Rhode Island Department of State
Gregg M. Amore

Are you a business interested in reducing your environmental impact?

If your corporation, LLC or non-profit wishes to show its commitment to becoming sustainable, you can opt to participate in one of the RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Green Certification Programs. Participants in these programs may also file a Statement of Transparency and Sustainability Standards with the RI Department of State Business Services Division.

These programs are designed to assist a variety of industries to:

• reduce toxic substances
• reduce the generation of hazardous waste whenever technically and economically practicable
• reduce the release into the environment of chemical contaminants which have adverse and serious health or environmental effects
• reduce the use of single use plastics
• increase the rates of commercial recycling
• reduce sources of water pollution
• reduce water usage
• educate customers and business owners about sustainability

Businesses that qualify for DEM’s Green Certification Programs can proudly display the program’s logo to show its commitment to green and sustainable standards.
An entity’s green and sustainable status is separate from its corporate status.  An entity can lose its green and sustainable status without losing its corporate good standing, and vice versa.  To maintain its green and sustainable status, the entity must file an annual renewal statement each calendar year along with a $10 filing fee.  The renewal statement requires the entity to report on and confirm its commitment to use its established standards and assessment measures. 
If you fail to file your annual renewal statement, you will lose your entity’s green and sustainable status. This status can be revived by filing a Restoration Statement of Transparency and Sustainability Standards.  The filing fee to revive your status is $50.

How do I start?

Apply for the DEM Green Certification Programs that works for your business to obtain a Certificate of Adoption of Transparency and Sustainability Standards.

Complete a Statement of Transparency and Sustainability Standards and submit it to the RI Department of State along with the entity’s Certificate of Adoption of Transparency and Sustainability Standards from DEM.  The filing fee is $100.

Who can help?

RI has a very active social enterprise community. We suggest you connect with like-minded businesses and organizations. Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) is a place to start. SEG’s mission is to create positive social and economic impacts by supporting social entrepreneurs and enterprises with the tools and networks they need to thrive.

What should I do next?

Before you file for any program, we recommend you consult with an attorney, accountant or other business advisor to make sure the program is right for you. Many of our partners offer free, expert guidance to help you plan and establish your entity’s standards and assessment measures.  These resources and descriptions can be found in the Your Plan section of our Business Basics.