Certification of Environmental Standards

What Certification of Environmental Standards does

Certification of Environmental Standards (CERES) is an international inspection and certification body headquartered in Hersbruck, Germany, with a secondary headquarters in Frick, Switzerland. Founded in 2001, the company provides third-party certification services across five divisions: BIO (organic agriculture, processing, and trade), Textile and Recycling, Sustainability, Climate and Environment, and Fair Trade. CERES certifies compliance with over 40 international standards including EU Organic, NOP (USDA), JAS, GOTS, GLOBALG.A.P., Rainforest Alliance, and proprietary carbon sink standards (Global Biochar C-Sink, Global Rock C-Sink, Global Tree C-Sink). The company holds multiple accreditations including ISO/IEC 17065, ANAB (for ISO 17065, 17029, 14065, and 14064), NOP, JAS, and EU Bio Regulation recognition, serving as an independent verification layer for producers, processors, and traders seeking market access across jurisdictions.

CERES generates revenue through professional services fees including certification fees, inspection fees, and annual renewal fees, with separate price lists for each service division and geographic region. Pricing is not publicly disclosed on the website but is available via downloadable PDFs. The company operates through a hybrid distribution model: direct sales and certification services through its own offices in Germany and Switzerland, augmented by a global partner network spanning 35+ countries across Africa, Americas, Asia, and Europe. The EASY-CERT customer portal serves as the technological backbone, providing online certificate management, transaction certificate applications, biochar production tracking, and climate balance calculation tools. CERES is part of the EASY-CERT group AG, which also includes Austria Bio Garantie, agroVet, bio.inspecta, and Carbon Standards International, creating a comprehensive sustainability certification network. The company is privately held with no disclosed external investment, led by Managing Directors Hans Matzenberger and Franziska Staubli.

Name

Certification of Environmental Standards

Legal name

CERES - CERtification of Environmental Standards - GmbH

Website

https://ceres-cert.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Certification of Environmental Standards (CERES) is an international inspection and certification body for organic food, sustainable textiles, GLOBALG.A.P., and climate standards, serving producers, processors, and traders across 35+ countries with ISO/IEC 17065-accredited third-party verification services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic and Sustainability Certification Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic Certification Services (AFALAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Safety & Quality Scheme Certifications (GFSI Programs) (AFALAMAI), Witness Audits, Office Assessments & Certification Governance Services (AFALACAG), Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing Certification Services (AFALAMAD), Sustainability Testing, Certification & Compliance (LCA, Recyclability/Compostability Testing, FSC/PEFC) (IMALAMAK)

Keywords

• Organic certification services
• Sustainable textile certification
• Environmental inspection services
• Carbon sink certification
• Food sustainability certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Happurg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices36 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Inspection and Certification Services: CERES provides inspection and certification services for organic food, organic and sustainable textiles, GLOBALG.A.P., food sustainability, and climate and environmental standards. Services are offered through multiple divisions with specific certification standards for each. Revenue is generated through certification fees, inspection fees, and annual renewal fees based on published price lists for each service category.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CERES is an international inspection and certification body providing third-party certification services across four main divisions: BIO (Agriculture/Processing/Trade organic food certification), Textile and Recycling (organic and sustainable textiles), Sustainability (sustainable sourcing standards for commodities like coffee and cocoa), and Climate and Environment (carbon sink, biochar, and farm climate standards). Services include on-site inspection, document verification, certificate issuance, and transaction certificate processing for over 40 international standards including EU organic, NOP, JAS, GOTS, GRS, and Rainforest Alliance.

