Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Supply Chain Certification process

Kickstart your certification journey by following the steps below. Have questions? Reach out to us directly. Our experts will guide you through the certification scope that aligns best with your company setup and needs.

Step 1: Certification platform registration
Register on the Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform to build your company profile. The process includes a Supply Chain Risk Assessment (SCRA).

Step 2: Application process  
Upon receiving SCRA results, complete the Certification Application Form (CAF) on the Rainforest Alliance website. Submit the CAF to Preferred by Nature for a quote.

Step 3: Proposals and agreement  
Based on SCRA results, we provide a non-binding proposal for your Rainforest Alliance Supply Chain certification. Essential certification agreements will be sent to you.

Step 4: Certification preparation
Prepare your company-specific supply chain procedures and train relevant staff. We are available to clarify and explain the requirements.

Step 5: On-site evaluation
When ready, undergo a certification audit to check compliance with Supply Chain requirements. The audit includes document reviews, staff interviews, and may involve an on-site visit, depending on your activities.

Step 6: Audit report
Following internal review, we produce a formal report detailing the audit findings. Any identified non-conformities are described.

Step 7: Obtaining certificate
With a positive certification decision, we issue a certificate and license for Rainforest Alliance's traceability platform. The certificate is valid for three years, requiring annual audits for maintenance and full re-certification every three years.

Complaints and resolutions

If a complaint is raised about our certification services or one of our clients, we handle this in accordance with our Dispute Resolution Policy. We may call on our Impartiality Committee if Preferred by Nature’s impartiality is under question.

Certificate scope

We can help you identify the type and scope of certification that best matches your needs. Below are some of the choices that you will make regarding the scope of your certificate.

Traceability system

Traceability is one of five Principles from the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard that companies are assessed against. You will need to choose from the following options for certified materials in your products:

1. Identity preserved (IP). Traceable back to a single farm certificate holder without mixing with non-certified materials.
2. Segregation (SG). Physically and documentarily keeps certified and non-certified products separate (allowed for all products).
3. Mass balance (MB). Allows claiming a product not certified when an equivalent quantity was sourced as Rainforest Alliance Certified (available for certain crops).

Single or multi-site certification

If your organisation operates in multiple sites, consider multi-site certification to reduce total certification costs. Both these options are suitable for entities without farming in the Rainforest Alliance certification scope.

• Single participating operator: For entities where all management and activities are at concentrated a single physical location. The Supply Chain certificate is issued for this singular entity. An example could be a raw material exporter or a cocoa processor with a sole processing facility producing cocoa butter, liquor, and powder.
• Multi-site participating operator: For entities that have identified a central location under which one or more sites operate. An appointed Multi-site Administrator represents and administers required systems for all sites, ensuring internal conformance with the Supply Chain Standard.

Subcontractors, service providers and intermediaries

A Participating Operation may make use of subcontractors and/or service providers and/or intermediaries for certified activities. If included in the certification scope, ensure compliance with applicable requirements, covering traceability, working conditions, application of inputs, and use of the seal.

2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard: Supply Chain Requirements

Buyers in certified supply chains must provide increased support to farmers to work more sustainably. The Rainforest Alliance’s 2020 Certification Program aims to foster not only transparency but also responsible business practices by companies throughout the supply chain.

The Supply Chain Requirements Standard applies to all supply chain-certified companies and sets out general requirements for material handling.

>> Access the Supply Chain Requirements

Supporting policies

While the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard forms the foundation of Rainforest Alliance certification, it is complemented by supportive policies. For certain countries and topics, additional policies have been developed as needed.

The Sustainable Agriculture Standard is rooted in the following sustainability principles: Management, Traceability, Natural Resource Conservation, Income and Shared Responsibility, Farming, Social, and Environment.

>> Visit the Rainforest Alliance Resource Library