Respond to contracting authorities
Particularly relevant for B2B businesses and suppliers.
CSR label & certification CSR label & certification: showcase your responsible commitments with official recognition
We help you choose the recognition suited to your business, assess your maturity level, close the gaps and prepare your organisation for external assessment: LUCIE 26000, Engagé RSE, B Corp, EcoVadis and other schemes adapted to your context.
The label, certification or final rating is awarded by the scheme owner or assessor, independently of Complianz System.
Label diagnostic offered at kick-off
>95% success rate
End-to-end support
What you get
At the end of support
A recognised CSR label from your clients, partners and contracting authorities — official, third-party, credible proof of your responsible commitment.
6–18
months
>95%
success rate
5
schemes covered
60% of tenders now include CSR criteria in public procurement and large corporate contracts
Our CSR services
CSR strategy
Define your priority commitments, CSR roadmap and responsible performance indicators.
Carbon footprint & ESG reporting
Measure your carbon footprint, build your ESG reporting and prepare for CSRD requirements.
CSR label & certification
Obtain official recognition of your CSR approach (Lucie 26000, B Corp, EcoVadis…).
CSR label: definition
What is a CSR label?
A CSR label allows an organisation to have its responsible approach assessed against a defined framework and to showcase a level of commitment or maturity to its stakeholders.
Unlike a simple charter or a self-declaration, labelling schemes generally rest on an assessment according to their own rules and criteria.
CSR labels do not all share the same status, the same body or the same process: the right choice depends on the company’s objective, not on a single interchangeable recognition.
Why seek a label?
Why have your CSR approach assessed or labelled?
Obtaining a CSR label or a third-party assessment is not an end in itself: it is a way to structure, prove and progress the approach.
Structure the approach
The framework forces a shift from scattered actions to a coherent system.
Identify the gaps
Assessment brings out the areas that are still weak.
Showcase the evidence
To clients, candidates, partners or financiers.
Create a progress dynamic
Recognition becomes a milestone, not the end of the project.
Strengthen credibility
A third-party assessment is more robust than a simple self-declaration.
Label, certification, rating, standard
CSR label, certification, rating or standard: what is the difference?
The difference is not semantic: each scheme has a distinct status, process and commercial value.
CSR label
Recognition awarded according to a given framework and assessment process.
Examples: LUCIE 26000, Engagé RSE.
Certification
Validation according to the rules of a certifiable framework.
Example: B Corp Certification, against B Lab standards.
CSR rating
An assessment that produces a score, notably to measure and compare maturity.
Example: EcoVadis Sustainability Rating.
Standard / guidelines
A methodological framework that can structure the approach without necessarily being certifiable.
Example: ISO 26000, which is not a certification standard.
CSR recognition schemes therefore do not all work the same way — and the best choice depends on the company’s objective.
Common mix-ups
EcoVadis and ISO 26000 are often taken for a CSR label or a certification. Neither is: the short answer is visible, the detail unfolds.
EcoVadis assessment
Is EcoVadis a CSR label or a certification?
Neither
It is a sustainability rating. Medals and badges are not a certification.
Read the full answer Show less
The company receives a score and may, depending on results and eligibility criteria, receive a medal or badge. EcoVadis states that these medals and badges are not certifications or product labels.
We can support you in preparing for the assessment, collecting evidence and the improvement plan ahead of a new rating.
Prepare my EcoVadis assessmentISO 26000
Can you obtain ISO 26000 certification?
No
ISO 26000 is not a certification standard. It provides guidance on social responsibility.
Read the full answer Show less
Some CSR labels draw on its principles to assess organisations. If your goal is to structure your approach according to ISO 26000, we can prepare the system and guide you towards a suitable recognition scheme.
Structure my ISO 26000 approachWhich CSR label to choose?
Which CSR label or scheme should your business choose?
