Skip to Content
Version 39.3 by SuperUwe Trueggelmann on 2026-04-03
Show last authors
1 Below you find an overview of the CEC Certification Process:
2
3 (% style="background-color:#d0d3d4; border-color:#007d84; color:black; padding:8px; text-align:left" %)
4 |=(% colspan="4" style="padding-top: 12px;padding-bottom: 12px;text-align: left;border-color: #d0d3d4;background-color: #007d84;" %)(((
5 = (% style="color:white" %)1. CEC Registration(%%) =
6 )))
7 (% style="background-color:#007d84; border:1px solid #d0d3d4; color:white; padding-bottom:0px; padding-top:0px; text-align:left" %)|=(% scope="col" style="border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Process Step|=(% style="width: 875px;border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Vendor Actions|=(% style="width: 750px;border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)CEC Actions|=(% style="border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Forms and Guidance
8 |Registration|(% style="width:875px" %)(((
9 The Vendor completes the [[Contact Registration Form>>doc:Main.X1000 - Contact Registration Form.WebHome]].
10
11 The CEC Registration System sends an automated e-mail to the Vendor contact requesting confirmation of their e-mail address.
12
13 Once the Vendor contact has confirmed their e-mail address, the Vendor receives access to the download page for the CEC NDA.
14 )))|(% style="width:750px" %) |[[Contact Registration Form>>doc:Main.X1000 - Contact Registration Form.WebHome]]
15 |Fill in NDA Form|(% style="width:875px" %)(((
16 The Vendor enter the requested information as defined in the [[CEC NDA Guidance>>doc:Main.X1200 - CEC NDA Download.WebHome]].
17
18 (% class="box warningmessage" %)
19 (((
20 NOTE: CEC does not support custom NDA. Vendors are required to agree to the CEC NDA as provided. Requests for change, especially for change of applicable legislation or venue are not discussed and will not be responded to.
21 )))
22
23 The Vendor sends the NDA Form in Word format, with the entered information, but not yet signed, to [[contact@cecocert.com>>mailto:contact@cecocert.com]].
24
25
26 )))|(% style="width:750px" %) |[[CEC NDA Guidance>>doc:Main.X1200 - CEC NDA Download.WebHome]]
27 |Prepare CEC NDA for signing by Vendor and TruCert and submit for signature.|(% style="width:875px" %) |(% style="width:750px" %)(((
28 CEC Administration prepares the CEC NDA for signature.
29
30 CEC Administration submits the CEC NDA for signature, either via docusign.com, via manual signature, or via electronic signature.
31 )))|[[CEC NDA Guidance>>doc:Main.X1200 - CEC NDA Download.WebHome]]
32 |Sign CEC NDA|(% style="width:875px" %)The Vendor's signee(s) sign(s) the CEC NDA.|(% style="width:750px" %)(((
33 TruCert's signee signs the CEC NDA signed by the Vendor's signee.
34
35 CEC Administration distributes signed copies to Vendor contact and TruCert.
36 )))|[[CEC NDA Guidance>>doc:Main.X1200 - CEC NDA Download.WebHome]]
37 |Provide access to CEC Document Package to Vendor|(% style="width:875px" %) |(% style="width:750px" %)CEC Administration provides access to the CEC Document Package to the Vendor, either by sending it via e-mail, or by providing access credentials to the Vendor Contact.|CEC Document Package
38 |(% colspan="4" style="background-color:#007d84; border-color:#d0d3d4; padding-bottom:12px; padding-top:12px; text-align:left" %)(((
39 = (% style="color:white" %)2. Request CEC Certification(%%) =
40 )))
41 (% style="background-color:#007d84; border:1px solid #d0d3d4; color:white; padding-bottom:0px; padding-top:0px; text-align:left" %)|=(% scope="col" style="border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Process Step|=(% style="width: 875px;border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Vendor Actions|=(% style="width: 750px;border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)CEC Actions|=(% style="border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Forms and Guidance
42 |Download the cecQAF form|(% style="width:875px" %)(((
43 (((
44 The Vendor downloads the cecQAF form from the cecocert.com website
45 )))
46
47 (((
48
49 )))
50 )))|(% style="width:750px" %) |[[cecQAF>>doc:CEC Home.C0200a - Request CEC Certification.C0230a - CEC Query and Assessment form ("cecQAF") - Guidance to obtain quotation for CEC Certification.C0238a - Download CEC Query and Assessment ("cecQAF") Form.WebHome]]
51 |Request Quotation for CEC Certification|(% style="width:875px" %)The Vendor enters the information required to obtain a quotation for CEC Assessment into the cecQAF and sends it to CEC Administration|(% style="width:750px" %)CEC Administration provides a quotation for CEC Assessment according to the scope the Vendor specified in the cecQAF.|(((
52 [[Request Certification>>doc:CEC Home.C0200a - Request CEC Certification.WebHome]]
53
54 [[Request Quotation>>doc:CEC Home.C0200a - Request CEC Certification.C0230a - CEC Query and Assessment form ("cecQAF") - Guidance to obtain quotation for CEC Certification.WebHome]]
55 )))
56 |Accept Quotation for CEC Certification|(% style="width:875px" %)The Vendor accepts the quotation for CEC Certification|(% style="width:750px" %)Once the Vendor has accpted the quotation, CEC Administration provides invoice for CEC Certification|
