What SCS Global Services does

SCS Global Services (legal entity Scientific Certification Systems Inc.) is a private, Benefit Corporation third-party certification, validation, and verification body founded in 1984 and headquartered in Emeryville, California, with 501-1,000 employees and operations across at least eight global regions (Africa, Australia/NZ, China, Europe, India/South Asia, Latin America, Middle East, Southeast Asia). The company issues accredited certifications, validates claims, and verifies reporting across more than 100 programs spanning climate change and carbon management, food and agriculture (USDA NOP organic, GFSI food safety, regenerative agriculture), green building and indoor air quality (LEED, BREEAM, WELL, FloorScore, Indoor Advantage, Green Squared), sustainable forestry and fisheries (FSC, MSC, ASC), supply chain and sourcing (EUDR, chemical recycling under SCS-004), water stewardship (VWBA, WAVE), mining and jewelry (SCS-007 diamonds, conflict minerals), and apparel/textiles. Its competitive position is anchored by long-cycle accreditations from ANAB, ASI, JAS-ANZ, USDA NOP, and California ARB, proprietary multi-stakeholder standards (SCS-004 for chemical recycling, SCS-007 for diamonds, VWBA v2.0 for water benefits), and integration into customer GTM and compliance workflows (e.g., Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly, Whole Foods regenerative agriculture pathway).

Name

SCS Global Services

Legal name

Scientific Certification Systems Inc.

Website

https://scsglobalservices.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

SCS Global Services is a private, Benefit Corporation third-party certification body founded in 1984 that verifies environmental, sustainability, food-safety, and supply-chain claims across 100+ accredited programs for enterprise clients worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability and environmental certification services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Safety Auditing & Inspection Services (GFSI/Third-Party Audits) (AFALAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

GFSI Scheme Certification Audits (BRCGS, SQF, FSSC 22000, IFS) (AFALABAA), Pre-Assessment, Gap Assessment & Certification Readiness Services (AFALACAE), Regulatory Consulting & Compliance Program Management (FDA/USDA/EFSA) (AFALADAC), Supplier Approval & Second-Party Audit Programs (Retailer/Brand/Manufacturer) (AFALACAF)

Keywords

• Sustainability certification
• Third-party verification
• Carbon offset validation
• Food safety certification
• Environmental certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Emeryville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Certification Services: Third-party certification, validation, and verification services for environmental, sustainability, food safety and quality performance claims. SCS provides audit services, issues certificates, and maintains certification through annual surveillance audits. Revenue is generated through certification fees, testing coordination, and ongoing maintenance fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SCS Global Services delivers independent third-party certification, validation, and verification of environmental, sustainability, and food safety performance claims through more than 100 certification programs. Clients apply online and are guided through audits and annual surveillance by assigned account managers and technical auditors, receiving accredited certificates that satisfy regulators (CARB, EPA, USDA, EU), green building rating systems (LEED, BREEAM, WELL), and corporate ESG/sustainability reporting requirements.

