Sustainable development is an important concept to many industries. In addition to reducing the risk of climate change, sustainable practices reduce pollution, conserve natural resources and promote social and economic development without jeopardizing these efforts. Many businesses have launched certification programs to help them produce products that support these goals. Businesses can also maximize the impact of their sustainable product initiatives by educating consumers on the benefits of certified products and services.

In 1998, the U.S. Green Building Council had its own building certification system to achieve Leaders in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. In 2000, the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), through his LEED rating system for new buildings, developed and published standards also aimed at improving the environmental performance of buildings. These facts have led to the introduction of green building codes, certifications and rating systems aimed at minimizing the ecological footprint of buildings through green design. The purpose of all certification systems is to provide tools and methods for evaluating the environmental and resource efficiency performance of buildings.

Many product certifications are also recognized by integrated green building rating systems such as LEED, Green Globes and National Green Building Standards. Many products with this certification meet indoor air quality, recycled content, and FSC CoC requirements in green building rating systems such as LEED. According to experts, the four most common green building certifications include LEED, Better, Living Building Challenge, and Energy Star. With over 2 million square feet of certified new space and more than 92,000 certified projects, the US Green Building Council's LEED program is the leader in green building certification.