In the face of growing environmental awareness and skepticism toward greenwashing, digital companies must now prove their actions, not just declare them.
In this context, labels and certifications in web eco-design have become essential benchmarks. They represent a concrete commitment: reducing the carbon footprint of digital services, designing leaner websites, and making measurable environmental responsibility visible.
Beyond being a marketing argument, these recognitions provide a true guarantee of credibility. They highlight organizations that design digital products that are high-performing, accessible, and environmentally friendly - while strengthening the trust of clients and partners.
In this expert article, we offer a clear, structured overview of the labels, certifications, and standards that define sustainable web design, to help you understand their differences, their benefits, and how to integrate them into your responsible digital strategy.
1. Why Certify a Web Eco-Design Approach?
Implementing a web eco-design strategy is good. Being able to prove it is even better.
In a context where digital sustainability has become a strategic decision-making factor, certification brings transparency, structure, and trust.
1.1 A Guarantee of Transparency and Credibility
Eco-design labels go beyond promises - they are based on technical and measurable criteria, such as energy efficiency, code performance, server optimization, and green hosting.
Obtaining a label means submitting your site or organization to a third-party evaluation, often conducted by independent experts. This objectively validates compliance with eco-design best practices and distinguishes truly committed actors from those relying only on discourse.
This transparency strengthens the confidence of clients, partners, and investors. It shows that the company is not just taking a stance but pursuing verifiable, long-term progress.
1.2 A Strategic Advantage
An eco-design label is more than an environmental recognition - it’s a competitive asset.
It proves that the company understands responsible digital issues, now essential in tenders, public contracts, and major organizations’ CSR policies.
It’s also an attractiveness driver. Both talents and clients increasingly seek companies aligned with their values. A labeled website or product signals a concrete and measurable commitment.
Finally, certification naturally integrates into a broader CSR approach: it enhances non-financial reporting, supports climate commitments, and contributes to continuous environmental improvement.
2. The Key Web Eco-Design Labels to Know
In a digital landscape striving for sustainability, several labels now measure and promote the environmental impact of a website or organization.
Some rely on in-depth audits, others on automated evaluations - all share a common goal: making the web more responsible and measurable.
2.1 Green Code Label
Created by Green Code Lab, this label is aimed at organizations seeking to embed software sobriety in their development practices.
It’s based on around forty criteria covering code structure, energy performance, page weight, and server resource management.
Three levels of recognition - Bronze, Silver, and Gold - are awarded for two years following an audit.
Green Code Label is a benchmark for developers, web agencies, and IT departments wishing to prove their mastery of “green code” best practices.
2.2 The Responsible Digital Label (NR)
Managed by the Institut du Numérique Responsable (INR) and Agence Lucie, the Numérique Responsable label goes beyond eco-design alone.
It assesses both the environmental and social impact of the entire digital chain: infrastructure, internal practices, accessibility, inclusion, IT purchasing, and governance.
Two levels exist:
- Level 1: Accessible after completing the Responsible Digital MOOC and obtaining the related knowledge certificate.
- Level 2: Awarded after a full audit and validation by an independent expert committee.
Today, this is the most comprehensive and recognized label for digital organizations, combining ethical, environmental, and strategic dimensions.
2.3 The EcoIndex Certification
Proposed by the EcoIndex platform, this free tool provides an environmental score for any web page in seconds.
The calculation is based on simple indicators: page weight, number of HTTP requests, DOM complexity, and data transfer volume.
The result: a grade from A to G and a score out of 100, providing a clear view of the site’s ecological performance.
Easy to integrate into an audit or redesign project, EcoIndex is a practical first step toward measurable, data-driven eco-design.
2.4 The Green Web Foundation Certification
Completely free, the Green Web Foundation offers a straightforward certification: checking whether your website is hosted on infrastructure powered by renewable energy.
By simply entering your URL, the foundation identifies your hosting source and provides a “Green Hosted” badge to display on your site.
It’s a quick, symbolic, and visible approach that highlights responsible hosting choices and encourages migration to greener solutions.
2.5 Other Initiatives Worth Following
Other programs complement these frameworks and strengthen the responsible digital ecosystem:
Wattimpact: an energy label certifying compensation for your website’s electricity use through renewable energy projects.
Greenspector: an environmental analysis tool for web and mobile applications that measures energy, data, and CPU consumption.
Internal labels: some companies create their own internal eco-design frameworks to engage teams and track measurable progress.
3. Certifications and Standards: Going Beyond Labels
Labels are a great starting point to promote an eco-design approach.
But for organizations wanting to embed it into a global environmental strategy, international certifications and standards provide a stronger, universally recognized framework.
3.1 ISO Standards
ISO standards are the global reference for environmental management and corporate responsibility.
They apply to all sectors, including digital, and help structure continuous improvement initiatives.
ISO 14001: defines environmental management systems. It helps companies identify, measure, and reduce the impact of their activities, including digital services. Integrating ISO 14001 logic into web development means rethinking every step - design, hosting, maintenance, and end of life.
ISO 50001: focused on energy management, particularly relevant for data centers, servers, and cloud infrastructure. It aims to optimize energy consumption and improve performance.
ISO 26000: a framework for corporate social responsibility (CSR), covering environmental, social, and ethical dimensions. In the digital context, it helps integrate eco-design into sustainable governance and inclusion policies.
