About
Rate A Company
Rate A Company was the 1st platform to offer an innovative and holistic approach to CSR through a company's stakeholders
With the beginning of online reviewing in the 2000's and the positive effect it had on some sectors, Rate A Company has imagined a similar approch to alleviate the social and environmental tensions of our economic world. Indeed, to have a real positive effect, the principles of sustainable development must be known and appreciated by as many people as possible. The economic world is changing and requires the inclusion and participation of all professionals. We want to invite everyone, at their own pace, to move forward towards a fairer, more efficient and more responsible economic world.
Whether you are a customer, employee, supplier, subcontractor, investor, partner, applicant, salesperson, journalist or simply an active citizen, you are a stakeholder of many companies and you take part every day in their success, and particularly those that involve you and took a sustainable approach. Our desire is to create an interactive website that gives visibility to examplary companies and provides a search tool for those who want to purchase or work differently.
The methodology of the CSR audit and certification by Rate A Company
Transparency at the Heart of the Sustainable Transition
The best way to manage the reputation of your structure, to attract new consumers in search of meaning and to know your impact in terms of management, fight against climate change and corruption, your well-being standards at work or even your good business practices is to ask the people primarily affected by them. Our approach allows you to RE-ENGAGE your professional entourage around the success of your company and to let them know about the ongoing improvements. Thanks to our support and unique methodology, you will benefit from a globally recognized CSR certification thanks to the addition of the online rating principles.
The criteria we present for reviewing constitute a reference tool to assess a company's perception in terms of CSR initiative. This approach allows the company to work on its E-reputation and to find adequate solutions to problems perceived as real by the stakeholders.
The 6 Stakeholder profiles defined by Rate A Company
The sustainable development criteria asked to each of your employees and partners anonymously to respect the whistleblowers' rights
360°: the questions asked to each profile cover all of the CSR criteria
These criteria have been defined on the basis of various CSR questionnaires available around the world: from ISO 26000 - the main reference in terms of CSR - through the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and the criteria defining responsible purchasing. We have included every aspect of business that has a direct impact on our lives.
We have simplified the wording of these criteria to allow everyone to understand and participate.
How to rate a company as a Stakeholder?
There are three solutions: either the company goes through an audit and certification process by Rate A Company (which allows them several advantages), or the company directly shares the link with its stakeholders, or thirdly, any user, formerly registered online, can directly share its experience on the website. For the audit and certification part, we invite you to consult the dedicated page available on our site. For users and managers who wish to share the links with their stakeholders, each Internet user will be asked to identify themselves with an email address and a username. Each criterion will be rated from 1 to 5 (1 being the worst score, 5 the maximum score). It is mandatory for the internet user to leave a comment of at least 60 characters to justify their rating and avoid false reviews. The comment is then subject to moderation to ensure that it does not contain any element contrary to our general conditions of use: no insult, no specific name, no content contrary to morality.
Certifications and CSR awards and distinctions listed on our website
While searching on our website, you may have noticed the button which allows you to refine your search according to specific criteria.
How did we choose this selection of certifications, awards and honors ?
There are more than 400 certifications and awards ("labels") just in France, and knowing them all has become impossible. We have therefore tried to list as many as possible, but some may be missing. We present the positioning of the main certifications and awards but without detailing their methodology : how is this certification granted ? By whom? According to what criteria? Hence, it is difficult for us to comment on the guarantees they offer.
Certifications and Awards
In terms of CSR, there is no proper certification. As the idea is to do better without specific markers to tick off, organizations can only issue what is called "Label" in France (different than certifications). Even when we talk about ISO 26000, it is actually a "label" originally thought up by an organization (ISO) specializing in certifications, hence the confusion. The attribution of a "label" theoretically offers the guarantee that the company has gone beyond its legal obligations, depending to the methodology and the seriousness of the organization that delivers the certification ("label"). Labels / certifications are necessarily issued by a third-party organization: as a company cannot be judge and jury. Most of the time, CSR certifications/labels are obtained through self-assessments made by companies' senior executives and upon payment of a sum to the organization issuing the certification. The budget is usually between 8,000 and 50,000 euros depending on the size of the company and its revenues. Some organizations, notably AFNOR (Association Française de Normalisation), send an expert to audit the sites and assess certain criteria. They will interview some stakeholders during their investigation. For products and services related to security, other specific certifications exist. These certifications are more demanding but hence more reliable, since they are based on precise markers to be respected and leave less room for interpretation. On our website, you will find most of the well-known certifications and "labels": ISO standards, the FSC, Ecocert, Cosmebio, FairTrade, Cruelty Free, Demeter, Organic farming, Ecolabel, Nordic Swann , Slow Cosmetic, B-Corp, UN Global Compact, Label Lucie, etc.
We have taken the liberty of creating our own "distinctive awards" to simplify the reading of certain important areas in which, to our knowledge, there are no award (label) existing yet. These distinctive signs are for information purposes and allow you to discover other companies in connection with your values. However, nothing can replace your research and contributions to our site must encourage the veracity of this information.
