Consultation & Guidance:  Upon acceptance in the Program, participating businesses and organizations will be assigned a sustainability consultant who will provide guidance and resources for planning and implementing sustainability initiatives over the next six months.

Assessment:  Program participants will be assessed after six months for readiness to proceed to the BEST Certification Assessment stage.  Readiness includes preparation of all documentation necessary to demonstrate compliance with the BEST criteria. An assessor will be assigned to conduct a table-top review of the participant’s documentation and a site visit.  Upon completion of the assessment, the participant will receive a score and report of the participant’s performance according to the BEST criteria.

Certification & Continual Improvement:  ​Upon initial BEST Sustainability Certification, the participant will join an elite cohort of sustainability leaders who will receive the BEST Program benefits and collaborate with other program participants in exchanging best practices. The Riverwind Foundation will conduct an annual review with the BEST Sustainability Certified participant to discuss the status of the participant’s sustainability initiatives and changes, address challenges and opportunities for improvement, and connect the participant with further supporting resources to empower the business to continue on its sustainability journey.