Green Policies, Regulations & Standards

The Responsible Minerals Assurance Process, or RMAP, is the Responsible Minerals Initiative’s flagship assurance program for responsible mineral sourcing. It uses independent third-party assessment of smelter and refiner management systems and sourcing practices to validate conformance with RMI standards. RMAP focuses on a supply-chain pinch point and supports due diligence for minerals such as tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold. It is voluntary, but often required by buyers, procurement policies, ESG programs, and conflict minerals reporting workflows. RMAP does not replace legal due diligence, conflict minerals laws, sanctions screening, or human rights due diligence requirements.

ISCC PLUS Certification is a voluntary global certification system for circular, bio-based, bio-circular and renewable feedstocks. It supports the transition to a circular economy and bioeconomy, covering materials from mechanical and chemical recycling, agricultural and forestry raw materials, biogenic waste and residues, non-fossil materials, and other non-conventional feedstocks. ISCC PLUS is used in plastics, packaging, chemicals, textiles, food, feed and industrial applications. It uses site-specific certification, chain-of-custody and mass balance controls. It is voluntary unless required by buyers, procurement, contracts, or product claims. It does not replace waste, chemical, product safety, packaging, food, feed, or green claims laws.

RSB Certification is a voluntary global certification system for biomass, biofuels, biomaterials and circular economy supply chains. It is based on 12 Principles and Criteria covering social, legal, environmental and management practices for sustainable production in the bio-circular economy. RSB certification can support market access for sustainable aviation fuel, biofuels, renewable chemicals, plastics and biomaterials, including in some regulated markets. It uses chain-of-custody and claims controls and maintains public certificate information. It does not replace fuel law, environmental permits, labor law, land rights rules, food and feed rules or consumer protection law.

The Carbon Trust Standard is a voluntary assurance and certification framework for environmental performance and claims. Carbon Trust services include product carbon footprint labels, product claim verification, and the Carbon Trust Standard for Zero Waste to Landfill. Product carbon footprint labels use recognized standards such as ISO 14067 and the GHG Protocol Product Standard. The framework is global and voluntary unless required by buyers, procurement, contracts or product claims. It does not replace mandatory climate disclosure, energy reporting, waste regulation, environmental permits, consumer protection law or green claims rules. It is relevant for companies seeking credible evidence for carbon, waste and product sustainability claims.

EPEAT is a global voluntary ecolabel for electronics and technology products, managed by the Global Electronics Council. It helps purchasers identify products that meet sustainability criteria across lifecycle impacts. Updated EPEAT criteria address climate change, circularity, chemicals of concern, and corporate ESG performance. EPEAT is especially relevant to public procurement, corporate IT purchasing, and sustainable electronics programs. It is voluntary unless required by buyers, tenders, supplier agreements, or procurement policies. EPEAT does not replace product safety, chemical, energy efficiency, waste electrical equipment or green claims regulation.

The Recycled Claim Standard, or RCS, is a voluntary global standard owned and managed by Textile Exchange. It verifies recycled input and tracks recycled raw materials through the supply chain using third-party certification and chain-of-custody controls. RCS is narrower than the Global Recycled Standard because it does not address chemical, social or environmental production requirements beyond recycled material integrity. It is voluntary unless required by brands, retailers, procurement, contracts or sourcing policies. RCS does not replace waste, chemical, product safety, labeling or green claims laws, but it supports credible recycled content claims.

Marine Stewardship Council Certification is a voluntary global certification and ecolabel program for sustainable wild-capture fisheries and seafood supply chains. The MSC Fisheries Standard assesses whether fish come from a well-managed and sustainable source, while the MSC Chain of Custody Standard verifies that certified seafood is identifiable, separated from non-certified products, and traceable through the supply chain. MSC is voluntary unless required by buyers, procurement, foodservice, retailers or sourcing policies. It does not replace fisheries law, quotas, licenses, food safety, labor, import or traceability rules.

Aquaculture Stewardship Council Certification is a voluntary global certification program for responsible farmed seafood. The ASC Farm Standard sets requirements for aquaculture grow-out farms covering animal welfare, farm management, human rights and environmental stewardship. Once certified product leaves the farm Unit of Certification, each company in the supply chain that owns ASC-certified product must hold valid ASC Chain of Custody certification, using the MSC Chain of Custody Standard plus the ASC CoC Module. ASC is voluntary unless required by buyers, procurement, retailers or sourcing policies. It does not replace aquaculture licenses, environmental permits, food safety, labor, animal health or import rules.

Mexico’s National Circular Economy System is created by the General Circular Economy Law, published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on January 19, 2026. The System coordinates the three levels of government to implement circular economy objectives, including longer product life, waste minimization, recovery, reuse, recycling, valorization, secondary raw materials, circular value chains and extended producer responsibility. It is Mexico-specific, not global. Business obligations may arise through implementing regulations, Official Mexican Standards, circular management registration, reporting duties, producer responsibility agreements and product claims. SEMARNAT plays a central policy and coordination role.

Australia’s Renewable Electricity Guarantee of Origin, or REGO, is part of the national Guarantee of Origin Scheme. It creates certificates that track and verify renewable electricity generated in Australia. REGO is administered by the Clean Energy Regulator under the Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin) Act 2024 and supported by GO Rules and charges legislation. REGO certificates can support renewable electricity claims, market-based emissions accounting, Product Guarantee of Origin certificates and low-emissions product claims. Participation is voluntary unless required by contracts, procurement, finance or internal reporting, but registered participants must follow scheme rules. REGO is Australia-specific, not global.