These certifications require high standards but position organizations within a structured, measurable, and recognized environmental approach.
3.2 Labels vs. Certifications: Understanding the Difference
The two terms are often confused, yet their scope and regulatory value differ greatly.
- A label highlights a specific initiative or result, often within a limited scope (a website, a service, or a process). It’s based on sector-specific benchmarks and often voluntary evaluation - a flexible recognition of commitment.
- A certification, on the other hand, involves a formal audit by an accredited organization under international standards (like ISO). It places the company in a continuous improvement cycle and provides lasting, institutional proof of compliance.
In summary: Labels are the first step toward recognition, while certifications establish long-term credibility and guarantee methodological rigor.
4. How to Choose the Right Label for Your Website
Not all labels serve the same purpose. Some focus on public recognition of your efforts, others on structuring internal improvement.
The right choice depends on your digital maturity, your goals, and the scope you want to certify.
4.1 Based on Your Digital Maturity
Start by assessing your organization’s digital and environmental maturity
- Beginning phase: If you’re just exploring eco-design, start with accessible, easy-to-obtain labels like Green Web Foundation (for green hosting) or EcoIndex, which gives instant environmental evaluations of web pages. These are great for raising team awareness and identifying quick wins.
- Structured approach: For already committed organizations, Green Code Label or Numérique Responsable provide a comprehensive framework. They require audits and technical validation but offer strong market recognition
Global strategy: If your goal is to integrate eco-design into a cross-functional CSR policy, ISO 14001 or ISO 26000 are the natural next steps. They link digital action to corporate environmental and social policy.
4.2 Based on Your Objectives
Your choice also depends on what you’re trying to achieve.
- External visibility: Choose a label you can display on your site (like “Green Hosted” or “Green Code Label”). It’s a tangible signal of commitment easily recognized by clients and partners.
These are especially useful for communication, public tenders, and marketing assets. - Internal performance: If your goal is to measure and manage environmental impact, prefer scoring tools like EcoIndex or ISO certifications.
They provide precise metrics to improve energy efficiency and reduce operational costs.
4.3 Preparing for Audits
Whatever label or certification you choose, success lies in preparation.
Conduct a self-assessment to identify strengths and gaps.
Build a proof dossier: technical documentation, performance indicators, audit reports, corrective action plans.
Integrate certification into continuous improvement, not just a one-time validation.
The goal isn’t to collect badges, but to make digital sobriety a long-term reflex.
5. In Summary
Web eco-design labels and certifications are not mere symbolic distinctions.
They offer concrete, measurable proof of an organization’s environmental commitment.
Whether it’s an EcoIndex score, a Green Code Label audit, or an ISO certification, each initiative strengthens sustainable digital practices.
Each organization can find the right level of ambition - from entry-level labels to ISO frameworks that embed eco-design into global CSR.
Ultimately, the goal isn’t to accumulate awards but to make environmental performance a collective, lasting reflex for a more responsible web.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Main Ecological Labels for Websites?
Several labels currently recognize digital eco-design efforts. The most well-known include:
- Green Code Label: evaluates code quality and energy performance.
- Responsible Digital (NR): certifies a holistic sustainable digital approach (eco-design, inclusion, governance).
- EcoIndex Certification: assigns an A–G environmental score to each page.
- Green Web Foundation: certifies hosting powered by renewable energy.
- Wattimpact: certifies energy compensation through sustainable projects.
- Greenspector: evaluates the environmental efficiency of mobile and web applications.
These labels cover complementary areas - from code to hosting and energy consumption.
What’s the Difference Between a Label and a Certification?
It’s mainly a matter of scope and official recognition:
A label is a sector-specific distinction, granted according to a defined framework. It validates a commitment or result within a given scope (website, service, practice) and may be issued by a private or non-accredited organization.
→ Example: Green Code Label or Numérique Responsable.
A certification is official recognition based on international standards (usually ISO) and issued by an accredited body.
It involves external audits, regular reviews, and continuous improvement.
→ Example: ISO 14001 or ISO 26000.
In short: labels demonstrate engagement, certifications validate structured, lasting compliance.
Which ISO Standard Covers Eco-Design?
- ISO 14001 is the most widely used framework for environmental management systems.
It defines requirements for organizations to structure eco-design actions - from lean design and green hosting to carbon measurement and optimized maintenance.
Other complementary standards include:
- ISO 50001: energy management (relevant for data centers and cloud).
- ISO 26000: corporate social responsibility, including digital aspects.
- ISO 9001: focuses on process quality, supporting sustainable development goals.
Together, they make eco-design a strategic pillar, not an isolated initiative.
What Are the Main Environmental Labels in France?
In France, several public and private labels certify environmental performance:
- NF Environnement (AFNOR): the official French label guaranteeing reduced environmental impact at equivalent quality.
- EU Ecolabel: created by the European Commission and certified by ADEME and AFNOR in France, recognizing environmentally friendly products and services throughout their life cycle.
- Numérique Responsable (INR / Agence Lucie): for digital players seeking to structure their sustainability strategy.
- Green Web Foundation & Green Code Label: digital-specific initiatives that complement ISO and CSR frameworks.
These eco-labels enhance environmental transparency and help harmonize best practices across Europe.