Integrity in Sustainability Communications & Zero-Tolerance for Greenwashing, SDG-washing, and UN Misrepresentation
Issued by: STNSM (Sustainability Services & Supply Chains Alliance), under an international organization founded by ESCAP and FAO
Effective date: 27 March 2025
Published on: stnsm.org
Purpose
This Code of Conduct is issued to safeguard the integrity and credibility of sustainability information published on stnsm.org. It establishes binding standards to prevent misleading, exaggerated, selective, or unverifiable sustainability claims, including any conduct that may cause the public to misunderstand or misinterpret an affiliation with, endorsement by, or certification from the United Nations (“UN”).
Scope of Application
This Code of Conduct applies to and is binding upon:
(a) any entity or individual receiving recognition, status, or a certificate issued by STNSM;
(b) members, partners, and contributors submitting information for publication on stnsm.org; and
(c) any contractor, agency, event organizer, or media producer acting for or on behalf of any of the foregoing (collectively, “Covered Parties”).
Binding Principles
Covered Parties shall comply with the following principles at all times:
- Truthfulness and Non-Misleading Communication: No statement, design, or representation shall be made in a manner that is false, exaggerated, ambiguous, or reasonably capable of misleading the public.
- Traceability and Verifiability: Sustainability claims shall be supported by adequate evidence, including defined boundaries, time period, indicators, and methodology sufficient for scrutiny.
- Prompt Correction: Upon identification or notification of an error, misstatement, or misleading representation, Covered Parties shall correct, remove, and/or clarify without delay in accordance with STNSM directions.
Zero-Tolerance on UN Misrepresentation
To prevent public confusion and protect the integrity of STNSM communications, Covered Parties shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in any of the following:
Prohibited UN-Related Claims
Covered Parties shall not use any wording, claim, or representation that states or implies that an entity, product, service, activity, or recognition is:
- “UN certified,” “certified by the UN,” “UN approved,” “UN endorsed,” or “UN recognized”;
- a “United Nations certificate,” or “issued by the United Nations,” where the document is issued by STNSM; or
- a “UN programme” or “under the UN” in a manner that would reasonably lead the public to believe that the UN has issued, certified, approved, endorsed, or otherwise validated the entity, product, service, or activity.
Prohibited Use of UN Name, Emblem, or UN-Implying Marks
Covered Parties shall not use the UN name, UN emblem, UN logo, or any mark, design, or visual arrangement that is reasonably capable of implying UN affiliation, endorsement, approval, or certification, in any external communication, including but not limited to websites, social media, presentations, event backdrops, stage materials, product labels, packaging, brochures, or press releases.
Any act of “adding” the UN emblem or presenting the UN emblem alongside a private-sector or third-party logo for reputational or commercial advantage is strictly prohibited.
Mandatory Attribution for STNSM Recognition
Whenever a Covered Party communicates publicly regarding STNSM recognition, certificate, or status, it shall display the following attribution prominently and legibly:
Mandatory Attribution (EN):
“Recognized by STNSM (Sustainability Services & Supply Chains Alliance). This recognition is not a United Nations certificate and does not imply UN endorsement of any entity, product, service, or activity.”
Equivalent language with the same meaning shall be used in all languages and formats where this notice is reproduced.
Anti-Greenwashing and Anti-SDG-washing: Evidence Requirements
All sustainability and SDG-related claims must be substantiated. At a minimum, Covered Parties shall provide:
- Defined boundary and time period for the claim;
- Indicators (KPIs) and a clear methodology, including material assumptions and limitations; and
- Supporting evidence (data, documents, records, references, or other verifiable materials).
The use of SDG icons, wheels, or branding without credible outcomes, indicators, and evidence is deemed a high-risk practice and may be treated as SDG-washing, subject to corrective measures and enforcement.
Contractor and Agency Accountability
Covered Parties are responsible for ensuring that their contractors, agencies, event organizers, and media producers comply fully with this Code of Conduct. Misrepresentation or prohibited conduct by such third parties shall be treated as conduct of the Covered Party for the purposes of enforcement.
Enforcement Measures
Where STNSM determines, in its discretion, that a breach has occurred or that public confusion is likely to occur, STNSM may apply one or more measures without the requirement to proceed in any particular order, including:
- Immediate correction, removal, or public clarification within a specified timeframe;
- Suspension of the right to reference STNSM recognition and/or to use “Recognized by STNSM” language;
- Withdrawal of recognition, status, or certificate, and publication of a public notice to protect the public interest and integrity of the platform.
Any representation that an STNSM certificate is “from the UN,” or any use of the UN emblem in external communications, shall be treated as a serious breach and may result in immediate withdrawal.
Reporting Channel (Evidence-Based Reporting Requirement)
Any person may report suspected greenwashing, SDG-washing, or UN misrepresentation associated with STNSM recognition by contacting: whistleblower@stnsm.org (or any additional integrity channel designated by STNSM).
Evidence threshold: STNSM will review reports only where the submission contains clear, specific, and verifiable evidence sufficient to enable fact-finding. Submissions that are vague, speculative, anonymous without supporting proof, or unable to identify the alleged conduct may not be processed.
Minimum evidence required (reports must include all of the following):
- Identity of the alleged violator — the legal name of the entity/individual (and, where available, registration or official identifier).
- Description of the alleged breach — precisely what was stated, implied, displayed, or used (e.g., “UN certified” claim, UN emblem added to materials, SDG claims without substantiation).
- Time and context — when it occurred (date/time or a defensible time range) and where/how it occurred (platform, event, location, campaign, publication).
- Verifiable supporting evidence — such as screenshots, URLs, files, photographs, videos, press releases, brochures, stage/backdrop images, or copies of public posts, including visible timestamps where reasonably available.
- Link to STNSM recognition (if applicable) — reference number, certificate code, verification URL, or any material showing that the subject is claiming STNSM recognition.
Submission standard: Evidence should be presented in a manner that allows STNSM to independently verify authenticity (e.g., original links, unedited files where possible, and clear capture of source pages).
Good-faith requirement: Reports must be made in good faith. STNSM may decline to act on submissions that appear malicious, retaliatory, or intended to mislead.