Product overview

CERES (Certification of Environmental Standards) is an international inspection and certification body offering certification services across four main divisions: BIO (Agriculture/Processing/Trade), Textile and Recycling, Sustainability, and Climate and Environment. The company provides certification for organic food, sustainable textiles, GLOBALG.A.P., food sustainability, and climate/environmental standards. Their portfolio includes both certification services and online tools including EASY-CERT Customer Portal, Global C-Sink Registry, Biochar Tool, and World-Climate Farm Tool. They operate as part of the EASY-CERT group alongside Austria Bio Garantie, agroVet, and bio.inspecta, with offices in Germany and Switzerland and representatives worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BIO - Agriculture / Processing / Trade Certification Inspection and certification services for organic farming, processing, and trade operations across multiple international organic standards. For producers, processors, and traders seeking market access and regulatory compliance in organic markets.
• Textile and Recycling Certification Certification services for textile production and recycling operations including organic textile standards (GOTS, IVN Best), recycled content standards (GRS, RCS, OCS), responsible animal-derived materials (RDS, RMS, RWS, RAS), and environmental performance (Higg FEM). For textile manufacturers, fabric producers, and recyclers.
• Sustainability Certification Certification services for sustainability standards in food and agricultural sectors including Rainforest Alliance, 4C System, C.A.F.E. Practices (Starbucks), Bird Friendly (Smithsonian), SPP, and UEBT. For companies requiring verification of sustainable sourcing practices for agricultural commodities.
• Climate and Environment Certification Certification services for climate and environmental standards including Global Biochar C-Sink, Global Rock C-Sink, Global Tree C-Sink, Global Artisan C-Sink, World-Climate Farm Standard, WBC, EBC, and CO2-Land. For companies and projects requiring verification of carbon removal claims and climate balance.
• ClaimCheck Verification service for sustainability claims and parameters for sustainable economic practices. For manufacturers and service providers seeking independent verification of their sustainability claims.
• EASY-CERT Customer Portal Online customer portal for managing certification processes, viewing certification status, accessing certification documents, submitting transaction certificate requests, and managing certification documentation. For certified clients and trading partners.
• Global C-Sink Registry ICROA-recognized registry containing all projects and carbon sinks with complete project description documents (PDD) and comprehensive public documentation. For carbon project developers and carbon market participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• CERES provides certification for over 40 different standards across organic food, textiles, sustainability, and climate domains.
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• EASY-CERT group AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEASY-CERT group AG is the parent network organization that encompasses Austria Bio Garantie, agroVet, bio.inspecta, and CERES. The companies act as a comprehensive provider of sustainable and social control and certification services in their national and international markets. CERES exhibits together with bio.inspecta, Austria Bio Garantie, and Carbon Standards International under the EASY-CERT AG umbrella at events like BIOFACH.
• bio.inspecta AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerbio.inspecta is a partner company of CERES located in Frick, Switzerland. It is a control and certification company offering various services for bio and label products as well as ISO standards and food safety. The forces of ABG (Austria Bio Garantie) and bio.inspecta are combined nationally and internationally for the benefit of customers.
• bio.inspecta Ltd. (Turkey)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partnerbio.inspecta Ltd. located in Izmir, Turkey is a subsidiary of bio.inspecta in Frick, Switzerland.
• Carbon Standards International AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarbon Standards International AG is a member of the EASY-CERT group founded in 2021. It specializes in the development of system solutions, concepts, and standards for climate-neutral agriculture and industry. CERES offers climate and environment services including carbon standards under this partnership.
• Austria Bio GarantiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the EASY-CERT group providing bio agriculture and bio processing services in Austria.
• agroVet GmbHsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the EASY-CERT group providing agriculture and processing services in Austria.
• q.inspecta GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA sister company of bio.inspecta based in Switzerland.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Quality Assurance International (QAI): US-based organic certification body offering USDA NOP and international organic certification services, providing direct competition in the North American organic market where CERES holds NOP accreditation.
• IMO Control: Germany-headquartered organic and sustainability certification body operating across food, textile, and fair-trade standards — a direct competitor with similar geographic reach and standard portfolio.
• Control Union Certifications: One of the largest global organic and sustainability certification bodies, offering GOTS, GRS, organic, and fair-trade certification across agricultural and textile supply chains — directly comparable to CERES across virtually all five service divisions.
• Soil Association Certification: UK-based organic certification body offering organic food, textile, and forestry certification with comparable scope to CERES's BIO division, particularly strong in the British and EU markets.
• ECOCERT: France-headquartered international organic and sustainable certification body with comparable organic food, textile, cosmetics, and environmental certification offerings — competing head-to-head with CERES for global organic accreditations.
• BCS Öko-Garantie: German organic certification body operating internationally with NOP, EU, JAS, and other organic accreditations, directly comparable to CERES's BIO division.
• bio.inspecta AG: Swiss organic and ISO certification body and CERES's sister company within the EASY-CERT group, offering organic farming and processing certification with significant DACH-region overlap.
• Austria Bio Garantie: Austrian organic certification body and CERES's sister company in the EASY-CERT group, providing organic farming, processing, and trade certification in Austria with comparable accreditations.

Broad incumbents

• SGS: World's largest testing, inspection, and certification company offering organic and sustainability certification within its broad TIC services portfolio — represents the large-incumbent competitive threat to specialized players like CERES.
• Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification giant offering organic, sustainability, and textile certification as part of a much broader TIC portfolio — competing with CERES at the enterprise-buyer level with vastly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ceres.certification

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Certification of Environmental Standards