We Impact
Certified Sustainability Management
With We Impact, sustainability becomes part of your organization: structured, tested and effective. Find out more now.
Sustainability with a system
An Overview of the Two-Tier Management System
We Impact is a two-tier sustainability management system for companies and organizations of all sizes and types. It combines quality-assured collection of your ESG data (environmental, social, and governance) with a management structure that improves your processes. This enables you to respond to inquiries from banks, business partners, and funding agencies with verifiable figures and identify sustainability risks before they become costly.
Level 1 is a structured introduction, even for those with no prior experience, and is particularly well-suited for small and medium-sized organizations.
Level 2 is designed for organizations with prior experience and fully integrates the European environmental management system EMAS, expanded to include social and corporate governance aspects.
We Impact is based on recognized standards such as EMAS and ISO 14001 and leads to a certified sustainability management system with an externally audited report in accordance with VSME, the voluntary EU reporting standard for small and medium-sized enterprises. This allows you to demonstrate your sustainability management system through independent verification in loan negotiations, bids, grant applications, and customer inquiries.
We Impact is your compass for sustainable corporate management
Meet tomorrow's standards today!
Integration
established standards for easy fulfillment of requirements
Maximize your impact with ISO 14001 and EMAS
Expanding current environmental management systems to encompass sustainability
A seamless integration for companies that are already certified according to these standards.
Addressing the current requirements and expectations of banks, customers and society.
Materiality and risk-based
and adaptability to SME needs - for beginners and advanced users
Materiality and risk-based
Establish priorities based on materiality analysis according to established CSRD/ESRS standards.
Specially designed to meet the needs of small and medium-sized companies.
Reporting in accordance with the VSME/VS SME reporting standard, which is aligned with the CSRD.
Credibility
through a transparent stakeholder system and independent auditing
System & players
On behalf of and with the support of the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUKN), a system was established that is based on a strategic advisory board and an executive office. With the help of independent impact assessors, these bodies ensure compliance with high standards, continuous improvement, and a high degree of transparency.
Impact
through impact-oriented ESG processing
Your impact
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors are systematically addressed and incorporated into the company's day-to-day operations.
This ensures a future-proof structure and a transition toward more sustainable business practices.
This change is taking place within the company, from the inside out.
How sustainable is your company?
Take the first step towards sustainable success - in just a few minutes you will receive an assessment of your sustainability performance and specific recommendations for action.
Who is We Impact for?
Designed to meet your needs
We Impact is primarily designed for medium-sized companies while remaining adaptable for organizations of varying sizes. Offering both entry levels and advanced levels, We Impact ensures that it caters to every company, regardless of their prior experience in the field of sustainability or environmental management.
Independent audit
Tested according to clear standards
Companies that wish to be certified under We Impact are assessed by independent auditors who are specifically approved for the system.
In Stage 1, qualified impact auditors conduct the audit. In Stage 2, it is carried out by EMAS environmental verifiers who hold an additional We Impact qualification.
This ensures the quality of the examination and strengthens the credibility of the certification.
Thinking ahead systematically
Professional support through independent expertise
An independent strategy advisory board oversees the (further) development of the We Impact System and ensures that technical quality, relevance and feasibility remain in focus.
The interdisciplinary committee provides impetus, supports the office in strategic matters and promotes the further development of the system in exchange with practice, science and politics.
By choosing We Impact, you are selecting a system that prioritizes credibility, transparency, and continuous improvement at the core of your sustainability management.
Collaborating for a sustainable tomorrow
Become part of the solution
Anyone who wants to effectively embed sustainability in their company needs clarity, structure, and a system that helps them move forward. We Impact offers exactly that – and empowers companies that want to take responsibility and operate sustainably.
Whether sustainability reporting or human rights due diligence – with We Impact, you combine requirements with practical implementation. Certification makes progress visible and builds trust.
Contact us – we will be happy to inform you about the next steps.
Exceed empty promises! Use the seal to represent your company's commitment to shaping a sustainable economy.
We Impact - News
Latest news
Two Years of We Impact: An Interview with HiPP Croatia
What is a We Impact Audit like, what changes within the company, and is it worth the effort? Ladislava Klasić-Stanković from HiPP Croatia provides answers from firsthand experience in our new case study…
University of Bamberg Certified at We Impact Level 2
The Otto Friedrich University of Bamberg became the first university in Germany to be successfully certified under Level 2 of the “We Impact” sustainability management standard. With this achievement, the University of Bamberg is sending a strong message to the higher education sector and demonstrating how…
EmpCo Directive and the 2026 Amendment to the Unfair Competition Act
What the new rules for sustainability labels mean and where We Impact stands. On January 30, 2026, the Federal Council passed the Third Amendment to the Unfair Competition Act (UWG).
SWSG Certified to We Impact Level 2
Stuttgarter Wohnungs- und Städtebaugesellschaft mbH (SWSG) is the first housing company in Germany to be certified under EMAS and We Impact Level 2. The certification highlights what the organization is already putting into practice…
Mission Leben Certified to We Impact Level 2
The social enterprise Mission Leben has received EMAS and We Impact certification for all 35 of its facilities. This sends a strong signal in support of systematic sustainability management in the social economy.
We Impact Convoy for Universities: Free information event on March 23
Starting in 2026, KATE Umwelt & Entwicklung e.V. will offer an accompanied We Impact Convoy specifically for universities. The format is aimed at universities that want to systematically implement sustainability management for the first time (level 1),...
How EMAS, ÖKOPROFIT, and We Impact work together
BAUM e.V. has published a comparison of the three sustainability management tools ÖKOPROFIT, EMAS, and We Impact. This is reason enough to take a closer look at the three systems and how they interact. Three tools, different focuses ÖKOPROFIT is a...
How to future-proof your business (online seminar, Arqum) on January 29, 2026
Climate protection and sustainability are key success factors for companies today—but how can effective sustainability management be implemented in a practical and efficient manner? In this webinar, Arqum presents We Impact sustainability management, which helps companies...
Werner & Mertz certified according to We Impact
We congratulate Werner & Mertz on its successful We Impact certification. The Mainz-based family-owned company, known to many for its Frosch brand, was one of the first industrial companies to pass the audit according to the...
Info events 2025
What is We Impact? How does the certification work? And what specific benefits does the system offer your company? Our free information sessions provide a concise overview of We Impact. We'll explain how...
Want to know more?
In our toolbox you will find further checklists, our impact check and links to freely available online sources