Data verified: August 19, 2026. This article is based on Amazon Seller Central documentation, Textile Exchange standards, ISCC official guidance, and FSC program documents. We do not guarantee certification approval, platform display, traffic, sales, audit outcomes, or issuance results.
What is Climate Pledge Friendly (CPF)?
Climate Pledge Friendly (CPF) is Amazon's sustainability certification program launched in 2020. Products that qualify receive a green leaf badge on search results and product detail pages. As of 2026, the CPF program is available across 14 Amazon marketplaces worldwide.
CPF is not a single certification — it's a certification matrix. Products qualify through any of Amazon's recognized sustainability certifications, including FSC, GRS, RCS, OCS, ISCC PLUS, RWS, GOTS, and Oeko-Tex, among dozens of others.
Why Supplier Certificates Cause CPF Rejections
Many Amazon sellers rely on certificates provided by their suppliers to apply for the CPF badge, yet rejection rates are high. The core issue: sellers think "having a certificate" is enough, while Amazon verifies whether the certificate can be mapped to a specific ASIN and product.
This guide systematically covers six core dimensions of supplier certificate review to help sellers self-audit before submitting a CPF application.
1. Certificate Holder Audit
Key Check
The certificate holder name on the Scope Certificate (SC) must have a verifiable relationship with the submitting entity or brand on Amazon.
Common Issues
Complete mismatch: Certificate is under a factory name, but the Amazon store is registered to a trading company with no authorization or transaction proof
Brand name inconsistency: Brand on the certificate differs from the brand in the Amazon store
Parent-child brand unproven: Parent brand holds the cert, child brand applies, but brand relationship documentation is missing
Solutions
Obtain your own trading-type Scope Certificate (Chain of Custody) under your company entity
Provide brand authorization documents + Transaction Certificates (TCs) for corresponding batches
Contact the certification body to add your brand name to the supplier's SC
Official Reference
2. Scope of Certification Audit
Key Check
The Product Scope on the SC must cover the finished product type and all manufacturing processes for the CPF application.
Common Issues
Scope covers only raw materials: Certificate says "Recycled Polyester Yarn" but the product is a finished backpack
Scope covers only partial processes: Certificate covers "fabric weaving" but finished product also includes cutting, sewing, and assembly
Product category mismatch: Certificate scope is "textiles" but product is "electronics accessories"
Self-Check Method
Open the SC and locate the "Product Scope" field
Verify word-by-word whether the product category includes your finished product type
Confirm the process scope covers all stages from raw material to finished product
Be precise — "roughly belongs to" is not good enough
3. Material Percentage Audit
Key Check
The certified material content in the product must meet the CPF threshold of at least 50% (by weight).
The Hidden Gap
Entry thresholds vary by certification and often differ from CPF requirements:
| Certification | Min. Certification Threshold | CPF Green Badge Threshold | Gap | GRS (Global Recycled Standard) | 20% recycled content | 50% certified material | 30 percentage points | RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) | 5% recycled content | 50% certified material | 45 percentage points | OCS (Organic Content Standard) | 5% organic content | Varies by OCS type | Case-by-case | ISCC PLUS | Mass balance system | 50% certified material | Case-by-case |
|---|
Self-Check Method
Find the material percentage statement on the SC
Confirm whether it's calculated by weight or another unit
Note: "certified material percentage" is not the same as "recycled material percentage" — it depends on certification type
If below 50%, do not submit a CPF application
Official Reference
Amazon Seller Central clearly states: For GOTS and Textile Exchange certifications (GRS/RCS/OCS/RWS), your product must be made with at least 50% certified materials. ISCC PLUS also requires a minimum of 50% certified material at the entire product level, by weight.
4. Transaction Certificate (TC) Audit
What is a TC?
A Transaction Certificate (TC) is the core document in certification systems that proves each specific shipment of goods comes from a certified source. Every transaction, every batch, should have a corresponding TC, issued from the upstream party to the downstream party.