The right choice is not the most prestigious, but the one that matches your goal: structure an approach, answer a client request, seek international recognition, or simply set a framework. Use the comparator below to tell the most requested schemes apart, including for SMEs.
| Scheme | Type | Main interest | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| LUCIE 26000 | Label | Structure and showcase a global approach | SMEs / organisations |
| Engagé RSE | Label | Overall CSR maturity assessment | Structured organisations |
| B Corp | Certification | International recognition for impact businesses | Eligible companies |
| EcoVadis | Rating | Respond in particular to client / supply-chain assessments | B2B / suppliers |
| ISO 26000 | Guidelines | Structure the approach | All organisations |
LUCIE 26000 and Engagé RSE are based on ISO 26000 guidelines; EcoVadis works as a rating system, while B Corp is indeed a company certification.
LUCIE 26000 vs Engagé RSE vs EcoVadis
LUCIE 26000, Engagé RSE or EcoVadis: how to choose?
Three schemes often compared, three distinct uses. The right choice is not the best-known, but the one that matches your objective.
LUCIE 26000
CSR label. Prefer this if you want to structure a global CSR approach around a labelling pathway aligned with ISO 26000.
Engagé RSE
AFNOR label. Prefer this if you want an AFNOR label based on an assessment of how CSR is integrated into your strategy and organisation.
EcoVadis
Rating — neither a label nor a certification. Prefer this in particular if your need is a CSR rating frequently used in supplier relationships and supply chains.
B Corp certification
What about B Corp certification?
B Corp certification assesses and verifies the company against B Lab standards on social, environmental and governance performance. The new generation of B Lab standards entered deployment in 2026.
We first analyse the fit between your company, your objectives and the B Corp pathway before recommending this route.
CSR recognition selector
Which CSR recognition best fits your business?
Your CSR pathway
Maturity
63 / 100
Objective
Contracting authorities
Priority
Supplier assessment
Schemes to review
- 1 EcoVadis Highly relevant
- 2 Engagé RSE Worth considering
- 3 LUCIE 26000 Possible medium-term
Recommended first step
CSR diagnostic & gap analysis
Get my orientation
Indicative result. Eligibility, the applicable framework and award conditions must be verified with the relevant body.
Maturity / recognition
Your maturity level determines the right path
A label, certification or rating is not the first step for everyone. The right path depends on what is already in place.
Beginner
Start with a CSR strategy.
Structured
Advanced
Aim for a more demanding or international recognition.
Already assessed
Improve the score / prepare renewal.
CSR recognition schemes
The main CSR recognition schemes we can prepare you for
We prepare your organisation for external assessment. The label, certification or rating is then awarded by the scheme owner or assessor, independently of Complianz System.
LUCIE 26000 label
- initial diagnostic
- structuring the approach
- progress plan
- assessment preparation
Engagé RSE — AFNOR
- framework analysis
- evidence preparation
- diagnostic
- improvement before assessment
AFNOR states that the Engagé RSE assessment is carried out on site and examines how far ISO 26000 guidelines are integrated into strategy and activities.
B Corp certification
- diagnostic against applicable criteria
- structuring evidence
- support on gaps
- preparation for the verification process
B Lab rolled out new certification standards in 2026: we prepare the organisation against applicable criteria, without freezing thresholds here that may evolve. See What about B Corp certification?
EcoVadis assessment
- questionnaire preparation
- collecting supporting evidence
- identifying gaps
- improving documentation
- preparation for reassessment
EcoVadis is not a certification. The assessment covers in particular the quality of the sustainability management system — policies, actions and results.
CSR approach aligned with ISO 26000
A guidelines framework to structure a CSR approach. ISO 26000 is not a certification standard: there is no ISO 26000 certification. We use it to set the framework, before a label or assessment if needed. See Can you obtain ISO 26000 certification?
Other sector-specific labels
We can also review sector-specific labels or schemes relevant to your activity, without locking in a framework that would not fit your industry.
Our method
How we prepare you for CSR labelling or assessment
CSR label support or assessment preparation follows a clear sequence, from choosing the scheme through to external evaluation.
Hover or select a step to see the detail.
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Define the objective
Why do you want this recognition?
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Choose the scheme
Comparison of relevant labels, certifications or ratings. See the comparator and the selector.