Product overview

SCS Global Services operates as a third-party certification, validation, and verification body offering over 100 sustainability certifications and standards across multiple industries. The company provides a comprehensive portfolio of certification services organized into distinct practice areas: Climate Change (carbon offset verification, carbon neutral certification, GHG verification), Corporate Sustainability (zero waste, water stewardship, sustainability reporting), Food Consumer Labels (organic, fair trade, non-GMO), Food Safety (BRCGS, GLOBALG.A.P., SQF), Green Building (Indoor Advantage, FloorScore, Green Squared, HPDs), Responsible Sourcing (chemical recycling, RSPO, EUDR), Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry (FSC, SFI, MSC), and Water Stewardship (Water Positive, WAVE). Notable proprietary standards include SCS-007 for sustainability-rated diamonds, SCS-004 for responsible chemical recycling, and VWBA v2.0 for water benefit accounting. The company holds accreditation from ANAB, ASI, JAS-ANZ, USDA, and other bodies, and serves clients globally including major brands across apparel, food, manufacturing, and construction sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Indoor Advantage / Indoor Advantage Gold Certification Third-party certification for low VOC emissions from furniture and building materials, testing 35 individual VOCs per CA Section 01350 and aligning with ANSI/BIFMA M7.1 and X7.1; recognized by EPA and GSA for LEED v4.1, BREEAM, WELL Building, and Living Building Challenge credits.
• Green Squared Certification Multi-attribute sustainability standard for tile and tile installation products, providing third-party certification covering product characteristics, manufacturing, end-of-life management, corporate governance, and innovation; valid for five years with annual surveillance audits.
• Health Product Declarations (HPDs) Full-service preparation and verification of Health Product Declarations that disclose potential chemicals of concern by comparing product ingredients to priority hazard lists based on GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals; valid for 3 years with annual surveillance audits.
• Carbon Offset Verification Verification services for forestry and non-forestry carbon offset projects, supporting programs including Verra VCS, Climate Action Reserve, California Cap-and-Trade, and The American Carbon Registry.
• Carbon Neutral Certification Certification service verifying organizational or product-level carbon neutrality claims across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
• Organic Certification (USDA NOP) USDA NOP organic certification for crops, wild crops, and handling operations, accredited since April 2002.
• Zero Waste Certification Certification verifying that facilities divert waste from landfills through circular economy principles, with the first certification issued to Khazna Data Centers' DXB8 facility in Dubai.
• Water Stewardship and Resiliency Certification Certification demonstrating effective water stewardship and resiliency practices for organizations, addressing climate adaptation and water-related risks.
• Water Positive Verification (VWBA) Verification of water positive project benefits under the Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting (VWBA) 2.0 methodology, enabling corporate partners to purchase transferable Volumetric Water Benefits toward water stewardship commitments.
• WAVE: Water Stewardship Verified Verifiable methodologies for improving, reporting, and recognizing enterprise-wide water stewardship practices.
• SCS-007 Sustainability Rated Diamonds First international multi-stakeholder sustainability standard for diamonds, assuring diamonds meet highest standards of ethical and environmental responsibility.
• FSC Forest Management Certification Forest Stewardship Council certification for responsible forest management, including Chain of Custody certification; SCS is an FSC-accredited certifier since 1996.
• MSC Certification Marine Stewardship Council certification for sustainable fishing practices and Chain of Custody, with ASC accreditation for aquaculture standards since 2001.
• BRCGS Food Safety Certification Global Standard Food Safety and Packing Materials certification, accredited under ANAB with initial accreditation in March 2022.
• GLOBALG.A.P. Certification Good Agricultural Practices certification for crops including fruit, vegetables, and combinable crops, with ANAB accreditation covering single and multi-site V6-GFS and Harmonized Produce Safety Standard.
• SQF (Safe Quality Food) Certification GFSI-benchmarked Safe Quality Food certification program for food manufacturers and processors.
• Recycled Content Certification Certification verifying the recycled content percentage in products, including for electrical and electronic equipment, textiles, and general consumer goods.
• FloorScore Certification Certification for resilient flooring products verifying compliance with CA 01350 formaldehyde and VOC emissions requirements, ANAB accredited.
• CARB/EPA Formaldehyde Compliance Certification Third-Party Certifier (TPC) services for CARB ATCM 93120 and EPA TSCA Title VI formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products (MDF, particleboard, hardwood plywood).
• Responsible Chemical Recycling Certification (SCS-004) First independent standard for verifying chemical recycling operations including pyrolysis, methanolysis, solvolysis, depolymerization, and gasification, featuring a three-tier system (Core, Plus, Trailblazer).
• SVLK Timber Legality Verification Indonesian Timber Legality Assurance System verification supporting EUTR, US Lacey Act, and Australia's Illegal Logging Prohibition compliance for wood products from Indonesia.
• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Verification ISO 14065 and ISO 14064-3 accredited validation and verification services for GHG emissions under programs including TCR, VCS, CAR, American Carbon Registry, and CORSIA.
• Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Verification Verification of Environmental Product Declarations documenting a product's environmental footprint throughout its lifecycle.
• B Corp Certification Certification verifying that a company meets high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
• Non-GMO Project Verification Third-party verification supporting the Non-GMO Project label for food and consumer products.
• Fair Trade USA Certification Fair Trade USA certification services for food and consumer goods meeting fair trade sourcing and labor standards.
