CSE certification process

The CSE certification process: Your path to holistic corporate sustainability

CSE stands out from other certifications due to its comprehensive approach. Unlike product certifications, the entire company is assessed for its sustainability. This enables a holistic assessment and improvement of your sustainability performance.

We see CSE certification as a process. Our aim is to accompany and support you on the way to CSE-compliant business practices. We use our innovative online tool STAR for this purpose. It not only serves to document your progress, but is also the platform for audits and the creation of your sustainability report.

This process-oriented approach distinguishes the CSE certification process from our product certifications. It enables continuous development and improvement of your sustainability performance across all areas of the company.

First steps after signing the contract

After signing the contract with GfaW and the certification body, the standard participant receives access to the online tool CSE-STAR. The STAR guides the standard participant through the preparation for certification. The standard participant enters answers to the respective questions and can note the digital location where the evidence for the answer can be found.

The certification body may commission an inspection body with the evaluation. The inspection body must then adhere to all specifications of the certification body. Each inspection body also concludes a contract with GfaW.

The CSE certification process follows the sequence of management system certifications:

  • Stage I (pre-audit) – can also be appointed retroactively as the first audit if no deviations were found.
  • Stage II certification audit – (year 1, no later than 6 months after stage I audit) – issue of initial certificate
  • Surveillance audit (year 2 and 3) – Extension of the certificate
  • Recertification audit (year 4) – issue of new certificate

Once the date for an audit has been set, the standard participant releases their STAR for review at least 2 weeks in advance. They can no longer change their answers afterwards.

An on-site visit is not mandatory for surveillance audits if nothing has changed in the company. However, initial and recertification audits always take place on site.

During the audit, the auditor enters the results of his query into the STAR and generates an audit report. This report forms the basis of the certification decision.

The certification and inspection bodies approved by the GfaW standards work at least in accordance with ISO 17065 and have many years of experience in certifying ethically oriented standards in the company’s industry.

 

Test intervals

The certification audit takes place every 3 years as a comprehensive audit. Surveillance audits take place once per calendar year and have the character of a random sample audit. If nothing has changed at the standard participant, these audits can also take place as a digital audit (remote audit) using the STAR.

Reactions to deviations

Deviations from the minimum requirements:

The company has 4 weeks to provide evidence that it has initiated measures to rectify the deviations.

The deviations must be rectified by the next audit. In the event of a renewed deviation, there is no conformity with the CSE standard.

Deviations Sustainability goals:

If deviations with regard to the sustainability targets occur during the repeat audits, the certification body sets a deadline of 1 to 6 months to rectify the deviation, depending on its severity. If these deadlines are repeatedly not met, there is no longer conformity with the CSE standard. The non-conformities must be rectified by the next audit. In the event of another non-conformity, there is no conformity with the CSE standard.

If the defined targets are not achieved without justification, the company has 4 weeks to provide evidence that it has introduced measures to achieve the target.

In justified cases, the company may choose a different destination. This can no longer be changed.

Withdrawal of the certificate and use of the mark

If the non-conformities have not been rectified within the period specified by the certification body, the certificate will be withdrawn from the company and the use of the mark will expire.

Goods that have already been produced and labeled must then be relabeled or even withdrawn from the market. These conditions are regulated in the license agreements.

Requirements for certification bodies

The certification body assures GfaW by contract of the following

  • impartial and neutral certification;
  • to be accredited according to ISO 17065 and to work accordingly;
  • only use personnel for certifications and audits who have expertise and experience in the following areas:
    • according to the respective product categories of the contract standards, the areas of chemicals and/or cosmetics production and/or production of cleaning agents;
    • the raw materials used for the respective product categories;
    • the content of EU legislation on the respective product categories required for certification, such as the Cosmetics Regulation, EU Eco-Regulation, Biocides Regulation, DIN standard for toys, etc;
    • Manufacturing processes of the products within the scope of the contract standards;
    • Audit experience and/or knowledge in the QM area, ideally14001:2015, or sufficient proof of competence;
    • GMP guidelines and principles for the respective product categories of the contract standards.

