Environment, Climate and Sustainability

The environment, climate and sustainability sector protects people, nature and resources, monitors emissions and assesses environmental risks. Accreditation ensures that testing, analyses and certifications are carried out competently, transparently and to internationally recognised standards – creating trust, safety and quality for the public, businesses and public authorities.

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Overview

As one of the most socially relevant sectors, environment, climate and sustainability covers all activities that protect people, nature and resources. These include monitoring and analysing water, soil, air and waste, controlling emissions and noise, and assessing environmental risks and climate impacts.

The sector also covers sustainable waste management, recycling, environmental management systems and the verification of climate-related claims such as greenhouse gas emissions figures or sustainability reports. These help reduce environmental burdens, deepen understanding of the effects of climate change and foster responsible use of resources.

Role of accreditation

Reliable, transparent testing, inspection and certification systems ensure that societal, environmental and statutory requirements – such as water and soil quality – are met. Accreditation confirms that laboratories, inspection bodies and certification bodies operate with competently and in accordance with international norms and recognised standards, providing the foundation for reliable and reproducible analytical results.

Accreditation also enables the certification of environmental management systems, helping organisations improve their environmental performance. This generates confidence that environmental standards, climate targets and statutory requirements are being correctly applied and monitored.

Importance for the public, businesses and public authorities

For the public, accreditation means protection, transparency and safety. It ensures that environmental and climate data meet established quality standards, giving public authorities and businesses a trustworthy basis for verifying compliance with environmental requirements and effectively managing risks to health and ecosystems.

Whether in environmental monitoring, waste management or climate reporting, competently conducted testing enhances the accuracy and credibility of the data collected.

The objective assessment of professional competence also builds trust in individuals and organisations active in the environmental and sustainability sphere. Overall, accreditation makes a significant contribution to safeguarding and maintaining quality of life and advancing climate and resource protection credibly.

Types of accreditation offered