FAQ

GSES stands for the Global Sustainable Enterprise System, reflecting our commitment to support organizations worldwide on their sustainability journey.

GSES was founded in 2017 by CEO Kelly Ruigrok. Milestones include the launch of the enterprise standard in 2017, the GSES platform in 2019, and a multimillion investment in 2022.

The GSES platform is an online platform providing tools for organizations to make informed sustainability decisions.

Clients use GSES to measure, benchmark, and verify sustainability performance and communicate results to stakeholders. GSES enables setting sustainability targets, gathering KPI data, independent auditing, benchmarking, and sharing verified outcomes.

Yes, GSES developed three key sustainability standards for organizations, products/assets, and events. These standards, based on international frameworks, are governed by an independent board of experts.

The standards provide a framework for benchmarking the information collected via the GSES platform tools, allowing data to be contextualized and compared against benchmarks.

Yes, GSES rates at both the product and asset level.

The GSES scorecard is a digital profile that shows the general and sustainability information—including scores, claims, and certificates—of an organization, product, or asset.

GSES provides a clear assessment of sustainability performance, identifying areas for improvement and offering tools for ongoing enhancement.

Registration allows you to present verified sustainability scores to stakeholders, helping with compliance for ESG legislation.

Costs vary by membership type and organization size, from several hundred euros to EUR 14,950 for a full membership. For details, visit our pricing page or contact support@gses-system.com.

GSES offers a supply chain dashboard to manage sustainability across the supply chain, a common challenge in sustainable business.

Through the Data for Good (DfG) project, GSES offers tools to track and verify SDG-aligned impacts, using an SDG dashboard for transparency.

Registration refers to purchasing a GSES membership to access the platform and create a scorecard, allowing the addition of certifications or assessment data.

Any sustainability-committed organization, regardless of size, can register. Membership types include Full, Pro, or Limited based on goals.

Membership selection depends on your intended use. For help, visit our membership overview or contact support@gses-system.com.

You can create an account by logging in or creating an account.

After registering, you can assess your scores by uploading certificates for verification, completing an assessment, and requesting independent verification.

Yes, GSES offers onboarding services, including a virtual kick-off, plus ongoing support for any technical questions.

The GSES Meta Standard combines multiple standards into a universal sustainability language.

This framework divides sustainability into organization and product levels, with pillars based on international standards.

This standard provides a methodology to measure, value, and score organizational sustainability performance.

A GSES pillar is a sustainability focus area, including CSR, CO₂, sustainable procurement, circular economy, health and safety, and biodiversity.

This standard scores the sustainability of products, focusing on health, circular economy, and environmental footprints.

The NIR score aggregates criteria to indicate a product’s sustainability impact, with lower scores reflecting higher environmental impacts.

 GSES uses a “living standard” approach, with regular updates by a board of experts and technical committee.

 An independent auditor verifies your sustainability data during assessments.

The score indicates that 62% of KPIs have met sustainability requirements, based on the PDCA principle.

Yes, GSES encourages sharing scorecard results with clients and for use in RFPs and tenders.

Support is available via the Support section in the main menu (to the left) or by emailing support@gses-system.com. GSES aims to respond within 24 hours.

To create an account, go to the registration page. This will guide you through the setup to access all GSES features.

Once you have registered an account, you can access it via the login page.

Features are accessible from the main menu on the left. Some options are directly visible, while others are in dropdowns. For example, Assessments is under Organization. If you need help, please contact support.

The platform’s main menu—located on the left—lets you access different functions. Subordinate functions will appear in dropdowns when you click on the main menu.

Currently, the GSES platform is available in English to serve a global audience.

The carbon dashboard provides an overview of an organization’s carbon footprint, verified per the GHG protocol, and covers Scope 2 and 3 emissions. It also includes a CO₂ calculator.

Select Organization in the main menu on the left and then Assessments from the dropdown. Choose the relevant category (e.g., CO₂) to begin a new assessment. A tutorial video is available in the Video Tutorials section.

Click the “Save answers” button at the top right of the assessment page to save your answers. Note that submitting locks your answers. You can continue to edit saved assessments, but submitted ones cannot be changed.

Register existing certifications on the platform for validation. Approved certifications will credit your GSES scorecard and reduce assessment time.

Evidence is uploaded to a virtual safe accessed via the Independent Audit—Verification module. Only you and the auditor can access this documentation. A tutorial video is available for guidance.

Begin verification by selecting Verification in the main menu. If you need clarification, contact support. A tutorial video is also available.

Contact support for help with errors that need correction.

First-line certification involves external auditing by an official certifying body, while second-line certification (or exemption) is typically unaudited. This distinction also affects audit pricing.

Send feedback to support@gses-system.com. GSES values customer feedback and makes continuous improvements based on it.

The website provides open information on GSES services, while the GSES platform offers exclusive tools for members.

Access terms are specified in your GSES membership agreement, and online access requires agreeing to GSES terms.

No, data use is governed by the GSES membership agreement and is generally not for commercial reuse.

Data is stored with a Dutch hosting provider within the EU. For security inquiries, submit a support request.

GSES keeps audit reports, evidence, and completed assessments confidential and does not share them with third parties.

Generally, GSES does not process personal data for third parties. If needed, a data processing agreement (verwerkersovereenkomst) will be established.

No, GSES does not mine or sell personal information. Your data is used solely as per GSES’s privacy policy, ensuring strict privacy and security measures.