Longevity
PillarProducts are built to last decades with no planned obsolescence.
- • Documented durability and accelerated aging tests
- • Spare parts guaranteed for 15-30 years
- • Modular upgrades and clear failure-mode analysis
Mission & Vision
Advancing global sustainability and human health.
Our mission is to certify products that meet science-based standards for longevity, repairability, sustainable disposal, environmental safety, and efficiency. We envision a world where durable goods, proven-safe materials, and informed consumer choices eliminate waste and toxic legacies.
The problem we are solving
- Disposable design and planned obsolescence create mountains of waste.
- Greenwashing obscures the true sustainability of materials and manufacturing.
- Repair is discouraged through proprietary parts and software locks.
- No unified, transparent, or globally consistent sustainability benchmark exists.
Core Values
Scientific Integrity
Every determination is grounded in peer-reviewed science and the precautionary principle to protect health and ecosystems.
Independence
Revenue concentration caps, conflict disclosures, and independent governance ensure no manufacturer can steer outcomes.
Transparency
Standards, decisions, audits, and board records are made public so stakeholders can verify how certification works.
Rigor & Consistency
Binary scoring across five pillars and uniform global criteria keep the mark meaningful in every market.
Accessibility
Scaled fees, hardship waivers, and technical guidance help organizations of every size earn certification.
Continuous Improvement
Standards refresh at least every three years so new science, safer materials, and better designs are quickly reflected.
Five Pillars
Binary scoring keeps certification uncompromising.
Every pillar must be fully met to count toward a product’s total. Achieving all five unlocks Platinum, while Copper recognizes first adopters committed to transformation.
Material Tier System
Manufacturers shoulder the burden of proof. Tier assignments depend on multi-decade exposure data, toxicology, and environmental fate studies. Restrictions cascade to certification limits until enough independent evidence upgrades a material.
Repairability
PillarOpen manuals, standard tools, and fair parts pricing keep goods in use.
- • Repair documentation and exploded diagrams published for free
- • No proprietary locks or warranty voidance
- • Minimum 7/10 score on the SICA repairability index
Sustainable Disposal
PillarEnd-of-life plans eliminate harmful waste or recover every material.
- • Compostable, zero-impact, or 100% recovery pathways
- • Manufacturer take-back for complex assemblies
- • No microplastics, hazardous leachate, or downcycling
Environmental Safety
PillarOnly proven-safe materials and transparent supply chains are accepted.
- • Tiered material system with bans on PFAS, BPA, and other toxics
- • Full bill-of-materials disclosure, worker safety, and lifecycle assessment
- • Precautionary limits restrict uncertified materials to lower tiers
Efficiency
PillarEnergy, water, and resources are minimized from cradle to grave.
- • Top 10% energy performance or passive design benchmarks
- • Packaging and embodied energy reductions documented
- • Renewable power usage and low standby draw requirements
Tier 1
Fully Certified Materials
50+ years of data confirm safe degradation pathways and no carcinogenic or endocrine effects.
Certification limit: Eligible up to Platinum
Examples: Untreated wood, natural fibers, glass, iron, copper, ceramics
Tier 2
Provisional Materials
10–50 years of use with promising evidence; manufacturers commit to ongoing monitoring and disclosure.
Certification limit: Gold maximum
Examples: Silicone, bioplastics, engineered woods with disclosed binders
Tier 3
Restricted Materials
Known concerns require containment, strict use conditions, and enhanced end-of-life controls.
Certification limit: Silver maximum
Examples: Certain plastics if encapsulated, treated woods, composites
Tier 4
Non-certifiable Materials
Demonstrated toxicity or persistence bars products containing these substances from certification.
Certification limit: Prohibited
Examples: PFAS, BPA, PVC, leaded paints, most conventional plastics
Certification Journey
Independent, third-party verification in five disciplined stages.
The SICA certification process typically spans three to nine months, depending on product complexity. Determinations, sanctions, and appeals follow the due-process requirements written into our bylaws and enforcement policy.
Stage 1
1. Application
Manufacturers submit the bill of materials, process disclosures, and fees scaled by company size.
Stage 2
2. Technical Review
SICA scientists perform documentation analysis, commission independent lab tests, and schedule site visits as needed.
Stage 3
3. Pillar Scoring
Each product receives binary scores across the five pillars. Tiers for materials cap the achievable certification level.
Stage 4
4. Determination
Staff issue Copper through Platinum awards, publish findings, and enroll the product in the public database.
Stage 5
5. Monitoring & Appeals
Annual reporting, random audits, and an independent appeals panel preserve trust and continuous compliance.
Certification Levels
Binary pillar scoring feeds directly into the tiered marks granted to each product.
Platinum
5/5 pillars achieved with Tier 1 materials only.
Gold
4/5 pillars. Tier 2 materials permitted with disclosures.
Silver
3/5 pillars. Tier 3 restrictions enforced.
Bronze
2/5 pillars. Focused improvement plans required.
Copper
1/5 pillar. Transparent pathway for early adopters.
Due process & enforcement
Violations trigger warnings, suspensions, revocations, or bans. All sanctions are publicly disclosed, and appeals must conclude within 90 days.
Governance & Independence
Mission-driven directors steward the mark.
