The FFITS.ORG certification and labelling program is oriented towards organisations who have undertaken significant steps in implementing environmentally sustainable IT practices.

Recognition

In today’s’ business marketplace “Green” or environmental issues are the forefront of purchasers’ minds. Not only are purchasers looking products and services that meet their environmental requirements, but they are also analysing their supply chain’s own corporate operations. As an organisation that has taken significant steps to implement more environmentally sustainable IT, the distinctive FFITS.ORG ticks provides businesses with a competitive differentiator, enabling you to stand out in your industry.

Education

Whether your goal is internal or external education, the FFITS.ORG label provides you with the ability to inform consumers, suppliers or partners of your environmental initiatives. The tick program is aligned with a star rating system which indicates your organisation’s level of green IT implementation and provides a standard measurement for both internal and external communications, and from which to baseline annual improvements.

Awareness

Numerous studies have proven the key benefits of undertaking corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, including:

Information technology (IT) today is one of the single most influential services provisioned internally – without it most organisations would likely be unable to operate. With this in mind it is crucial in a comprehensive and holistic CSR awareness program to integrate IT, and promote IT initiatives using industry standards such as the FFITS.ORG label.

Ongoing Support

We have developed an ongoing program of marketing and support with our certifying customers, as well as a comprehensive welcome package.

Marketing

FFITS.ORG undertakes regular campaigns across a range of print and online media to raise awareness of both the importance of green IT, and to promote certifying organisations.

At the start of each financial year we develop a comprehensive marketing strategy and implement it with the funds from certifying customers to help us reach our goals and at the same time, help our certifying customers gain PR for their organisation.

Support

As well as regular contact and updates on the green IT world, each year we also develop a program of educational and action taking initiatives where we support our certifying organisations.  For example, one of our annual events is International Green IT Awareness Week in the first week of June.

During this week we organise in-person events, as well as a globally-attended virtual event.  Our certifying customers will gain the opportunity to promote their organisation during this event through options such as press interviews, speaking opportunities, email newsletter exposure, social networking, and press releases to name a few.

Welcome Package

Each certifying customer is provided with a comprehensive welcome package including:

• Discount vouchers and offers from a range of partners such as Connection Research and IT Governance UK
• Educational material including templates, strategies and tips for green IT
• Latest research reports we have developed or licensed for your benefit
• Subscription to our quarterly newsletter

The FFITS.ORG Certification Program enables our Partners to sell our Labelling Program on a commission basis.  As the saying goes, many hands make light work and having strategic Partners helps us reach our goals faster, with additional funding.

 

Why Join the Certification Partner Program

Our vision for the Partner Program, is to provide you with:

1Opportunities to grow your business in the green IT space.

2Expert advice on Green IT topics to help you help your customers better.

3A program that will facilitate the implementation and information dissemination of green IT.

 

By joining our program you will gain access to a value network that will help you extend your market, increase profits, promote your organisation's corporate social responsibility and deliver innovative solutions.  At the same time your business will be contributing to the ongoing development of the green IT industry by supporting a not-for-profit program.

 

Eligible Business Types

The Certification Partner Program is designed for businesses in the IT or environmental services industries that provide analysis, assessment, consulting and recommendations to businesses. The following types of businesses would suit the Partner Program:

• IT Systems Integrators
• IT Services Providers
• IT Consulting and Research organisations
• Software and hardware vendors
• IT Training Providers
• Environmental Consultancies

The following types of businesses would not suit the Partner Program:

• Not for Profits
• Government agencies
• Academic institutions
• Internal IT departments

Organisations not suitable for the Certification Partner Program may be eligible to work with us on specific projects and initiatives.

View our Corporate Sponsorship overview to find out more, or contact us to discuss a partnership arrangement.

 

Partner Program Benefits

Commission on Certification Sales

All Partners selling Certification products are entitled to a commission.

Partner Directory

All Partners are entitled to be listed in the Partner Directory on this website. Partners may edit their listing at any time to include new green IT-related product and service offerings.

Event Partnership Opportunities

International Green IT Awareness Week ComputersOff.ORG organises an annual initiative titled International Green IT Awareness Week. Green IT Week runs from 1 June to 7 June each year. Partners reaching minimum certification profit during the year starting 1 April and ending 31 March, are entitled to a free Exhibitor stand within the International Green IT Awareness Week Virtual Conference Event.

