging production).

Detailed description

The IFS ESG Check is an internationally recognized evaluation protocol for sustainability management systems. The fundamental goals of  the IFS ESG Check and the other IFS standards are:

• To establish a common standard with a uniform evaluation system
• To work with accredited Certification Bodies and approved auditors
• To ensure comparability and transparency throughout the entire supply chain
• To reduce costs and time for both suppliers and retailers

The IFS ESG Check includes a unique combination of self-assessment and verification through an on-site audit.

The protocol consists of:

• The main IFS ESG Check module (mandatory) that includes requirements for:
• Sustainability Policy
• Senior Management Commitment
• Sustainability Policy Framework
• Additional (voluntary) IFS Carbon Footprint (CFP) module that includes requirements for:
• Carbon Footprint Management System Framework
• Mitigation Plan

The assessment protocol  also lists the procedures to be followed by companies that are assessed.

 What is the certification procedure?

The IFS ESG self-assessment forms are completed by the company and sent to the certification body for assessment.

The initial IFS ESG Check  verification audit  takes place at a time and date agreed between the company and the certification body. If companies are certified against IFS Food, the IFS ESG verification audit can be performed at the same time as the IFS Food audit. During the verification audit, the auditors / verifiers review the documentation and data presented in the self-assessment.

The Letter of  Confirmation is valid for one year, and the date of the renewal audit is set one year from the initial audit date, and not from the date of certification.

What is the application field of the standard?

The IFS ESG Check is focused on small and medium-sized businesses. It is applied by companies covered by any scope of IFS  systems (i.e. food, logistics, brokerage, wholesale, home and personal care products and packaging production), whether they are IFS certified, or as a “standalone” private protocol for companies that are not IFS certified. In any case, the results of the IFS ESG Check have no impact on the IFS Food certification results.

 What are the benefits of certification?

The IFS ESG Check confirmation constitutes an important asset for businesses, by aiding them to define their status quo and demonstrating which areas they shall develop to meet the future requirements of their stakeholders (e.g. governments, commercial or retail partners, customers, consumers). It can also lend added value to an organization as it:

• Aids to determine the company’s current situation and potential deficiencies in terms of sustainability and ESG principles
• Prepares the client for the evolving legal framework regarding sustainability and ESG principles
• Offers increased trust between business partners and customers, as, confirmation creates a basis for their commitment to ESG principles to be credibly demonstrated to their stakeholders
• It constitutes a tool recognized by large retailer chains
• Ensures that the data are robust and trustworthy, based on the combination of self-assessment and on-site verification audit
• Creates a competitive advantage for concluding new collaboration agreements with large retailer chains.

Who do I contact for certification?

Customer Service Department Contact Person: Ms. Anna Topaltziki, Tel: +30 21 1234 6912, Ext: 2064