The Board of Directors manages strategy, budgets over $100,000, executive hiring, and standards approvals. Individual certification decisions remain walled off with technical staff to avoid conflicts of interest.
Board cadence
Quarterly meetings, annual meetings within 120 days of fiscal year-end, and special sessions convened by the chair or any five directors ensure responsive oversight.
Global Board (15–21 seats)
At least 33% independent experts, max 20% industry, and 20% regional seats keep governance balanced.
Independence Safeguards
Board chair must be independent; 60% of directors have zero financial ties to applicants; conflicts disclosed annually.
Standing Committees
Executive, Audit & Finance, Nominating & Governance, Scientific Advisory Council, and Standards Committee steward daily oversight.
Scientific Advisory Council
9–15 experts spanning toxicology, environmental science, materials engineering, epidemiology, and industrial ecology review material classifications, vet emerging research, and recommend priorities. Members must remain conflict-free and can only receive expense reimbursements.
Standards Committee
11–17 members representing technical experts, industry, advocates, regional leaders, and board liaisons draft standards, host public comment (60 days), integrate feedback, and seek two-thirds approval before board ratification.
Safeguard
Revenue Caps
No single entity may exceed 5% of annual revenue. Approaching 4% triggers board review and intake deferrals.
Safeguard
Conflict-of-Interest Policy
Covers directors, officers, staff, contractors, and advisors with mandatory disclosure, recusal, and enforcement.
Safeguard
Decision Firewall
Technical staff alone issue certifications while the board focuses on policy. Appeals go to independent panels.
Safeguard
Public Accountability
Violations, sanctions, financials, and meeting minutes (minus executive session) appear online for consumer scrutiny.
Financial Stewardship
Diversified revenue, transparent fees.
SICA’s finance policies require a 6–12 month operating reserve, annual audits, and quarterly reporting to the board. Fee schedules scale to company capacity and product complexity while keeping the organization independent of any single funder.
Payment terms
Application fees are due at submission, annual certification fees within 30 days of award, and testing or inspection invoices within 30 days of billing. Payment plans up to 12 months are available for invoices above $10,000.
Application Fees
Scaled from $750 (micro) to $100,000 (enterprise), covering up to five products per submission.
Annual Certification
Per-product fees range from $750 (Copper, simple) to $10,000 (Platinum, complex) and fund monitoring plus database upkeep.
Logo Licensing
Optional annual license ($500–$10,000) grants marketing use of the SICA mark, guidelines, and co-marketing support.
Testing & Inspections
On-site assessments range from $2,000–15,000 plus travel at cost. Accredited lab testing (material safety, durability, efficiency, repairability) is billed at cost plus a 10% administrative fee with pre-approved estimates.
Volume Discounts
Annual certification fees drop 10% for 6–10 products and scale to 30% for portfolios exceeding 100 certified products, incentivizing full-line adoption.
Penalties & Appeals
Late reporting incurs $500 plus $100 per overdue week. Appeals require a $5,000 fee refunded upon successful reversal. Failed audits triggering re-inspection are billed at cost plus 25%.
Equity programs
Developing Economy Access
50% fee reduction for organizations in low or lower-middle income countries to encourage worldwide adoption.
Social Enterprise Incentive
Certified B-Corps and mission-locked enterprises receive 25% off annual certification fees.
Hardship Waivers
Case-by-case relief for up to 5% of certifications when firms demonstrate need and commitment to standards.
Transparency & Accountability
Open books, open standards, open channels.
SICA publishes every standard, financial statement, certified product, violation, and governance action so stakeholders can trust the mark. Confidentiality is limited to trade secrets, pending applications, and privileged legal advice.
Consumer access
A free online portal provides QR-linked certification records, complaint intake, and plain-language explanations of every requirement.
Commitment
Open Standards Library
All certification criteria, testing protocols, and material tier rationales are publicly downloadable.
Commitment
Certified Product Index
A free, searchable database with QR links lists every product, tier result, and supporting evidence summary.
Commitment
Financial & Governance Reporting
Annual budgets, audits, board rosters, and committee minutes demonstrate fiduciary care and compliance with 501(c)(3).
Commitment
Whistleblower Channel
Stakeholders can report undisclosed conflicts confidentially and are protected from retaliation.
Founding Documents
What anchors the SICA system?
Each document below is publicly available and governs how the association operates.
Articles of Incorporation
Defines SICA’s charitable purpose, permanent mission lock, board composition requirements, and the inviolable restrictions that protect scientific independence.
Open documentBylaws
Outlines board authority, staggered terms, removal processes, and the standing committees that keep certification decisions and governance independent.
Open documentMission & Values
Communicates the global vision for durability, repair, and environmental safety, alongside the five certification pillars and commitments to consumers, manufacturers, and the planet.
Open documentConflict of Interest Policy
Sets strict disclosure requirements, prohibited relationships, and due-process remedies that keep all certification activity free from undue influence.
Open documentFee Schedule
Details application, annual certification, inspection, and licensing fees—including global equity programs and revenue concentration safeguards.
Open documentCertification Standards Framework
Describes the five-pillar evaluation system, material safety tiers, and the public comment process that keeps the mark rigorous and transparent.
Open document