57 |Pay for CEC Certification|(% style="width:875px" %)(((
58 The Vendor pays the invoice for CEC Certification in full, including all banking and currency conversion fees.
59
60 {{warning}}
61 Paying short, for example by selecting "Share banking fees" when instructing your bank to pay for the invoice, will result in delays as the CEC Process will only continue after full payment is received.
62 {{/warning}}
63 )))|(% style="width:750px" %)Once the Vendor has paid the invoice for CEC Certification in full, CEC Administration provides an expanded cecQAF, allowing the Vendor defining the detailed information about their products and sites to enable calculation of the CEC Indicators.|
64 |(% colspan="4" style="background-color:#007d84; border-color:#d0d3d4; padding-bottom:12px; padding-top:12px; text-align:left" %)(((
65 = (% style="color:white" %)3. Prepare the CEC Assessment(%%) =
66 )))
67 |(% colspan="4" style="background-color:#007d84; border-color:#d0d3d4; padding-bottom:12px; padding-top:12px; text-align:left" %)(((
68 == (% style="color:white" %)3.1 Prepare the cecQAF for CEC Assessment(%%) ==
69 )))|
70 (% style="background-color:#007d84; border:1px solid #d0d3d4; color:white; padding-bottom:0px; padding-top:0px; text-align:left" %)|=(% scope="col" style="border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Process Step|=(% style="width: 875px;border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Vendor Actions|=(% style="width: 750px;border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)CEC Actions|=(% style="border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Forms and Guidance
71 |Provide expanded cecQAF to Vendor|(% style="width:875px" %) |(% style="width:750px" %)After the Vendor has paid the invoice for CEC Certification in full, CEC Administration expands the cecQAF, which Vendor had requested the quotation with, to include the worksheets required for "Vendor LCA Data Entry", and e-mails the expanded cecQAF to the Vendor's Primary Contact.|QAF
72 |Check the cecQAF before entering data|(% style="width:875px" %)(((
73 The Vendor opens the cecAOF form and verifies that the following additional worksheets are visible, in addition to those the Vendor completed when requesting the CEC quotation:
74
75 * Recycling
76 * Yield Loss and Sheet Format
77 * Transport
78 * EMS
79 * sit01 to sit10
80 * cmp01 to cmp40
81
82 If any of the above worksheets are missing from the cecQAF received, the Vendor shall contact CEC Administration and inform them accordingly, including a copy of the cecQAF received.
