ISO 53001: Building confidence in sustainability management | New Programmes
About the programme
UKAS is developing accreditation for certification bodies delivering ISO 53001 certification under ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015, supporting confidence in a new and important area of sustainability assurance.
ISO 53001 provides organisations with a practical management system framework for turning sustainability commitments into clear objectives, accountable action, and measurable progress against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Developed jointly by the International Organization for Standardization and the United Nations Development Programme, ISO 53001 is designed to help organisations of all sizes and sectors embed the 17 UN SDGs into strategy, governance, and day-to-day operations. It offers a credible route for organisations to demonstrate that sustainability is not simply an aspiration, but a managed and continually improving part of how they operate.
Associated standards
ISO/IEC 17021-1-2015
ISO/UNDP 53001
UNDP SDGs
Current status
UKAS is currently running a pilot accreditation programme for ISO/UNDP 53001, working with a number of certification bodies to shape a robust, practical, and proportionate assessment approach for this emerging standard.
The pilot is an important opportunity to test how certification bodies can be assessed effectively against ISO 53001 and its related requirements. By combining technical evaluation with active stakeholder engagement, UKAS is building an accreditation model that supports consistency, credibility, and trust in sustainability-focused certification.
Applications are now being invited from certification bodies interested in participating in this developing area of accreditation.
Following completion of the pilot and finalisation of the assessment approach, UKAS will move towards granting initial accreditations, helping to strengthen market confidence in organisations certified to ISO 53001.