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Gap analysis
Assessment of your situation against the chosen framework.
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Upgrade plan
Priority actions, owners and deadlines.
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Building the evidence
Policies, procedures, KPIs, results, documents. See the evidence to prepare.
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Deployment
Implementation of the missing actions.
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Mock audit / simulation
Preparation for external assessment when relevant. See the CSR mock audit.
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Dossier compilation
Organisation of information and supporting evidence.
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Team preparation
Anticipating interviews / questions.
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External assessment
Carried out by the relevant body.
01 Define the objective
Why do you want this recognition?
We prepare the organisation; we do not replace the body that awards the recognition.
Evidence to prepare
What evidence do you need to prepare for a CSR assessment?
A CSR assessment rests on documented evidence, not on intentions. These are the families of items most often requested.
Governance
Environment
Social
Ethics
Responsible procurement
Results
CSR mock audit
CSR mock audit: are you ready for the assessment?
A CSR mock audit (or label audit) simulates the assessment before the real review — including a LUCIE 26000 audit. You identify the gaps without waiting for the body’s verdict.
Framework
Criterion-by-criterion review.
Evidence
Available documents and results. See the items to prepare.
Interviews
Preparation of the people involved.
Gaps
List of points to correct before the assessment.
From €1,900 excl. VAT. See the CSR preparation audit.
Who is it for?
Who needs a CSR label or certification?
A CSR label, certification or rating is not reserved for a single profile. The need depends on your clients, your markets and your maturity level.
Suppliers to large groups
Especially relevant for CSR assessments requested in supply chains.
SMEs that have already structured their CSR
The approach exists: a first label or rating can make it recognised. See the maturity / recognition matrix.
Businesses wanting to respond to tenders
A score, label or certification can become an access criterion or a differentiator in bids.
Organisations seeking to objectify their maturity
Third-party assessment measures what is actually in place, beyond internal communication.
Businesses seeking recognition from their stakeholders
Clients, employees, partners or financiers expect independent proof of the approach.
Already assessed businesses
Improve the score or prepare label renewal. See the CSR mock audit.
Complianz deliverables
What you receive before the external assessment
Depending on the assignment. Deliverables you can actually use to prepare for the assessment — not a generic report, and not the award of the recognition.
Comparison of possible schemes
Pathway recommendation
Gap analysis
Internal readiness score
List of available / missing evidence
Upgrade roadmap
Action plan
Structured documentary file
Mock audit
Audit report
Team preparation
Tracking dashboard
Support on corrective actions
Our pricing
How much does CSR label support cost?
Fees depend on maturity, scope and the evidence to be built — not on a single label. See what you receive before the assessment.
CSR diagnostic & preparation
€3,500 – 6,500 excl. VAT
- Framework analysis
- Gap analysis
- Recommendations
- Priority evidence
- Action plan
Most chosen
Labelling / assessment support
€4,500 – 8,500 excl. VAT
- Diagnostic
- Structuring
- Evidence
- Support
- Assessment preparation
Transformation & full preparation
€7,000 – 13,000+ excl. VAT
- Complete CSR approach
- Governance
- KPIs
- Reporting
- Mock audit
- Preparation for the chosen scheme
Registration, assessment, audit, subscription or award fees billed by the third-party body are not included in Complianz System fees unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Indicative pricing — a tailored quote is provided within 48 hours based on your exact scope.
Complementary services
The CSR journey
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01
CSR strategy
Build your approach before seeking recognition.
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02
Carbon footprint & ESG reporting
Produce the data and evidence required.
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03 You are here
CSR labels & certifications
Prepare for the external assessment.
To go further
What is a CSR label?
A CSR label allows an organisation to have its responsible approach assessed against a defined framework and to showcase a level of commitment or maturity to its stakeholders. Unlike a charter or a self-declaration, labelling generally rests on an assessment according to the scheme’s own rules. Labels do not all share the same status, body or process. See the full definition.
What is the difference between a CSR label and a CSR certification?
