Between labels, certifications, approvals and even accreditations, it is not always easy to find your way around. However, all these awards can bring a lot of benefits to your business. We offer you a better understanding of what they are, as well as the positive and negative implications of obtaining them. We will then give you a list of the most famous labels in the fields of CSR and QWL, but above all, we will give you our valuable advice on how to obtain them. You will then be ready to submit your application to request a label for your business!
The interests of obtaining a label or certification
What is a label?
According to the Ministry of the Economy, a Label “attests that a product or service has been designed in accordance with certain quality criteria or standards.” It can also ensure that it respects defined values. It exists in order to guide consumers. Businesses may also be affected by the issuance of labels.
In France, a “label” is a mandatory recognition published in the Official Journal. They are issued by independent certification bodies, public or private.
We also regularly hear about” certification ”. These distinguish the compliance of an organization or person with criteria defined by a competent authority. Les Approvals, on the other hand, are authorizations issued to a person or an organization by public authorities only.
What are the advantages of labels for a company?
Obtaining one or more labels has various benefits for a company.
First of all, it is a criterion of trust And of trustworthiness with your customers and partners. Whether it's a label economic, environmental or social, it allows you to reassure your interlocutors. It is in fact a proof that you are offering them, by showing them, in all objectivity, that your products or services meet certain criteria and standards.
The labels are also differentiation tools in front of your competitors. They highlight your approaches and values, and you can use this to increase your visibility with your target audience.
Finally, they can allow you toattracting potential candidates, who share the same values as you. There are many people who want to put their skills at the service of companies that look like them, and labels can guide their choices. If you are planning to recruit new talent soon, labels are very useful.
What constraints can this represent?
Obtaining labels can still have some disadvantages.
In general, it is mandatory to pay a certain amount to the independent body that comes to audit you. An amount is also required, generally annually, in order to renew your label. So it's aboutan investment worth considering over the long term. It is useless to try to get as many as possible; it is better to target the ones that will be most interesting to you.
It is also necessary to plan a lot of time to prepare your files, pass the tests and receive the persons in charge of the audits. It is sometimes mandatory to put in place certain measures before obtaining a label, if your company is not yet in compliance on all the points required by the independent body. Finally, once certified, you must respect certain commitments and you need to think about your decisions accordingly.
The most famous labels
There are a large number of labels in France. Most are accessible to small, medium, and large businesses at the same time. Here are some examples of fairly well known references that may be of interest to you.
Great Place to Work for QWL
It is a globally recognized label in the field of QVT. It certifies that it is good to work in the company, at the same time because the material conditions are satisfactory, but it ensures that the managerial practices are also satisfactory. Every year, Great Place To Work releases the List of organizations who achieved the highest scores at the national level.
The Lucie CSR label
It's the first French CSR label. It values companies that put the respect for humans and territories at the heart of their raison d'être. It is based on seven pillars: commitment to the general interest, the protection of nature, the ethics of responsible practices, products and services, responsible governance and transparency, respect for individuals, and finally, the quality of life at work.
B-CORP for social missions
B-CORP is aimed at companies that place a social mission at the heart of their concerns. To be certified, it is necessary to modify the statutes to incorporate the concept of “Benefit Corporation”. An online questionnaire also allows you to find out if your business meets enough criteria.
The ISO 26000 standard
It is not a certification or a label, but ratherof a standard. Elle defines the outlines of the CSR approach in business. Its guidelines are important and recognized internationally. Many labels are designed based on this standard, so it is important to know their outlines.
How do I get a label?
Once you have determined which labels you are interested in, you have to put all the chances on your side to get one. Again, each assessment represents a cost, so it is best to be well prepared before submitting your application.
Self-assess to know where you can improve
Before asking an independent body to assess you, start by doing it yourself. To do this, take a list of all the required points, and try, as objectively as possible, to know if you meet the criteria or not. Some organizations even offer online questionnaires, which are very simplified, in order to allow you to have a general idea of the points you need to improve.
Implement the necessary actions to obtain your label
It is quite rare to check all the boxes to validate a certification or a label the first time. Very often, it is necessary to implement certain actions within your company.
If you want to obtain a CSR or QVT label, you must meet certain criteria concerning managerial practices, responsible governance or even the consideration of the general interest in your decisions. To meet these objectives, you can for example engaging your employees in your CSR strategy. The advantages are clear: you align your values and those of your employees, you build their loyalty and allow them to get involved in causes that are important to them. With a platform like Teamstarter, all members of the company can launch projects and implement them when they have raised a sufficient amount. At the same time, each employee is allocated a monthly budget, which they can choose to allocate to the project of their choice. This type of approach is very simple to implement and makes it possible to carry out actions that make sense for everyone.
Franchir le pas et faire sa demande
Enfin, la dernière étape est de faire votre demande de labellisation auprès de l’organisme que vous avez sélectionné. Si vos valeurs sont en corrélation avec lui, et que vous avez mis en place les actions nécessaires pour prouver que vos produits ou vos services sont conformes en termes de qualité, il n’y a pas de raison pour que votre demande soit refusée.
Certaines procédures sont très longues, il vous faudra donc être patient avant d’obtenir la réponse (positive, on l’espère !). Si malheureusement, celle-ci est négative, vous pouvez soit modifier certains paramètres dans votre organisation afin d’être en conformité, soit vous dire que ce label n’est peut-être pas le plus approprié pour vous. À vous de voir ce qui se rapproche le plus de votre situation !
Les labels, certifications ou agréments peuvent être des éléments importants pour votre entreprise : ils permettent à la fois de rassurer vos clients et vos partenaires, mais également d’attirer de nouveaux talents. Il existe aujourd’hui des centaines de labels qui concernent la RSE, la QVT, le bien-être, l’environnement, le social, etc. Faites bien attention à choisir uniquement ceux qui vous correspondent le plus et à mettre en place les actions nécessaires en interne afin de les obtenir. Vous pourrez ensuite bénéficier d’une belle visibilité et d’une image positive auprès de ceux qui vous entourent.
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