83 )))|(% style="width:750px" %) |cecQAF
84 |Enter required information|(% style="width:875px" %)(((
85 The Vendor enters the required information into the cecQAF form.
86
87 See the following pages for information that might be helpful to prepare the cecQAF:
88
89 See the following pages for guidance to prepare the cecQAF for the CEC Assessment:
90
91 * [[C0320a - CEC Query and Assessment form ("cecQAF") - Guidance to prepare the cecQAF for the CEC Assessment>>doc:CEC Home.C0300a - Undergoing the CEC Assessment.C0320a - CEC Query and Assessment form ("cecQAF") - Guidance to prepare the cecQAF for the CEC Assessment.WebHome]]
92 * [[C0325a - CEC Query and Assessment form ("cecQAF") - Enter data into cecQAF prior to CEC Assessment>>doc:CEC Home.C0300a - Undergoing the CEC Assessment.C0320a - CEC Query and Assessment form ("cecQAF") - Guidance to prepare the cecQAF for the CEC Assessment.C0325a - CEC Query and Assessment form ("cecQAF") - Guidance to prepare the cecQAF to prepare it for the CEC Assessment.WebHome]]
93 * [[C0326a - CEC Query and Assessment form ("cecQAF") - Guidance - Specific Guidance for Sites sitNN worksheets>>doc:CEC Home.C0300a - Undergoing the CEC Assessment.C0320a - CEC Query and Assessment form ("cecQAF") - Guidance to prepare the cecQAF for the CEC Assessment.C0326a - CEC Query and Assessment form ("cecQAF") - Guidance - Specific Guidance for Sites sitNN worksheets.WebHome]]
94 )))|(% style="width:750px" %) |cecQAF
95 |Send cecAP to CEC Administration|(% style="width:875px" %)The Vendor provides the completed cecQAF form to [[contact@cecocert.com>>path:mailto:contact@cecocert.com]]|(% style="width:750px" %) |cecQAF
96 |Review cecAP|(% style="width:875px" %) |(% style="width:750px" %)CEC Administration reviews the cecQAF and request corrections or amendments as needed.|cecQAF
97 |Correct cecAP as required|(% style="width:875px" %)The Vendor correct or amends the cecQAF as requested by CEC Administration and submits the revised cecQAF .|(% style="width:750px" %)Once the cecQAF has been accepted, CEC Administration will progress to scheduling the CEC Assessment.|cecQAF
98 |(% colspan="4" style="background-color:#007d84; border-color:#d0d3d4; padding-bottom:12px; padding-top:12px; text-align:left" %)(((
99 = (% style="color:white" %)4. CEC Assessment(%%) =
100 )))
101 |(% colspan="4" style="background-color:#007d84; border-color:#d0d3d4; padding-bottom:12px; padding-top:12px; text-align:left" %)(((
102 == (% style="color:white" %)4.1 Schedule CEC Assessment(%%) ==
103 )))
104 (% style="background-color:#007d84; border:1px solid #d0d3d4; color:white; padding-bottom:0px; padding-top:0px; text-align:left" %)|=(% scope="col" style="border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Process Step|=(% style="width: 875px;border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Vendor Actions|=(% style="width: 750px;border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)CEC Actions|=(% style="border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Forms and Guidance
105 |Propose date| |CEC Administration proposes a date for the CEC Assessment to the Vendor|E-mail
106 |Accept date|The Vendor accepts the date proposed by CEC Administration, or proposes an alternative date.| |E-mail
107 |(% colspan="4" style="background-color:#007d84; border-color:#d0d3d4; padding-bottom:12px; padding-top:12px; text-align:left" %)(((
108 == (% style="color:white" %)4.2 Conduct CEC Assessment(%%) ==
109 )))
110 (% style="background-color:#007d84; border:1px solid #d0d3d4; color:white; padding-bottom:0px; padding-top:0px; text-align:left" %)|=(% scope="col" style="border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Process Step|=(% style="width: 875px;border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Vendor Actions|=(% style="width: 750px;border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)CEC Actions|=(% style="border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Forms and Guidance
111 |CEC Assessment Conference Call|(((
112 CEC Assessments are normally conducted as remote audits.
113
114 During a Zoom or Teams call, a CEC Assessor reviews the cecQAF and the information provided in the cecQAF together with the Vendor. The Vendor provides the relevant evidences.
115
116 As a rough guidance, a CEC Assessment takes 3 to 4 hours for the first product, and an additional 1 to 2 hours per additional product and additional manufacturing site. Depending on the complexity of the CEC Assessment, multiple calls may be needed.
117
118 CEC Administration may offer on a case by case basis, and upon the Vendor's request, conducting CEC Assessments on-site. This will result in additional cost.
119
120 {{info}}
121 See: [[Guidance to prepare for the CEC Assessment>>doc:StartPage.C0270 - How to prepare for the CEC Assessment.WebHome]].
122 {{/info}}
123 )))| |cecQAF
124 |Create CEC Assessment Report|If requested by the CEC Assessor, the Vendor defines corrective actions using the CAP worksheet contained in the cecQAF and submits these to the CEC Assessor.|(((
125 The CEC Assessor amends the cecQAF to include the CEC Assessor's findings and notes. The CEC Assessor determines compliance levels for each requirement.
126
127 In case of findings, the CEC Assessor, using the CAP worksheet in the cecQAF, requests the Vendor to define corrective actions.
128 )))|
129 |Complete corrective actions|(((
130 To qualify for Validation, the cecQAF must show a conformity at the Program Level of 100%.
131
132 If the CEC Assessor determines Non-Conformities at the Program Level, then the Vendor must complete the related corrective actions and provide supporting evidences before the cecAP can be submitted to the CEC Administration for Validation and Certification.
