Clean Green Certified
Clean Green Certified is a private California-based certification body founded in 2004 that provides third-party organic, regenerative, vegan, and best-practices certification to legal cannabis farms, processors, product makers, and dispensaries where federal USDA organic programs do not apply.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersCrescent City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Clean Green Certified does
Clean Green Certified is a private, for-profit certification body founded in 2004 by Chris Van Hook, headquartered in Crescent City, California with a contact presence in Los Angeles. The company provides third-party organic, regenerative, vegan, and best-practices certification to the legal cannabis industry — a market segment that falls outside the USDA National Organic Program, which does not apply to cannabis. It serves cannabis crop producers, processors/handlers, product manufacturers, dispensaries/outlets, and distributors, positioning its seal as a substitute for federal organic certification and a marker of consumer trust. Its founder is credited as one of only 84 fully accredited USDA NOP companies globally, which underpins the program's methodological legitimacy.
The core "technology" is a services-based certification methodology rather than a software platform: it applies materials review against national and international organic standards, on-site inspections, eligibility verification, and state-level compliance confirmation, culminating in issuance of a certificate and digital logo. Product offerings are structured as certification tracks — Crop Producer, Processor/Handler, and Products certifications as core programs, with Vegan, Regenerative, and Best Practices tiers offered as add-on modules. The company maintains a public directory and store locator of certified members to support consumer discovery.
The business model is sales-led and application-based: prospective members apply through the website, and the company generates recurring revenue through certification and membership fees, supplemented by product, service, and equipment licensing programs. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quoted only after application. The founder additionally monetizes his credentials through expert witness services for hemp and cannabis litigation. The company is small (11–50 employees), independently owned with no disclosed venture, private equity, or parent ownership, and no external funding rounds on record.
Clean Green Certified firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Clean Green Certified
- Legal name
- Clean Green Certified
- Website
- https://cleangreencertified.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Clean Green Certified is a private California-based certification body founded in 2004 that provides third-party organic, regenerative, vegan, and best-practices certification to legal cannabis farms, processors, product makers, and dispensaries where federal USDA organic programs do not apply.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Clean Green Certified industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Organic Cannabis Certification Services
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Organic Certification Services (AFALAMAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sustainability & Environmental Certifications (Carbon, Water, Regenerative) (AFALAMAC), Traceability & Chain-of-Custody Certification (Mass Balance, Segregation, Identity Preserved) (AFALAMAK)
Keywords
Where Clean Green Certified is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Crescent City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Clean Green Certified business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Certification Fees: Clean Green Certified generates revenue through certification and membership fees for cannabis farms, processors, handlers, outlets, and distribution companies seeking organic and regenerative certification. The company also offers product licensing, service licensing, and equipment licensing programs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Clean Green Certified product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Clean Green Certified provides third-party certification for cannabis farms, processors, and products based on national and international organic, sustainable, and regenerative agricultural standards. The company runs a six-track certification program (Crop Producer, Processor/Handler, Products, Vegan, Regenerative, and Best Practices) and delivers services through an application-based process that includes materials review, eligibility assessment, on-site inspection, and issuance of a certificate and digital logo.
Product overview
Clean Green Certified offers a portfolio of certification programs for the legal cannabis industry, including Crop Producer, Processor/Handler, and Products certifications based on national and international organic standards. The company also offers specialized Vegan© and Regenerative certification programs as add-on offerings, plus a Best Practices Certified tier. Founded in 2004, it is the longest-running, largest, and most award-winning organic and regenerative cannabis certification program globally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Clean Green Certified® Crop Producer Certification Certification program for licensed cannabis farms that grow using organic, regenerative, and sustainable agricultural practices, based on national and international organic standards. Intended for cultivation operators seeking third-party organic verification.
- Clean Green Certified® Processor/Handler Certification Certification program for cannabis processors and handlers that manufacture or process certified products, ensuring sustainable and organic processing methods are maintained.
- Clean Green Certified® Products Certification Certification program for finished cannabis products, verifying that inputs and production methods meet organic, regenerative, and sustainable standards.
- Clean Green Certified Vegan© Certification Certification for growers and producers that practice 100% vegan cannabis cultivation, excluding all animal-derived inputs and ensuring plant-based organic growing methods.
- Clean Green Certified Regenerative Certification Certification recognizing farms and processors committed to regenerative agricultural practices that actively improve soil health and ecosystem restoration beyond organic standards.
- Clean Green Certified Best Practices Certification Certification program recognizing adherence to best practices in sustainable and responsible cannabis agriculture, distinct from full organic certification.