Education Programs

Throughout the year, we develop Green IT Education Programs. These programs are designed to educate IT organisations on green IT requirements, implementation, best practices and/or research, with the goal of supporting and promoting green IT.

Certification Partners will be invited to participate in the programs, enabling them to both gain increased recognition and potentially additional certification customers and revenue.

Reduction on FFITS.ORG certification for Partners

A Partner selling Certifications cannot apply a commission to their own organisation or sister organisations. However both the Certification Partner and their sister organisations can obtain a significant discount on certifying their own organisation.

A Partner obtaining the Certification is highly recommended. Although not a requirement, obtaining the certification for your own organisation will provide an additional level of credibility when you sell the Certification products to customers.

Partner Logos

Partners are exclusively entitled to display the ComputersOff.ORG Partner logo on print, web and digital materials. See the Partner Logo Usage Guidelines for further information on minimum requirements.

 

Program Requirements

Upon joining the program partners are required to agree to the following guidelines and terms:

1. Certification Partner Agreement
2. Corporate Partner Policy
3. Partner Logo Usage Guidelines

Request these documents by contacting us and speaking with our Partner Manager.

 

Partner Enrolment and Administration - How To Join

1Complete the Partner Application Form

2Agree to the Certification Partner Agreement and Corporate Partner Policy

3[OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED] Achieve FFITS.ORG certification: a. Complete the FFITS.ORG Certification for your organisation b. Agree to the Code of Practice c. Agree to Logo Usage Guidelines d. Pay your certification fee. Following these steps, your application will be assessed and approved within 7 working days of application.

Re-Enrolment FFITS.ORG requires you to re-enrol in the program within 30 days of the annual anniversary date.

The FFITS.ORG Certification & Labelling Program aligns to the global Green IT Framework originally developed by Connection Research.  The following describes the three labels available to organisations to promote their corporate social responsibility and environmental initiatives:

 

• Personal Computing
• Departmental Computing
• Printing and Consumables

The End User Computing Label showcases an organisations' commitment and action around areas such as implementing energy efficiency measures for desktop computing, reducing paper waste from printing, and optimising consumables consumption.

 

• Data Centre Equipment
• Data Centre Environmentals
• Networking and Communications
• Outsourcing and Cloud
• Software Architecture

The Enterprise and Data Centre Label showcases the organisations' implementation of the most efficient and effective technology facilities and operations.

Elements of this label include virtualising and/or clustering server infrastructure, storage use optimisation, data centre airflow management, implementation of energy efficiency techniques such as high efficiency power systems and thin client computing.

 

• Governance and Compliance
• Teleworking and Collaboration
• Business Process Management
• Business Applications
• Carbon Emissions Management

The ICT as a Low Carbon Enabler Label addresses organisations' attitudes and implementation of policies and standards.

This area also addresses innovation within the IT department, where IT promote their technology solutions to help the business holistically reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through solutions such as teleworking and video conferencing.

Officially launched in June 2008, the FFITS.ORG label initiative (formerly "Computers Off" Label) is the computer industry's guide to help business, government and individuals quickly and easily identify organizations that are doing their part to reduce their power consumption and in turn reducing their CO2 emissions. The goal of the labeling is to encourage organizations to improve their use ICT equipment and to use technology to assist in reducing their carbon footprint.

The Label is the first global IT environmental labeling program that indicates the environmental performance of a company and NOT a product.

The label is licensed to organizations that meet our ICT environmetal impact reduction labeling standards. The labeling cuts across all industries and all companies no matter the size.

An organization with 5 employees has as much responsibility as one with 50,000.

On this website you will find information about the current certified licensees, environmental labeling, and the objectives of the program.

How does it work?

View the certification model

How do I know if I am eligible?

Contact us and we will send you details to login to our site, where you can then access the three online surveys (End User Computing, Data Centre & Enterprise and ICT as a Low Carbon Enabler).

Upon completion of any of the survey(s) you will be advised automatically of your eligibility to attain Certification for your business.

If you pass, you can then proceed to purchase certification.  We will send you the welcome kit including your achievement plaque, certification logos and provide access to your other benefits.

How much does it cost?

View the certification label fees

More Information:

• Certification FAQs
• Download the Program Guide and Agreement