Preferred by Nature Sustainability Profile

Working for a world where human choices ensure a sustainable future in 100+ countries

Preferred by Nature is a global non-profit that works on sustainability for people, nature, and climate. Its main role is to help companies and organisations improve how they manage land, supply chains, and certification systems. The organisation says it has spent 30 years building tools and standards that support responsible business. Its published impact figures point to work across farming, forestry, climate, and travel, with claims of protecting workers’ rights, reducing emissions, and helping keep land from being cleared or degraded. It also runs certification and audit services, including work linked to FSC, PEFC, and sustainable travel.

Positive Sentiment Found
Publicly available third-party signals are limited, but the available evidence is broadly positive. Preferred by Nature’s own impact page reports large-scale results, including 979,000+ farmers, workers, and land managers covered by protections, 36.7+ million hectares of land protected, and 32,000+ tonnes of CO2 emissions reduced. Independent recognition also appears in 2026, when the organisation said its certification system for sustainable travel activities received GSTC accreditation, which is a formal check against a global tourism standard. A staff profile also describes its audit work in FSC and PEFC systems, which are widely used forestry standards. No independent review platform ratings for the organisation itself were found in the material, so the positive picture comes mainly from its verified programme and accreditation claims.

About Preferred by Nature

Status
Unverified

Website
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Employees
100 - 500

Industry
Non-profit

Country
Denmark

Founded
1994

Preferred by Nature Services

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Preferred by Nature offers sustainability certification services to enhance your business's environmental impact. Through consulting and certification processes, they provide guidance on adhering to sustainable practices, improving operational efficiency, and boosting credibility. Their expertise ensures your company aligns with global sustainability standards, benefiting both your brand and the planet.

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Preferred by Nature Sustainability Actions

Reported impact across people and nature

Preferred by Nature says its work has helped protect the well-being, human rights, and cultural heritage of more than 979,000 farmers, workers, and land managers. It also says its sustainability standards have helped protect 36.7 million hectares of land from degradation and conversion. These figures describe the scale of its impact work across people and nature, rather than a single project. The organisation presents this as part of its wider mission to support responsible land use and business practices.

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Climate impact through lower emissions

Preferred by Nature says its work has helped reduce 32,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. CO2, or carbon dioxide, is a greenhouse gas that warms the planet when too much of it is released. The organisation links this result to its sustainability services and projects, which are meant to help businesses and individuals lower climate impact. It presents this as part of a broader effort to support climate action across supply chains and land-based sectors.

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Certification and audit services

Preferred by Nature says it carries out certification audits for systems such as FSC and PEFC, which are standards used in forestry and chain-of-custody checks. Chain of custody means tracking a product through each step of the supply chain. A staff profile says one specialist delivers FSC and PEFC audits in Sweden and Norway, showing that the organisation actively runs verification work, not just advisory services. This kind of work helps buyers check whether materials meet set sustainability rules.

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Sustainability framework for businesses

Preferred by Nature says it has created a free and universal sustainability framework to support everyone from smallholders to global brands. It also says this framework helps businesses assess sustainability in areas such as biomass and bio-feedstock materials, which are raw materials used to make fuel. In a 2022 article about Maersk, the organisation said it used this framework to look more closely at the sustainability of biomass inputs for fuel production. This shows the framework is used in real business decisions.

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Travel certification accreditation

In 2026, Preferred by Nature said it received accreditation from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, or GSTC, for its certification system for sustainable travel activities. GSTC is a global body that sets standards for sustainable tourism. The organisation said this step strengthens the credibility, transparency, and global relevance of its Sustainable Travel Programme. This is an important verification step because it shows an outside body has recognised the system behind the programme.

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Preferred by Nature Sustainability Commitments

2026

Expand sustainable travel certification

Preferred by Nature said in 2026 that it had received GSTC accreditation for its certification system for sustainable travel activities. This points to a future focus on growing and using that system more widely. GSTC accreditation means the system has been checked against a global tourism standard. The organisation presents this as part of its plan to strengthen trust in its travel-related sustainability work.