133 )))| |
134 |Submit CEC Assessment for CEC KPI calculation| |The CEC Assessor submits the cecQAF to CEC KPI Calculation for the calculation of the CEC KPIs.|Completed cecQAF as the CEC Assessment Report
135 |(% colspan="4" style="background-color:#007d84; border-color:#d0d3d4; padding-bottom:12px; padding-top:12px; text-align:left" %)(((
136 = (% style="color:white" %)5. Determine CEC KPIs(%%) =
137 )))
138 (% style="background-color:#007d84; border:1px solid #d0d3d4; color:white; padding-bottom:0px; padding-top:0px; text-align:left" %)|=(% scope="col" style="border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Process Step|=(% style="width: 875px;border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Vendor Actions|=(% style="width: 750px;border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)CEC Actions|=(% style="border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Forms and Guidance
139 | | |CEC Administration determines the CEC KPIs from the data provided by the Vendor in the cecQAF and verified by the CEC Assessor, and records the results in the cecQAF|cecQAF
140 | | |CEC Administration progresses to CEC Claim Validation|
141 |(% colspan="4" style="background-color:#007d84; border-color:#d0d3d4; padding-bottom:12px; padding-top:12px; text-align:left" %)(((
142 = (% style="color:white" %)6. CEC Claim Validation(%%) =
143 )))
144 (% style="background-color:#007d84; border:1px solid #d0d3d4; color:white; padding-bottom:0px; padding-top:0px; text-align:left" %)|=(% scope="col" style="border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Process Step|=(% style="width: 875px;border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Vendor Actions|=(% style="width: 750px;border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)CEC Actions|=(% style="border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Forms and Guidance
145 | | |CEC Administration reviews the cecQAF, including the determined CEC KPIs, with Mastercard representatives, as needed.|cecQAF
146 | | |CEC Administration progresses to CEC Certification, or informs the Vendor that their Environmental Claim was rejected.|
147
148 |(% colspan="4" style="background-color:#007d84; border-color:#d0d3d4; padding-bottom:12px; padding-top:12px; text-align:left" %)(((
149 = (% style="color:white" %)7. CEC Certification(%%) =
150 )))
151 (% style="background-color:#007d84; border:1px solid #d0d3d4; color:white; padding-bottom:0px; padding-top:0px; text-align:left" %)|=(% scope="col" style="border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Process Step|=(% style="width: 875px;border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Vendor Actions|=(% style="width: 750px;border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)CEC Actions|=(% style="border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Forms and Guidance
152 |Create CEC Certificate| |CEC Administration creates the DRAFT CEC Certificate(s) for the accepted Environmental Claims.|CEC Certificate Template
153 |Sign CEC Certificate| |(((
154 CEC Administration submits the DRAFT CEC Certificate(s) for signature by CEC Administration and by Mastercard. CEC Administration and Mastercard sign the CEC Certificate(s).
155
156 This can take 2 weeks depending on the availability of the signees.
157 )))|
158 |Send the CEC Certificate to Vendor| |CEC Administration submits the signed CEC Certificate(s) to the Vendor.|CEC Certificate
159 |Review the CEC Certificate|(((
160 The Vendor reviews the CEC Certificate and communicates errors and omissions to CEC Administration.
161
162 Note that only information that was available and reviewed during the CEC Assessment can be included in the CEC Certificate. Changes to the presented data require another CEC Assessment.
163 )))| |
164 |(% colspan="4" style="background-color:#007d84; border-color:#d0d3d4; padding-bottom:12px; padding-top:12px; text-align:left" %)(((
165 = (% style="color:white" %)8. Renewal or Extension upon Expiry(%%) =
166 )))
167 (% style="background-color:#007d84; border:1px solid #d0d3d4; color:white; padding-bottom:0px; padding-top:0px; text-align:left" %)|=(% scope="col" style="border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Process Step|=(% style="width: 875px;border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Vendor Actions|=(% style="width: 750px;border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)CEC Actions|=(% style="border: 1px solid #d0d3d4;vertical-align: middle;" %)Forms and Guidance
168 | |(((
169 If a 24 month interval is permitted after certification, the Vendor must request an Extension of the CEC Certificate(s) before they expire.
170
171 If a 12 month interval until re-assessment is permitted, the Vendor must request a re-assessment before the CEC Certificate expires.
172 )))|The CEC Administration determines, depending on the level of compliance, the interval until a re-assessment is required. A re-assessment may be required 12 month or 24 month after certification.|cecQAF