The certification body shall ensure that the personnel deployed under this contract are fully familiar with the contractual standards and the test and award criteria as well as the certification process in order to be able to guarantee proper testing and certification. This also applies in the event that the certification body uses external inspection bodies. In this case, the aforementioned assurances also apply to the personnel of the inspection bodies.

For CSE certification in particular, staff must have specialist knowledge of sustainable management and ISO 14001:2015 and have undergone GfaW training on CSE certification and use of the CSE STAR. ISO 14001:2015 training can also be provided by third parties.

Tasks and duties of the certification body

The certification body may also commission inspection bodies for the audits at the standard participant (in the sense of subcontracting in accordance with ISO 17065). The agreement to be concluded with the inspection body must be submitted to GfaW on request and must comply with the contents of the annex. In particular, the final responsibility for granting, maintaining, renewing, extending, suspending or withdrawing certification always remains with the certification body. The certification decision is made on the basis of the inspection body’s assessment reports.

The certification body conducts the examination to obtain the certificate once a year for each standard participant.

In the case of CSE certification, a surveillance audit is carried out every year after the initial audit during the period of validity of the certificate.

Non-compliance with the surveillance audits invalidates the certificate. If deficiencies are identified during the CSE certification or surveillance audits for which a corrective measure cannot be found by mutual agreement, an arbitration committee consisting of representatives of the standard participant, the inspection body, GfaW and the certification body is convened. The arbitration board distinguishes between deviations from the minimum requirements and sustainability objectives. Deviations from the minimum requirements can be rectified within 4 weeks. In the event of deviations in the area of sustainability objectives, it is at the discretion of The Certification Body or the arbitration committee to carry out a follow-up audit or to agree to a period of 1 to 6 months to rectify the deviation. The costs arising from a re-audit are to be borne by the standard participant. Coordination is carried out by the certification body.

If there is a need for on-site inspections abroad (in particular in the case of production abroad), the certification body is entitled to commission an affiliated or external comparable inspection body in the country concerned to investigate the facts. The costs for this shall be borne by the standard participant.

The certification body must inform GfaW of all circumstances known to it which indicate or confirm that the standard participant does not comply with the respective contractual standard.

The certification body has stipulated in contracts with standard participants that a certificate will be withdrawn in the event of non-conformity with the standard.

Participation in meetings

In order to achieve good cooperation between GfaW and the certification body and inspection bodies, working group meetings are held once a year for standard participants, certification body, inspection body and GfaW. The certification body is expected to participate in these meetings.

The certification body also participates in the annual meeting between the GfaW, the certification body and the inspection body. The annual meeting is used by the GfaW to assess the need for advice among the standard participants and which topics need to be discussed in the working group meetings. For this annual meeting, the certification body prepares information on deviations, complaints and anomalies relating to the audits carried out. This information must also include all feedback given by auditors.

GfaW does not assume any travel and accommodation costs that may be incurred by the certification body or the inspection body.

Commissioning of inspection bodies

The commissioning of an inspection body requires a written agreement between the certification body and the inspection body. This agreement must regulate the following in particular:

  • Impartiality and neutrality of the inspection body. There must be no conflicts of interest in relation to the audits, the audited products and certifications; in particular, the personnel of the inspection body must not be involved in any way in the certification decisions of the certification body or be involved in companies of the standard participants;
  • The inspection body shall only deploy personnel for the audits who have the aforementioned expertise and experience and who are fully familiar with the contractual standards and the award and inspection criteria as well as the certification procedures and who fully comply with these as far as they affect the inspection body;
  • The inspection body must submit to and comply with the guidelines and procedures of the certification body.
  • The inspection body and the personnel employed by it shall be regularly inspected and monitored by the certification body for compliance with the aforementioned requirements.