2026

Develop ecosystem restoration standard

Preferred by Nature announced a stakeholder consultation on its Ecosystem Restoration Standard in 2026. A stakeholder consultation means it is asking outside groups for feedback before finalising the standard. This suggests the organisation plans to build or update a formal rule set for restoration work. The goal appears to be a clearer framework for projects that aim to repair damaged ecosystems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Preferred by Nature published a sustainability report?

Confidence: Low. As of October 2026, Preferred by Nature has published impact and news pages that describe its sustainability work, but a formal sustainability report was not clearly provided in the material. Its website does show impact figures for people, nature, and climate, which gives some public detail about its work. However, that is not the same as a full annual sustainability report with audited data. Consumers who want a formal report can check the organisation’s website or contact it directly through its impact team.. Sources: Preferred by Nature impact, Preferred by Nature home - https://preferredbynature.org/impact, https://preferredbynature.org

What is Preferred by Nature's sustainability rating?

Confidence: Low. As of October 2026, no independent consumer sustainability rating for Preferred by Nature was found in the material. The organisation does have a GSTC accreditation for its sustainable travel certification system, which is a formal outside check of that system, but that is not the same as a general brand rating. No Good On You score, Trustpilot score, or B Corp certification was shown for the organisation itself. Consumers looking for a fuller assessment may need to review its certification work and published impact pages directly.. Sources: Preferred by Nature home, Preferred by Nature impact - https://preferredbynature.org, https://preferredbynature.org/impact

What sustainability certifications does Preferred by Nature have?

Confidence: High. As of October 2026, Preferred by Nature says it works with FSC and PEFC certification audits, and it also says its certification system for sustainable travel activities received GSTC accreditation. FSC and PEFC are forestry standards that check how wood and forest products are managed. GSTC accreditation means the travel certification system has been checked against a global sustainable tourism standard. These are important signs that the organisation works inside formal sustainability systems, not just through general advice.. Sources: Preferred by Nature home, Preferred by Nature staff profile - https://preferredbynature.org, https://www.preferredbynature.org/staff/vilhelm-thoresen

What is Preferred by Nature doing about climate impact?

Confidence: High. As of October 2026, Preferred by Nature says its work has helped reduce 32,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. It also says it supports businesses with sustainability services and a framework that can be used to assess biomass and bio-feedstock materials for fuel production. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that adds to global warming. The organisation’s climate work appears to focus on helping other organisations make lower-impact choices in supply chains and land-based sectors.. Sources: Preferred by Nature impact, Maersk article - https://preferredbynature.org/impact, https://www.preferredbynature.org/news/how-maersk-working-towards-net-zero-emissions-2040

Does Preferred by Nature work on supply chain transparency?

Confidence: High. As of October 2026, Preferred by Nature clearly works on supply chain transparency. A staff profile says it delivers FSC and PEFC certification audits and supports supply chain traceability and timber due diligence, which means checking where materials come from and whether they meet legal and sustainability rules. The organisation also says it works with more than 5,500 companies and organisations to support responsible land and business management. This suggests transparency is a core part of its work.. Sources: Preferred by Nature staff profile, Preferred by Nature home - https://www.preferredbynature.org/staff/vilhelm-thoresen, https://preferredbynature.org

What is Preferred by Nature doing about sustainability?

Confidence: High. As of October 2026, Preferred by Nature says it works on sustainability through certification, audits, advisory services, and standards. It reports impact across people, nature, and climate, including protections for 979,000+ people, 36.7+ million hectares of land, and 32,000+ tonnes of CO2 emissions reduced. It also says it has a free sustainability framework and works across sectors such as coffee, cocoa, timber, palm oil, soy, and travel. This shows a broad focus on helping businesses and land managers improve how they operate.. Sources: Preferred by Nature home, Preferred by Nature impact - https://preferredbynature.org, https://preferredbynature.org/impact

Preferred by Nature Sustainability Profile

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