Key Checks
TC chain completeness: Every tier of your supply chain (from raw material to finished goods) must have TCs linking them
TC buyer name: The buyer named on the TC must be you (or your affiliate)
TC product information: Product description, quantity, and material percentage on the TC should match the actual goods
TC timeliness: TCs must be applied for within the required timeframe after shipment (typically 45 days); late requests may be rejected
Why TCs Matter
Amazon randomly audits TCs during CPF review. Missing TCs or a broken TC chain will result in rejection even with a valid SC.
Operational Recommendations
Request TCs from suppliers for every shipment
Establish a TC archiving system organized by batch and SKU
Don't wait until CPF application time to collect TCs — the deadline may have passed
Confirm SC and TCs are issued by the same certification body
5. Certificate Validity Audit
Key Check
Ensure the certificate remains valid throughout the CPF review period and ongoing maintenance.
Validity Rules
| Certification Type | Validity Period | Amazon Rule | GRS/RCS/OCS/RWS | 1 year | Reminder 30 days before expiry; removed from CPF 60 days after expiry if not renewed | Oeko-Tex Standard 100 | 1 year | Same as above | FSC | 5 years | Subject to annual audit cycle of certification body | ISCC PLUS | 1 year | Must maintain valid certification continuously |
|---|
Risk Points
Insufficient remaining validity — certificate expires during review
Supplier fails annual audit, certificate lapses without seller's knowledge
Certificate expires after submission, interrupting the review process
Recommendations
Ensure at least 6 months of remaining validity when applying
Set up certificate expiry reminders and schedule re-audits 60 days in advance
Periodically (e.g., quarterly) confirm certificate status with suppliers
6. Certification Body Qualification Audit
Key Check
The issuing certification body must be accredited by the relevant standard organization and accepted by Amazon's CPF program.
Considerations
Verify the certification body is listed on the standard organization's website (Textile Exchange, FSC, ISCC, etc.)
Confirm the body's accreditation has not been suspended or revoked
Note: Some certification bodies are only authorized for certain standards or scopes
Quick Reference: Supplier Certificate Audit Checklist
| # | Audit Item | What to Check | CPF Requirement | 1 | Certificate Holder | Relationship between cert holder and submitting party/brand | Same entity or verifiable authorization chain | 2 | Scope of Certification | Product category + all processes | Must cover finished product level | 3 | Material Percentage | Certified material content | ≥50% by weight | 4 | Transaction Certificates | Chain completeness + timeliness | TCs for each batch, complete chain | 5 | Validity Period | Remaining valid time | ≥6 months at time of application | 6 | Certification Body | Accreditation status | Recognized by standard org + accepted by Amazon |
|---|
Applicability Boundaries and Exceptions
Varies by certification type: This guide is primarily based on Textile Exchange certifications (GRS/RCS/OCS/RWS) and ISCC PLUS rules. FSC, GOTS, and other certifications have their own specific requirements that should be verified separately.
Marketplace differences: CPF review standards are largely consistent across Amazon marketplaces (US, EU, Japan, etc.), but document requirements and review timelines may vary slightly.
Packaging does not count: FSC CPF program documentation clearly states that products using FSC-certified materials only in packaging are not eligible for CPF. The product itself must be FSC-certified.
Excluded categories: Even with certification, certain categories (aerosols, beef, fur, plastic bottled water, etc.) are not eligible for CPF. Refer to Amazon's official excluded categories list for details.
Conclusion
Supplier certificate review is the first quality gate for CPF green badge applications. A genuine, valid certificate does not guarantee your ASIN will earn the badge. Holder, scope, percentage, TC chain, and validity — every dimension must align with your specific product to form a complete compliance evidence chain.
This article is based on Amazon Seller Central documentation, Textile Exchange standards, ISCC official guidance, and FSC program documents. Actual application results are subject to Amazon's official review. the certifying body (Shenzhen) Certification Co., Ltd. does not guarantee any certification outcomes or platform display results.
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