• Bonsucro Certification Certification for sustainable sugarcane production and supply chain traceability.
• RSPO Supply Chain Certification Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil supply chain certification for palm oil producers, traders, and consumer goods brands.
• Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly Certification Services Certification services supporting Amazon's Climate Pledge Friendly program, qualifying certified products for the marketplace badge.
• Sustainability Report Assurance Third-party assurance of corporate sustainability reports for ESG disclosure and stakeholder transparency.
• Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Support Verification and support services for importers and steel producers subject to the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
• Equitable Food Initiative Certification Certification verifying labor and food safety standards across fresh produce supply chains.
• SCS Gluten-Free Certification Third-party certification of gluten-free food products in compliance with FDA labeling standards.
• IRMA Verification Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance verification for mining operations seeking third-party responsible mining certification.
• Conflict Minerals Reporting Conflict minerals reporting and verification for tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold supply chains supporting OECD Due Diligence Guidance compliance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 certification programs across multiple industries
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World Resources InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026SCS Global Services partnered with World Resources Institute, World Wildlife Fund, and the CEO Water Mandate to develop standardized guidance for corporate water stewardship. The initiative aims to create a shared language and methodology for measuring water resource risks and impacts across organizations.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026SCS Global Services partnered with World Resources Institute, World Wildlife Fund, and the CEO Water Mandate to develop standardized guidance for corporate water stewardship. The initiative aims to create common water reporting standards addressing inconsistent tracking of water use across sectors and regions.
• CEO Water MandatecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026SCS Global Services partnered with World Resources Institute, World Wildlife Fund, and the CEO Water Mandate to develop standardized guidance for corporate water stewardship. The new initiative is expected to launch a framework called Corporate Guidance for Assessing Water Scopes 1-3 in Value Chains.
• SCS StandardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCS Standards is a separate entity and affiliate of SCS Global Services, described as a leader in sustainability standards driving sustainable development and a circular economy.
• SCS ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCS Consulting is an affiliate providing strategic and targeted sustainability solutions that drive positive change in the global marketplace.
• Ocean Plastics Leadership Network (now CIRCLE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCS Standards and Assurance Systems, part of SCS Global Services, developed the Certification Standard for Responsible Chemical Recycling (SCS-004) through a multistakeholder process initiated by the Ocean Plastics Leadership Network following U.S. Plastics Pact guidelines.
• The Tile Council of North America (TCNA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Squared certification was developed by The Tile Council of North America as the first multi-attribute sustainability standard for tile and tile installation products. SCS Global Services is one of only two providers of Green Squared Certification.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• DNV: Norwegian-headquartered certification body with strong climate, supply chain, and food safety programs. Directly comparable to SCS on carbon verification, supply chain traceability, and management system certifications.
• SGS SA: Global Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) leader offering sustainability, food safety, environmental, and product certifications across every major industry. Directly comparable to SCS as a third-party certification body but at vastly larger scale and broader geographic coverage.
• TÜV Rheinland: Major German TIC provider with sustainability, product safety, and management system certifications. Overlaps with SCS on ISO-based certifications, product testing, and emerging ESG verification services.
• Bureau Veritas: French-headquartered TIC major with deep sustainability, food, and ESG assurance services. Competes with SCS on food safety (e.g., GFSI scheme audits) and ESG verification, with greater scale and lab infrastructure.
• UL Solutions: Global safety science and certification company offering sustainability, indoor air quality, and product certifications. Direct overlap with SCS on Indoor Advantage / Indoor Air Quality, FloorScore, and formaldehyde emissions certification.
• Intertek: Global TIC company with extensive sustainability, food safety, and product certification offerings. Directly overlaps with SCS in food safety audits, environmental certifications, and supply chain verification.

Direct peers

• Control Union: Global sustainability certifier specializing in organic, textile, forestry, and agricultural certifications. Closest pure-play peer to SCS for organic, sustainable sourcing, and supply chain certifications.
• Carbon Trust: Independent carbon footprint, certification, and verification specialist. Directly comparable to SCS on carbon neutral certification, GHG verification, and product carbon footprint services.
• NSF International: Public health and safety organization offering food safety, sustainability, and product certifications. Overlaps with SCS on food safety audits (GFSI), organic certification, and sustainability verification.

Emerging players

• EcoVadis: Sustainability ratings provider serving many of the same enterprise buyers as SCS (Amazon, BASF, Sysco). While a ratings platform rather than a certification body, it competes for the same corporate sustainability budget.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/scsglobalservices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/41185
• Xx.com/scscertified

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SCS Global Services