Qualipaysage
Qualipaysage
The 8 labels issued by Qualipaysage provide public and private clients with a guarantee that procedures have been followed to achieve the expected results.
ISO 26000
ISO 26000
ISO 26000 identifies businesses and organizations committed to operating in a socially responsible way
ISO 50001
ISO 50001
ISO 50001 - provides practical ways to continually improve energy use
Norme FSC
Norme FSC
FSC - label standing for sustainable sourcing that puts forests and people first
Ecocert
Ecocert
Ecocert - label for beauty products products using at least 95% of organic products
Produits Bio
Produits Bio
Organic Food - French organic food label based on the interdiction to use any synthetic chemistry
FairTrade
FairTrade
FairTrade / MAx Havelaar - label certifying products respecting fair trade principles
Cruelty Free
Cruelty Free
Cruelty Free - label for products or activities that do not harm or kill animals anywhere in the world
Cosmebio
Cosmebio
Cosmebio - Certification showing 95% of natural origins et organic ingredients within the beauty products
Demeter
Demeter
Demeter - German certification for the products that come from biodynamic agriculture
Ecolabel Europe
Ecolabel Europe
Ecolabel Europe - indicates products or services that show more respect towards the environment
Nordic Swan
Nordic Swan
Nordic Ecolabel - sustainability ecolabel for products from the Nordic countries
Slow Cosmetique
Slow Cosmetique
Slow Cosmetique - Award for clean, natural products promoted in a responsible way.
Textiles bio
Textiles bio
Organic fabric - indicates companies that display an organic certification on their fabrics
Made in France
Made in France
Made in France
Recycle
Recycle
Recycled - indicated structures that have implemented an innovative recycling strategy or circular economy.
Initiative solidaire
Initiative solidaire
Initiative solidaire : this is not a certification but rather a distinctive mark for the entities having a strong social strategy
Made in Europe
Made in Europe
Made in Europe - certification determining quality products made in Europe
Rate A Company
Rate A Company
Label RSE - CSR awards attributed by stakeholders' reviews and participation
Label Lucie
Label Lucie
Label Lucie - helps companies défining their CSR road map based on ISO 26000
ISO 9001
ISO 9001
ISO 9001 specifies requirements for a quality management system (QMS)
ISO 14001
ISO 14001
ISO 14001 specifies the requirements for an environmental management system
ISO 22000
ISO 22000
ISO 22000 sets out the requirements for a food safety management system
If you have any comments, suggestions, corrections to make on these certifications, labels and "distinctive marks", do not hesitate to share them with us on social networks or by email: contact@rateacompany.com !
Who are we ?
We are four associates of different ages and backgrounds.
The site's founder, Clementine, has spent many years in the field as an economics reporter specializing in emerging countries. As the regulatory frameworks are still underdeveloped in these regions, an ethical approach is essential to avoid turning these new markets into the Great Wild West. However, not all managers share the same convictions with regard to CSR values and poor business practices are still very much a reality, often to the detriment of the end consumer in a globalized economy. Observing the interest for online ratings and the confusion around CSR awards and certifications, Clementine had the idea to create a rating platform that allows people to rate the companies they interact with based on sustainable criteria. This not only allows transparency on business activities but also companies to improve their CSR impact in concrete ways, with the participation of all stakeholders.
Our Mission: Measuring and Showcasing Real CSR Impact
Develop your growth
We live in a global economic world with examples of success and good management everywhere. Our economic world is in full transition towards a more sustainable model. New consumers' and decision-makers' expectations emerge. Our methodology allows instantaneous and real feedback to improve your business practices, match the current expectations and remain the most attractive company.
CSR from all angles
We want to give everyone the opportunity to learn and rate the best business practices wherever they are, and to offer visibility to responsible and innovative companies. CSR initiatives are to found in any sector in any companies and only by sharing and learning those good experiences can we hope to thrive move forward in the right direction. We want to provide unprecedented qualitative and quantitative information, regardless of the geographical area, in order for decision-makers and HR departments to find new ideas and business partners with the word "sustainability" in mind.
Marketing 4.0: engagement and digitalization
In the last 20 years, the access to information has completely changed. Today, everyone is looking for information online: e-reputation and ratings are at the center of our purchases and business decisions whilst traditional marketing is getting no longer effective. Thanks to our innovative approach, you will not only gain in competitiveness but also engage your community around your core values, and benefit from an excellent online reputation, allowing you to distinguish yourself from the rest of your competitors.
Evolve with new expectations
A few years back, ISO 9001 and customer satisfaction surveys were considered completely wacky and useless. After some companies adopted their principles and saw the benefits on their business performance (anticipation of needs, customer relationship, managing customer dissatisfaction, etc.) the principles of ISO 9001 no longer needed to be demonstrated. We wish to implement the same mechanisms in the face of contemporary expectations and challenges.