Companies that use Clean Green Certified
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Clean Green Certified technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Clean Green Certified partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Henry's OriginalcoreHenry's Original is a certified member of the Clean Green Certified program. As a certified farm, they represent the network of cannabis cultivators verified to meet organic and regenerative standards under the Clean Green Certified certification program.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Clean Green Certified competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sun+Earth Certified: Sun+Earth Certified is a nonprofit certification program for sungrown cannabis cultivated using regenerative and organic practices. It is the closest direct peer to Clean Green — both certify cannabis farms against regenerative/organic standards and compete for the same limited pool of cultivators willing to pay for third-party verification.
- Dragonfly Earth Medicine: Dragonfly Earth Medicine offers regenerative certification programs for cannabis cultivators emphasizing ecological farming practices and plant medicine integrity. It overlaps directly with Clean Green's Regenerative certification track.
- Certified Kind: Certified Kind provides organic and sustainable certification for cannabis farms and processors, with a focus on sun-grown, living-soil cultivation. It is a direct peer to Clean Green, addressing the same unmet need for organic-style verification in a federally non-NOP-eligible crop.
Broad incumbents
- Quality Assurance International (QAI): QAI is one of the largest global organic certifiers (USDA NOP-accredited), providing certification across food, supplement, and personal care categories. It is a broad incumbent with the operational scale to challenge Clean Green in cannabis certification if allowed.
- Demeter USA: Demeter USA manages biodynamic certification in the US under the broader Demeter international framework. It is comparable to Clean Green as a niche third-party certification authority focused on advanced agricultural practices beyond baseline organic standards.
- Where Food Comes From: Where Food Comes From is a public-listed verification and certification company specializing in source-of-origin and sustainability claims for food and agriculture. Its verification model is comparable to Clean Green's third-party certification approach, though it focuses on traditional agriculture rather than cannabis.
- California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF): CCOF is one of the largest USDA-accredited organic certifiers in the US, serving a broad range of crops. While it does not currently certify cannabis due to federal restrictions, it represents a major incumbent that could move into cannabis if federal policy changes — a key competitive threat to Clean Green.
- Oregon Tilth / Oregon Certified Organic: Oregon Tilth / Oregon Certified Organic is a major USDA-accredited organic certification body with deep expertise in organic standards. Like CCOF, it is excluded from cannabis today but is an established broad incumbent that could compete with Clean Green if cannabis gains federal organic eligibility.
- Control Union Certifications: Control Union is a global certification body operating across organic, sustainable, and social compliance programs in 70+ countries. Its international footprint and organic certification depth make it a broad incumbent comparable to Clean Green's role in domestic cannabis certification.
Emerging players
- SCS Global Services: SCS Global Services is a major third-party certification, auditing, and testing provider active in sustainability, agriculture, and food sectors. It offers emerging cannabis-related certification tracks and represents a scaled, science-driven competitor entering the niche Clean Green dominates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Clean Green Certified social profiles
Digital presenceClean Green Certified financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Clean Green Certified leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Clean Green Certified funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Clean Green Certified M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Clean Green Certified
What does Clean Green Certified do?
Clean Green Certified provides third-party certification for cannabis farms, processors, and products based on national and international organic, sustainable, and regenerative agricultural standards. The company runs a six-track certification program (Crop Producer, Processor/Handler, Products, Vegan, Regenerative, and Best Practices) and delivers services through an application-based process that includes materials review, eligibility assessment, on-site inspection, and issuance of a certificate and digital logo.
Is Clean Green Certified a public or private company?
Clean Green Certified is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Clean Green Certified founded?
Clean Green Certified was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Clean Green Certified based?
Clean Green Certified is headquartered in Crescent City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Clean Green Certified make money?
One revenue line is on record: certification Fees.
Who are Clean Green Certified's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sun+Earth Certified, Dragonfly Earth Medicine and Certified Kind. Broad incumbents are Quality Assurance International (QAI), Demeter USA, Where Food Comes From, California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), Oregon Tilth / Oregon Certified Organic and Control Union Certifications. SCS Global Services is listed as an emerging player.
Does Clean Green Certified have an API?
No public API is recorded for Clean Green Certified.
What industry is Clean Green Certified in?
Clean Green Certified's product category is Organic Cannabis Certification Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFALAMAA, Organic Certification Services, with a secondary code of AFALAMAC, Sustainability & Environmental Certifications (Carbon, Water, Regenerative). Its SIC code is 8734.