A CSR label (LUCIE 26000, Engagé RSE) is recognition awarded through a labelling pathway. A certification (B Corp) validates the company against a certifiable standard and a verification process. A rating (EcoVadis) is neither a label nor a certification: it produces a score. See label, certification, rating or standard.
Which CSR label should my company choose?
The choice depends on objectives and stakeholders, not on a universal ranking. LUCIE 26000 suits organisations that want to structure a global approach aligned with ISO 26000. Engagé RSE is an AFNOR label based on how CSR is integrated into strategy and organisation. EcoVadis is a rating often required in supply chains. B Corp is a company certification, to be considered only after a fit analysis. Use the selector, the comparator and the LUCIE / Engagé RSE / EcoVadis comparison.
What are the main CSR labels in France?
The main CSR labels in France are LUCIE 26000 (labelling pathway aligned with ISO 26000) and Engagé RSE, issued by AFNOR Certification. B Corp is a B Lab certification, not a label. EcoVadis is a sustainability rating, neither a label nor a certification. ISO 26000 is not a certification standard. See the schemes covered.
Is there an ISO 26000 certification?
No. ISO 26000 is not a certification standard. It provides guidance on social responsibility. Some CSR labels draw on its principles to assess organisations. See Can you obtain ISO 26000 certification?
Is EcoVadis a label or a certification?
Neither: EcoVadis is a sustainability rating; its medals and badges are not a certification. See Is EcoVadis a CSR label or a certification?
Is LUCIE 26000 a label?
Yes. It is a CSR labelling pathway aligned with ISO 26000. See the LUCIE 26000 vs Engagé RSE vs EcoVadis comparison.
Is Engagé RSE a certification?
Engagé RSE is a label issued by AFNOR Certification. It is not a certification. See label vs certification.
What is the difference between LUCIE 26000 and Engagé RSE?
Both are CSR labels drawing on ISO 26000 principles. LUCIE 26000 is a labelling pathway run by Agence LUCIE, focused on structuring the approach and an action plan. Engagé RSE is an AFNOR label based on an assessment of how CSR is integrated into strategy and organisation. See the detailed comparison.
What is the difference between LUCIE 26000 and EcoVadis?
LUCIE 26000 is a CSR label. EcoVadis is a sustainability rating, neither a label nor a certification, frequently used in supplier relationships and supply chains. See LUCIE vs Engagé RSE vs EcoVadis.
Is B Corp a label or a certification?
B Corp is a company certification awarded according to the B Lab process. It is not a label. See What about B Corp certification?
How much does a CSR label cost?
Three cost lines should be distinguished: support (Complianz fees), the external assessment billed by the body, and any membership, licence or renewal. Third-party body fees are not included in Complianz System fees unless explicitly stated otherwise. The CSR preparation audit starts at €1,900 excl. VAT; support packages range from €3,500 to €13,000+ excl. VAT.
How long does it take to obtain a CSR label?
It depends on organisational maturity and the scheme. An EcoVadis rating is often prepared in a few months; a label such as Engagé RSE or LUCIE 26000, or B Corp certification, generally takes longer. The actual timeline depends on available evidence and gaps to close. See the maturity / recognition matrix.
Can several recognitions be prepared at the same time?
Yes, when the objectives differ — for example an EcoVadis rating for clients and a label to structure the approach. Some evidence can be reused. If maturity is still low, sequencing is often more effective. See the recognition selector.
Is a CSR label mandatory?
No. There is no general obligation to obtain a CSR label. A client, a tender or a supply chain may however require an assessment, a label or a certification.
Do you need a CSR strategy before applying for a label?
For a structuring label, yes: policy, responsibilities, evidence and results are expected. If the approach is not yet built, start with a CSR strategy rather than with the external assessment. See also the maturity matrix.
Ready to showcase your CSR commitments with recognised certification?
Our experts assess your CSR maturity and propose the label best suited to your goals and stakeholders. Diagnostic offered, no commitment.
Pursue my CSR label
Diagnostic offered
>95% success rate
End-to-end support