FAQ

We Impact is aimed at companies and organizations of all sizes and sectors in German-speaking countries, including foreign subsidiaries. It is particularly suitable for SMEs, as well as for companies with existing environmental management systems such as ISO14001, EMAS or EMASplus. Organizations that are directly or indirectly affected by regulations such as the CSRD or the LkSG will find We Impact an ideal solution for integrating these requirements into their corporate management.

We Impact creates the structures for reliable sustainability reporting. This provides companies with the basis for VSME-compliant reports and valid ESG data. This data is also becoming increasingly important for banks, as they are increasingly being included in financing decisions

We Impact defines specific requirements for holistic sustainability management, which includes effective risk management and the implementation of corporate due diligence along the supply chain. The certification standard is based on proven standards such as ISO 14001 and EMAS, supplemented by specific requirements from the LkSG and the CSRD/ ESRS. An integral component is the sustainability report in accordance with the VSME, which underlines the transparency and credibility of the company's commitment.

We Impact was developed by KATE Environment & Development in collaboration with Arqum, on behalf of and with the support of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment. Numerous stakeholders and companies were involved in the dialog. KATE acts as the seal provider and operates the We Impact office, which serves as an information and registration office, carries out qualifications and continuously develops the system. The We Impact Strategy Advisory Board consists of independent, voluntary experts and contributes to the improvement and supervision of the system with its expertise from various sectors.

We Impact extends the requirements of ISO14001 and EMAS to include additional aspects covering social issues, human rights due diligence in the supply chain and governance aspects. EMAS-validated companies already fulfill all environmental criteria and expand their environmental management system to include the additional We Impact requirements. ISO 14001-certified organizations expand their management system to include the additional EMAS and We Impact-specific requirements.

EMAS^plus-organizations already largely implement the requirements of We Impact. There is a need for adaptation in the organizations, particularly with regard to the requirements for determining materiality, the content of the sustainability report and some elements of the LkSG and ESRS, which are marked accordingly in the regulations.

For EMAS^plus-organizations:

• Initial and recertification according to EMAS^plus can be carried out up to and including 31.12.2024. From 01.01.2025, only initial certifications and recertifications according to We Impact can be carried out.
• EMAS monitoring audits^plus can still be carried out up to and including 31.12.2025.
• Organizations that comply with EMAS^plus certified may use the EMAS^plus-logo in addition to the We Impact logo until their existing EMAS^plus-certificate expires.
• After a successful We Impact audit by an impact assessor (recertification or monitoring), the application for inclusion in the We Impact register is submitted. At the same time, the company is automatically deleted from the EMAS^plus-register.
• EMAS^plus-certified organizations prepare a sustainability report that is valid for the respective certification period of three to four years. This existing report can continue to be used until the end of the current certification period (validity of the certificate). The We Impact requirements for the sustainability report only have to be met at the start of a new certification period.

If you have any questions, please contact the office at info@we-impact.de

We Impact Level 1 lays the foundation for sustainability reporting in accordance with VSME. Companies set up the necessary structures and processes and record all VSME-relevant data in a comprehensible and verifiable manner. This creates valid ESG information that can be used for VSME reporting as well as for other requirements such as CSRD or bank reporting.

Testing and certification are carried out by independent examiners approved by the office. These are qualified through specialist customer training and regularly audited. In stage 1, the audit is carried out online by impact auditors. In stage 2, the audit is carried out on site by impact assessors. Impact verifiers are environmental verifiers accredited by the German Accreditation and Licensing Association for Environmental Verifiers (DAU) with an additional We Impact qualification.

The Level 1 certificate is valid for three (or ^four ) years. After that, recertification at Level 1 or transition to Level 2 can be achieved.

Level 2 certification is also available for three (or four)¹) years and can be maintained through regular recertification.

¹ Four years, for organizations in accordance with the regulation for small organizations pursuant to Art. 7 of the EMAS Regulation

The costs are made up of internal expenses for implementation, a registration fee, an annual fee and the fees for the independent auditors. The amount of these costs varies depending on the scope of the required measures and the size of the company. The costs of the audit can be requested directly from the auditors.

Companies that would like to be accompanied during the introduction of Level 1 can use a We Impact Convoy. In these accompanied programmes, several organizations start in parallel, receive specialist support and are guided step by step through the implementation process. This ensures a structured, practical and cost-effective introduction. Further information on current convoys can be found here.

The time required depends on the existing structure, the preparation and the ambitions of a company. Approximately 5 to 6 months are set as the introduction horizon for stage 1. Approx. 5 months should be planned for stage 2 if EMAS is already in place or after stage 1. If stage 2 is introduced with additional EMAS validation, approx. 8 to 10 months should be planned.

The We Impact seal identifies companies that meet the We Impact requirements for their sustainability management. The seal can be used in all corporate communication, for example on the website, on posters and vis-à-vis business partners.
However, the seal may not be applied directly to products, as it identifies the company's systems and processes, but does not make a sufficient statement about the sustainability of the products and services.

The seal may only be used in its original, unaltered form. The level 2 seal is always used as a double seal in combination with the EMAS seal.

Further information on the use of seals can be found in our guidelines.

The We Impact office is housed at KATE Umwelt & Entwicklung e.V., a nonprofit organization based in Stuttgart. It is funded by registration fees and annual dues from certified companies, training and certification programs, and public grants. We Impact itself was developed from 2021 to 2025 on behalf of the Federal Ministry for the Environment in collaboration with Arqum GmbH.

From April 1, 2025, through July 31, 2027, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) will provide funding for part of the Secretariat’s work. The funding is provided through the SYNA project (“A Systematic Approach to Sustainability Management,” grant number 372523V426) as part of the association funding program. The funds are allocated pursuant to a resolution of the German Bundestag.

The funding supports the work of the secretariat. KATE is the issuer of the We Impact Seal. Companies are evaluated by independent auditors. As a nonprofit organization, KATE operates the secretariat on a not-for-profit basis; all revenue goes toward the operation, further development, and promotion of the system.

If you have any questions about financing, please feel free to contact us at info@we-impact.de