Assessor Resources
Resources for Accredited Assessors and Assessment Bodies
Cradle to Cradle Certified®
Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard
The Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard is the primary governing document of the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Products Program.
C2C Certified® Circularity Standard
The C2C Certified® Circularity Standard, Version 4.1 is intended to provide the means to assess and certify products in accordance with the requirements of the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard Version 4.1, Section 5, Product Circularity, while also complying with the Bronze level, list-based chemical restrictions in the Material Health category (see Section 3 of this document for more information).
Reference Documents for Version 4.1
Reference documents supplement the standard.
Version 4.1 Assessment Data Worksheets and Templates
Development Documents for Version 4.1
Addenda to the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard, Version 4.0
Addenda documents contain substantive and non-substantive changes to existing standard requirements, and are meant to clarify, correct, interpret, and provide alternative language to aid in the implementation of the standard. Addenda will be incorporated into the standard document when it is next updated. New for Version 4.0.
Reference Documents for Version 4.0
Reference documents supplement the standard.
New for Version 4.0
Version 4.0 Cradle to Cradle Certified Restricted Substances List (RSL)
The Restricted Substances List (RSL) contains the chemical substances that are restricted from use above the applicable maximum allowable concentrations in products certified to the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard and products with a C2C Certified Material Health Certificate™. Please see the ‘Background’ tab in the RSL documents and Section 4.1 of the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard, Version 4.0 for more detailed information on the RSL requirement.
The RSL will be updated annually in July to reflect changes to the chemical regulations on which the RSL is based. The annual update will also include any needed reference updates or clarifications. Any changes to the maximum allowable concentrations in the RSL will also be reflected in the analytical testing requirements for commonly recycled materials.
RSL Validity Periods
A three-year validity period will follow the effective date of each annual update to the Version 4.0 RSL:
2021 RSL: Effective 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2024
2022 Update: Effective 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2025
2023 Update: Effective 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2026
RSL Validity Periods for Submission of Assessment Summaries to C2CPII
Version 4.0 product assessment summaries for new certifications and recertifications submitted to C2CPII from 1 July 2022 through 30 June 2023 must demonstrate compliance with the 2021 RSL or the 2022 RSL Update.
Version 4.0 product assessment summaries for new certifications and recertifications submitted from 1 July 2023 through 30 June 2024 must demonstrate compliance with the 2021 RSL, 2022 RSL Update, or the 2023 RSL Update.
Version 4.0 product assessment summaries for new certifications and recertifications submitted from 1 July 2024 through 30 June 2025 must demonstrate compliance with the 2022 RSL Update or the 2023 RSL Update.
The most recent update to the RSL and its associated RSL declaration form should be used in all new certification and recertification assessment projects to ensure the product is in compliance with the RSL, and to avoid the need for suppliers to resign RSL declarations after each RSL's ‘sunset date’. The Cradle to Cradle Certified RSL declaration form that applicant companies and their suppliers are required to use for declaring conformance with the RSL is available from the Cradle to Cradle Certified assessors resources page.
Guidance Documents
Guidance documents contain detailed information for fulfilling each standard requirement and other standard implementation resources, and are used in conjunction with the certification standard.
Addenda to the Version 4.0 User Guidance contain substantive and non-substantive changes, and are meant to clarify, correct, interpret, and provide alternative language to aid in the implementation of the standard. Addenda will be incorporated into the Version 4.0 User Guidance when it is next updated.
Version 4.0 and Version 4.1 C2PCII-Recognized Programs
Several requirements in the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard, Version 4.0 and Version 4.1, reference C2CPII-recognized certification programs, standards, or testing methods that may be used to comply with the requirement. Program, standard, or test method development organizations may complete an application to apply for their certification program, standard, or testing method to become a “C2CPII-recognized Program” in the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard.
Material Health Assessment Methodologies
Material Health methodologies are used to assign assessment ratings to chemicals and materials in a product applying for certification.
