8 Reasons to Choose FLOCERT as Your EDGE Certification Body

01.09.2026

Regina Ortiz, FLOCERT Assurance and Verification Manager

For more than a decade, organisations around the world have trusted FLOCERT to assess and certify their social impact commitments. Selecting the right certification body is a crucial step in the EDGE Certification journey. Companies need a partner that not only understands the technical requirements of the standard but also delivers a smooth, efficient, and credible certification experience. So, what is it that makes FLOCERT a trusted partner on this journey? 

I'm Regina Ortiz, Assurance and Verification Manager at FLOCERT. Over the past 18 years, I've overseen and supported the delivery of standardised and customised verification services and certification services, and for the last eight years, I've also served as EDGE Scheme Manager. From my experience as an EDGE Scheme manager, there is a mix of factors that distinguish us:

Certification body
An independent entity authorised by a specific standard-setter to certify that its clients comply with the requirements of the respective standard.
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EDGE Certification
FLOCERT is accredited by the EDGE Certified Foundation to certify companies against the EDGE (Equity, Diversity, and Gender Equality) Standards. A …
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Certification
Formal procedure of confirmation, by which an authorised person or agency assesses and verifies the attributes, quality, qualification, status of …
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Verification
Verification is an attestation that specified requirements related to a product, process, system, program, or entity are fulfilled at a specific …
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Assurance
FLOCERT provides independent and impartial assurance services. This requires the following five components: A three-party relationship – the …
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FLOCERT
FLOCERT is a leading global assurance provider. Besides providing sole certification to Fairtrade, FLOCERT offers certification and verification as …
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Impact
Any effects arising from an intervention or action. This includes immediate short-term outcomes as well as broader and longer-term effects and …
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1. A trusted EDGE Certification body since day one

FLOCERT has been an official EDGE Certification Body since EDGE’s founding in 2014. Since then, we have conducted approximately 500 EDGE audits across diverse sectors and regions. Our auditors bring more than a decade of overall auditing experience, making sure your assessment is carried out professionally, consistently, and with a deep understanding of certification requirements. In fact, our practical insights and extensive field experience have contributed to the development of the EDGE Certified Foundation’s global auditing approach, demonstrating the trust placed in our expertise.

2. Proven excellence in service and customer experience

FLOCERT delivers outstanding performance against EDGE Certified Foundation’s key performance indicators, particularly in audit timelines and customer satisfaction. Whether you’re pursuing EDGE Certification or EDGE Pay Equity & Transparency certification for the first time or preparing for recertification, our team helps ensure an efficient and professional process.

3. More than 20 years of social, environmental, and economic assurance expertise

Since 2003, FLOCERT has been the certification body for Fairtrade, assessing organisations against rigorous social, economic, and environmental standards. This experience gives us a unique perspective on responsible business practices and a proven ability to deliver reliable and independent certification services at scale.

4. Credibility you can trust

When choosing an EDGE Certification body, credibility matters.

FLOCERT’s commitment to quality and impartiality is reinforced through the ISO 17065 accreditation of our Fairtrade Certification services. While this accreditation applies specifically to Fairtrade Certification, the rigorous systems, methodologies, and quality assurance practices it requires shape the way we deliver all our certification and verification services. Our robust certification systems, auditor training, and quality management processes help ensure a consistent and trustworthy certification experience.

5. Global reach with local expertise

With offices in Germany, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, FLOCERT combines global presence with local knowledge, supporting customers in more than 120 countries.

Our local auditors have an understanding of regional business practices, legal frameworks, and cultural contexts, while also bringing specialised EDGE expertise. This means you benefit from auditors who understand the certification requirements while remaining sensitive to local realities.

6. Experience across a wide range of industries

Our EDGE auditing experience spans numerous sectors, including:

  • Banking and financial services
  • Communications and media
  • Consulting and professional services
  • Technology
  • Food and ingredients
  • Cosmetics and personal care
  • Manufacturing
  • Consumer goods

This diversity allows us to understand industry-specific challenges and provide a certification experience tailored to your business environment.

7. A workplace that reflects the values we assess

For us, equity and fairness aren’t simply topics we assess. They are principles that guide our own organisation. As a verified People and Planet First organisation, we place social and environmental impact at the centre of our business model.

And as an employer, FLOCERT was recognised among Great Place to Work®’s Best Workplaces in North Rhine-Westphalia 2024, reflecting our commitment to creating an inclusive, engaging, and supportive workplace culture.

Our high employee retention, including colleagues who have been with us for more than 20 years and many who choose to return after exploring other opportunities, speaks to the authenticity of our values. We strive to embody the same principles of equity, inclusion, and responsible business that our customers seek to demonstrate through EDGE Certification.

8. Dedicated support throughout your certification journey

At FLOCERT, you work with a dedicated local auditor who serves as your primary point of contact throughout the process. Behind the scenes, your auditor collaborates closely with the rest of the auditor team and FLOCERT’s central EDGE Certification team to ensure consistency, efficiency, and expert guidance.

The result is a seamless certification experience with clear communication, responsive support, and timely delivery every step of the way.

Fairtrade Certification
A product certification system where social, economic and environmental aspects of production are certified against Fairtrade Standards for producers …
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Accreditation
The formal declaration and recognition by a neutral third party and authoritative body that a certification body and its programme is competent to …
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Ingredient
Any substance, including a food additive, used in the manufacture or preparation of food and present in the final product, although possibly in a …
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Fairtrade
Fairtrade refers to all or any part of the activities of Fairtrade International eV, FLOCERT, Fairtrade Producer Networks, National Fairtrade …
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Auditor
A person qualified to carry out audits on behalf of a certification body. Learn more about the audits carried out by FLOCERT auditors.
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Audit
An evidence-gathering process that aims to assess the compliance of an organisation and/or a product with certain standards. There are three types of …
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Choose an EDGE Certification partner you can trust

When selecting an EDGE Certification body, you’re choosing more than an auditor, you’re choosing a partner who will support your organisation in demonstrating its commitment to gender equity, diversity, and inclusion.

With over 20 years of certification expertise, a global network of experienced auditors, proven EDGE performance, and a strong commitment to customer service, FLOCERT is uniquely positioned to help your organisation achieve its EDGE Certification goals.

Learn more about the FLOCERT team