Innovate with our ecosystem
Engage in dialogue and share our expertise and convictions with all our stakeholders, and build lasting partnerships.
Carry our vision for a sustainable world
Ecocert continues its commitment to a sustainable world by actively participating in collective and professional bodies to help define frameworks for increasingly sustainable practices that respect both nature and people. Ecocert is committed to amplifying the voice of impact-driven businesses. Through direct actions with policymakers or indirect actions via collaborations with our partner organizations, we strive to offer pragmatic and effective solutions to address the environmental, climate, and social challenges our societies face.
Our involvement within our ecosystem
Uphold our third-party auditing mission
Certification bodies, which operate as independent third parties, are essential to ensure compliance with standards and to strengthen consumer trust. We are active members of associations of organic certification bodies such as CEBIO (Association of Certification Bodies for Organic Operators) in France and EOCC in Europe, where we advocate for our mission with both rigor and pragmatism, and collaborate with authorities responsible for enforcing organic regulations, such as INAO in France and the European Commission. Ecocert has also joined the TIC Council, which represents the voice of third-party organizations to industry and public authorities.
Engage in dialogue with label owners
For Ecocert, labels must be drivers of change in both production and consumption. By participating in their governance or maintaining close relationships with label owners, we ensure their transformative nature. We raise concerns when the specifications are not applicable, and also when we identify risks regarding the guarantees provided. For example, since its creation, we have contributed to the development and deployment of the COSMOS standard to make it the best guarantee for organic and natural cosmetics.
Mobilize political decision-makers
Drawing on our expertise and field experience, we actively contribute to the ecological and social transition by promoting regulatory frameworks aligned with our values to decision-makers and encouraging ambitious public policies. For example, alongside IFOAM OE, Ecocert advocated for farmers to have the choice to produce without GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) or NGTs (New Genomic Techniques), and to strengthen the traceability of these new crop varieties. We have also made proposals to representatives of European institutions regarding the EU Green Claims Directive project, which aims to regulate environmental claims and labels.
Did you know?
Ecocert is involved in various European-level working groups such as EGTOP (expert groups tasked with providing technical advice on organic production) with the aim of sharing our knowledge and contributing to a sustainable world.
Expert and committed, our opinions matter!
Ecocert's expertise has been recognized worldwide since its inception. Ecocert contributed to drafting the French and European organic regulations. Even today, we continue to help shape new legislation related to sustainable practices, from Morocco to Vietnam, including Germany and the French Ministry of Ecological Transition.
Together with our peers, we are committed to proposing pragmatic alternatives for a necessary and inevitable transition, alongside the sectors in which we operate. As a leading and field-oriented player, the Ecocert Group is committed to using its influence for a sustainable world.
Cooperate with Research
10
Scientific studies conducted internally leading to 2 co-authored publications
The Ecocert Group cooperates with research bodies to support organic practices and confirm their benefits for health and ecosystems. As an independent third-party organization working with a large network of organic stakeholders, we are well positioned to shed light on current sustainable agri-food practices. Thanks to our facilitation, researchers gain access to a massive, reliable, and representative sampling of today’s practices—essential for advancing scientific knowledge.
“Bio Regeneration” Project
For over 30 years, we have been helping to disseminate and uphold organic farming standards through reliable and robust certifications. Every day, we observe innovative and virtuous agroecological practices that go beyond the requirements of organic farming regulations. Through this exploratory project ""Bio Regeneration"", we aim to highlight these practices and their positive impacts on soil, biodiversity, water, animal welfare, and human health. Under the supervision of a scientific committee composed of researchers from INRAe, ITAB, and Solagro, we are implementing a methodology to collect and measure indicators related to organic farming practices within our sectors.
Supporting meaningful projects
At Ecocert, we strive to strengthen our local commitment by supporting innovative projects aligned with our values. Through sponsorship, we extend our ability to take action by helping associations and fostering meaningful projects that meet our selection criteria:
- Fight against climate change and protection of biodiversity
- Support for responsible production and sectors, particularly organic farming
- Contribution to human and environmental health through food
0.1%
Group revenue dedicated to sponsorship
3 years
Duration of sponsorship agreements
Discover the organizations we support
French Agroforestry Association (AFAF)
Ecocert has supported the AFAF's AFTER fund since 2019 and reaffirms its commitment to agroforestry. Our employees take part in planting activities at our clients' sites in mainland France.