Version 4.1 Recycled Content Materials Analyte List
Analytical testing of recycled content materials used in a product is required for Cradle to Cradle certification in most cases. This document contains a list of chemical substances (i.e., analytes) and maximum allowable concentrations for commonly recycled material types and is supplemental to the Recycled Content Materials Assessment Methodology for use in Version 4.1 product assessments.
This list is based on the Cradle to Cradle Certified Version 4.1 Restricted Substances reference document, which is updated annually in July based on changes to the cited regulations that occurred during the previous year. As such, the Recycled Content Materials Analyte List will also be updated annually in July. Any additions or changes to the maximum allowable concentrations in the Restricted Substance reference document will be reflected in this document, along with any needed reference updates or clarifications.
Version 4.0 Recycled Content Materials Analyte List
Analytical testing of recycled content materials used in a product is required for Cradle to Cradle certification in most cases. This document contains a list of chemical substances (i.e., analytes) and maximum allowable concentrations for commonly recycled material types and is supplemental to the Recycled Content Materials Assessment Methodology for use in Version 4.0 product assessments.
This list is based on the Cradle to Cradle Certified Version 4.0 Restricted Substances List (RSL), which is updated annually in July based on changes to the cited regulations that occurred during the previous year. As such, the Recycled Content Materials Analyte List will also be updated annually in July to reflect changes to the RSL. Any additions or changes to the maximum allowable concentrations in the RSL will be reflected in this document, along with any needed reference updates or clarifications.
Analyte List Validity Periods
A three-year validity period will follow the effective date of each annual update to the Recycled Content Materials Analytes List:
2021 Analytes List: Effective 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2024
2022 Update: Effective 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2025
2023 Update: Effective 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2026
2024 Update*: Effective 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2027 (*to be released 1 July 2024)
Version 4.0 product assessment summaries for new certifications and recertifications submitted to C2CPII from 1 July 2022 through 30 June 2023 must demonstrate compliance with the 2021 Analyte List or the 2022 Analyte List Update.
Version 4.0 product assessment summaries for new certifications and recertifications submitted from 1 July 2023 through 30 June 2024 must demonstrate compliance with the 2021 Analyte List, 2022 Analyte List Update, or the 2023 Analyte List Update
Version 4.0 product assessment summaries for new certifications and recertifications submitted from 1 July 2024 through 30 June 2025 must demonstrate compliance with the 2022 Analyte List Update, 2023 Analyte List Update, or the 2024 Analyte List Update (to be released in July 2024).
NOTE: Beginning 1 July 2023, the 2023 Analyte List update should be used in all new certification and recertification assessment projects to ensure the product is in compliance with the Analyte List, and to avoid the need for suppliers to retest after each Analyte List’s ‘sunset date’.
Other Assessment Methodologies
Other methodologies required for use in the assessment of products for certification.
Policies
Core Assessment Summary Forms
Version 3.1 Assessment Data Worksheets and Templates
Version 4.0 Assessment Data Worksheets and Templates
Trademarks and Trademark Use Guidelines
Material Health Certificate
C2C Certified Material Health Certificate™ Standard
The official scope of the C2C Certified Material Health Certificate™, as it relates to the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard.
Policies
Material Health Certificate Assessment Summary Forms
Assessment Data Worksheets and Templates
MHC Overview and Marketing Materials
Cradle to Cradle Certified v4 Pilot Resources
Cradle to Cradle Certified™ v4 Standard Documents
Cradle to Cradle Certified™ v4 Draft User Guidance
The v4 Draft User Guidance will be updated continually throughout the v4 pilot and is available as a Google doc:
Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Material Health Assessment Methodology Changes for v4
Cradle to Cradle Certified™ v4 Draft Recycled Content Assessment Methodology
Draft V4 Social Fairness Standard Comparisons
Comparisons of commonly used social compliance standards/programs to the draft V4 Social Fairness requirements.
Pilot Assessor Training on Draft V4 Social Fairness Requirements
View slide presentations below and recordings here.
Assessor Mailings
2023
February C2C Certified Program Updates
March C2C Certified Program Updates
April C2C Certified Program Updates
May C2C Certified Program Updates
July C2C Certified Program Updates
August C2C Certified Program Updates
September C2C Certified Program Updates
October C2C Certified Program Updates