How to apply
Any standard promotes those businesses that develop some quality attributes, settle social issues, and save natural resources.
MADE BY WOMAN tackles the following “five pillars of sustainability”: environmental, social, economic/financial, product quality, management practices, and ethics.
Quality
- Product quality
- Production process
- Food safety
Ethics & integrity
- Anti-corruption, anti-bribery
- Business relationships
- Political or charitable contributions
- Sponsorships, gifts, hospitality
- Due-diligence assessments
Environmental
- Biodiversity, climate change, forest management
- Organic production, renewable energies, soil management, waste management, water management
Social
- Child labor
- Employment practices
- Gender Issues
- Health and safety
- ILO core conventions
- Local communities
- Work and labor rights
Economic & management
- Economic development
- Finance and investment
- Productivity
For ethics and social benefits get certified with a voluntary standard MADE BY WOMAN.
Who can apply
The following criteria should be respected when applying to sell under the MADE BY WOMAN brand:
- sole, micro, small or medium-sized companies, where women have significant ownership
- a company is managed and controlled by women on a day-to-day basis
- 51% unconditionally and directly owned and controlled by one woman or more.
To get certified with the MADE BY WOMAN standard, follow the 5 steps below
Step 1: Be Ready!
Do the research! What target market are you interested in? What clients are you targeting? What do they value? Make sure you are “export-ready”! Make sure that you comply with local laws, export processes and mandatory requirements in your target market!
Step 2: Compare
Which of the “five pillars of sustainability” (environmental, social, economic/financial, product quality, management practices, and ethics) and what standards best fit your market goals and your business condition? For ethics and social benefits get certified with MADE BY WOMAN. We will also guide you in the whole process.
Step 3: Assess
Assess the gap between the requirements of the standard(s) which you have chosen and your current abilities. If you think you are ready, contact the certification body.
Step 4: Apply/Certify
Fill out a registration form and arrange for an inspection. You may be awarded the certification on your first try, or you may have to undertake corrective actions before the certification can be awarded. Once all of the certification’s requirements have been met, you will receive the certificate.
Step 5: Follow up
After a certain period (generally 1-3 years), a new audit will be arranged. Keep working! Voluntary sustainability standards are all about continuous improvement!