GÉNÉRATION FUTURES
Since 2018, Ecocert has participated in the Week for Alternatives to Pesticides, organized by Générations Futures (SPAP). It is an important moment to raise awareness, promote sustainable agriculture, and defend health and the environment.
FONDATION BORDEAUX UNIVERSITÉ
We support the Organic Agriculture Chair of the Universities of Bordeaux, which aims to popularize scientific research on organic farming for supply chains and higher education.
Investing in our region: The example of La Côme Park
The La Côme Park project, located at our L’Isle-Jourdain site, has three objectives: social, societal, and environmental. It was launched in 2021 through co-construction with employees from six project teams (called “bricks”). Each team consists of 1 to 5 Occitan employees who dedicate one hour of professional time per week to organize and monitor their project. Volunteers participate on their personal time and donate one-third of their harvests to the Gers Food Bank.
This interaction lab has fostered relationships with the local social and economic fabric. It also allows us to embody our mission in our region by experimenting with fairer models that protect health, climate, and biodiversity. This project is open-source so the model can be replicated.
120
employees involved in the project
2
tons/year of fresh organic vegetables donated to the Gers Food Bank
1300
children welcomed and made aware since 2022
Pollinators team
Our beehives
discover our concrete actions
- 4 beehives and thousands of bees producing around 50 kg of honey each year, one third of which is donated to the Gers Food Bank. The remaining jars are made available to employees on our sites.
- A team in charge of maintaining the apiary, organizing discovery workshops including honey extraction, and providing beekeeping training for volunteers.
- Familiarization with the presence of bees and a defined apiary size to avoid competition with wild bees and other pollinators.
Result
Honey to share among colleagues and an introduction to beekeeping and the essential role of bees and all pollinators.
Cluckers team
Our chicken coop
discover our concrete actions
- 14 black Gascon hens roaming in rotating runs and a mobile chicken coop. Sometimes they sneak into the vegetable garden or explore the premises!
- A team of volunteers takes care of the hens daily and enjoys their tasty eggs in exchange for good care.
- Participation in school visits to raise awareness among the youngest.
Result
A rich coexistence with sociable hens and committed volunteers learning to manage a personal chicken coop and enjoy quality eggs.
Scouts team
Our school visits
Discover our concrete actions
- 15 open days for the local school community (kindergarten and primary) with park tours, a themed workshop, and an organic & tasty snack.
- Visits led by volunteer employees after training on the Park and nutrition. With great memories and a few fun anecdotes!
- Workshops that evolve and adapt to children and other visiting audiences.
Result
Over 500 children made aware of biodiversity, healthy eating, and organic farming every year. Enough to sow seeds for a sustainable future!
Legume team
Our vegetable garden
Discover our concrete actions
- 4 vegetable plots of 500m², totaling 2000m² cultivated, and 1 mandala of aromatic, dye, and medicinal plants in partnership with Les Carrés Maraîchers. All in organic farming with a cultivation plan adapted to the climate and minimizing water consumption.
- 80 “légumeurs” who weed their plot, harvest their vegetables, and donate 1/3 of their production to the Gers Food Bank.
- 1 part-time market gardener job created, who also organizes 10 workshops per year to train all volunteers in market gardening techniques.
Result
An original and friendly place for meetings and learning, which won 1st prize in the Coupe de France du Potager in 2022 / business category (Landestini). +2 tons/year of fresh organic vegetables donated to the Gers Food Bank.
Experimenters team
Our agricultural plots
Discover our concrete actions
- 6 hectares in rotation of organic crops or left fallow.
- Planting of 1km of hedgerows in collaboration with Arbres et Paysages 32 to promote biodiversity, water retention, and soil life.
Result
A connection to the land and biodiversity. In short, a return to the fundamentals of organic farming and local roots in the Gers region.
Protectors team
The biodiversity of our park
Discover our concrete actions
- A team of enthusiasts monitors the presence of fauna and flora in the park through visits, visual observations, or camera traps placed in various locations.
- Site development projects aim to protect and even encourage the return of species. Thanks to the restoration of the pond, the agile frog has returned to lay eggs!
- Numerous biodiversity awareness events through visits, bird and bat counts, webinars, and even an internal news feed updated daily.
Result
A renewed sense of wonder for nature and its diversity, a shared desire to observe and protect it (even the species we’re afraid of!)