OCEAN APPROVED® Label
A sustainability label at the crossroads of the major challenges of our century: the fight against climate change and biodiversity preservation
An engaged community for a preserved ocean
The OCEAN APPROVED® label makes it possible to identify and bring together all the organizations (companies, communities) that are committed to reducing their impact on the Ocean beyond compliance with current regulations.
Based on the Ocean Framework, the OCEAN APPROVED® label enables the recognition of this commitment, and makes it visible to all their stakeholders, both local and international: customers, distributors, suppliers, partners, employees, regulators, funders and investors.

Why choose the Ocean Approved® label?
COMMITMENT
Ensure recognition of commitment and results
ANTICIPATION
Be a leader and pioneer to better anticipate market changes
MOBILISATION
Mobilise teams around visible issues
TRANSPARENCY
Commitments are controlled by independent auditors
An accessible process
The OCEAN APPROVED® label is a general and voluntary label. It was designed to be accessible to any organization (company, communities) regardless of their size, sector of activity and country of practice.
The two-level structure of the label allows any organization to enter the labelling process, regardless of its maturity in managing its impacts on the Ocean. The OCEAN APPROVED® label is part of a continuous improvement process of the organization.
Two levels of labelling are offered depending on the maturity of the company.
OCEAN APPROVED® “Committed”: Commitment of means
OCEAN APPROVED® “Advanced”: Obligation of results
The OCEAN APPROVED® label is awarded for a period of three years and is renewable.
A demanding label – Rigorous governance
The OCEAN APPROVED® label guarantees the credibility of your approach to sustainable ocean management, which is why the labeling process is very demanding.
The rules, criteria and labeling process of the OCEAN APPROVED® label take into account the 12 principles of the charter project on CSR labels (Report of the French General Direction of the Treasury – 2021).
A governance committee has been set up, its mission is to guide the work and issue an opinion on the proposals of Fondation de la Mer, owner of the Label. It brings together representatives of various stakeholders (scientists, companies, investors, ministries) and will be consulted at each significant change in the label.
The governance of the Label is organised around three committees:
Two advisory committees for the definition and evolution of the operating rules of the Label : the Scientific and Technical Committee, and the Governance Committee
A decision-making committee for awarding the Label : the Labelling Committee
Scientific and Technical Committee
Advances in science as well as user feedback from adherent companies must be taken into account in order to keep developing the Framework, and to maintain it at the highest level of scientific rigor and robustness.
To guide, frame and validate these developments, Fondation de la Mer has set up the ‘Scientific and Technical Committee.’ This committee is made up of recognized experts in all the fields covered by the Framework, and chaired by Françoise Gaill.

Emeritus Director of Researches at the CNRS

Research Director at IRD

In charge of SDG14, French Ministry of the Sea

UVSQ, Deputy Director of CEMOTEV

Research Fellow at the CNRS, IMRCP laboratory

Director of scientific expeditions, MNHN

Anthropologist
Research Director at IRD (HDR)

Deputy Scientific Director, IFREMER

Oceanographer, Mercator Océan

Senior Scientist at CNRS, CRIOBE
Partners




International recognition
Fondation de la Mer’s Ocean Framework has been approved as SDG Good Practices by UN experts.
The second open call for SDG good practices, success stories, and lessons learned in the implementation of 2030 Agenda enabled Fondation de la Mer to highlight an example of good practices, that could be adopted across the globe: the Ocean Framework, the heart of the OCEAN APPROVED® label.
The results are available here : United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Sustainable Development


BCG’s benchmark

Auditors

Other independent third-party bodies, in the process of accreditation.