Green Manufacturing
In today’s competitive market, staying ahead means more than keeping up with demand. The Green Manufacturing Certificate offers manufacturers a unique opportunity to enhance efficiency, cut costs, and improve public perception—all while reducing environmental impact. This certification provides a practical framework for assessing and improving your operations and positioning your business for growth and success. Unlock new business opportunities and help protect our environment for future generations.
The Green Manufacturing Certificate, administered by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) in collaboration with the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association (RIMA), is a substantial way to recognize manufacturers committed to sustainable practices within the state. Established to reduce environmental impact across various industries, the program provides a self-assessment workbook that allows businesses to audit and improve their environmental performance. After completing the workbook and submission to DEM, each section will be scored to confirm that the certification threshold has been met.
Similar to other RIDEM initiatives like the Green Hotels and Green Breweries certifications, the Green Manufacturing Certification encourages participants to adopt practices that minimize pollution, conserve resources, reduce waste, and enhance overall sustainability. By achieving certification, manufacturers demonstrate their dedication to environmental stewardship and gain tangible benefits such as cost savings through identified efficiencies.
More and more, companies are prioritizing sustainability when evaluating suppliers. By becoming certified, you will demonstrate shared values and willingness to partner on sustainability issues. Green certification is also a great first step to getting ready for additional assessments often required to do business with larger corporations.
Upon certification, your company will be eligible for the following:
- Rhode Island Manufacturing Green Certification logo for advertising (for website, literature, decals, etc.).
- A listing on the DEM website identifying your business as Rhode Island-certified as being environmentally preferable.
- Recognition of certification in the AAA Rhode Island guidebook.
- Free ongoing technical assistance from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management on reducing environmental impacts while saving money.
Certified Green Manufacturing Facilities
(As of March 4, 2026)
Facility Name |
City/Town |
Telephone |
Certificate # |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senesco Marine, LLC | North Kingstown | 401-295-0373 | 001 |
| Raytheon Company | Portsmouth | 401-842-4335 | 002 |
| Ward’s Manufacturing | Warren | 401-441-0453 | 003 |
| Toray Plastics | North Kingstown | 401-294-4511 | 004 |
| MAGSEAL | Warren | 401-479-5941 | 005 |
Hear from RIMA members who are certified!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This self-certification program is:
- a practical framework used to self-assess your facility’s sustainable practices
- a low-to-no-cost way to demonstrate your commitment to sustainable business practices to clients, partners, and prospects
- a no-cost option to promotional and marketing benefits as certified Green Manufacturers.
This program was introduced through a partnership between the RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the RI Manufacturers Association (RIMA). The DEM will offer technical assistance, score your completed workbook, and approve your certification.
Nothing. It is free for Rhode Island manufacturers! The only ‘cost’ is your team’s time spent on completing the self-certification workbook and related activities.
While the time required will vary among businesses, 4-8 hours is the expected completion time.
Organizations use the workbook to self-assess their current practices in 10 different areas of sustainability impact. Each practice demonstrated earns points. Earning at least 100 points (out of a possible 500+) qualifies for RI Green Manufacturer’s Certification.
- Use the Workbook as your “checklist” to review and rate your company’s current practices in 10 different areas of impact.
- Assign Points: Earn points for every practice you currently demonstrate. The goal is to tally 100 points required for first-time certification.
- Get Certified: Email your completed workbook to DEM for review and scoring. Once approved, your business is eligible for a RI Green Manufacturing three-year certification.
When your organization earns the Green Manufacturing Certification, it will:
- Be recognized for all the sustainable practices your company is already doing
- Uncover other cost savings through newly identified efficiencies.
- Demonstrate your organization’s longer-term sustainability commitment, as certification is good for two years
- Position your organization for additional assessments often required to do business with larger corporations.
By becoming certified, your company will also be eligible for:
- A Rhode Island Manufacturing Green Certification logo for advertising on your website, LinkedIn, literature, and more.
- A listing on the DEM websites identifying your business as Rhode Island-certified
- Free ongoing technical assistance from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management on reducing environmental impacts while saving money.
There are 10 Sections in the Workbook plus an additional section - Section 11- which is reserved to report related awards, certifications, and unique sustainable practices.
Specifically:
- Sections 1-4 include items related to Management participation, Employee participation, Business practices and Purchasing practices.
- Sections 5, 6 &7 include sections on Waste Management, landscaping, and water conservation.
- Sections 8-10 focus on your waste generation, energy usage and water usage.
- Section 11 is optional and gives organizations the opportunity to highlight any other sustainable practices demonstrated that might not have been covered in other sections.
There are 500+ points available in the workbook. You need just 100 points for first-time certification.
First-time applicants need just 100 points to earn Certification.
The Green Manufacturer’s Certification lasts three years from the date of award.
Three years after initial certification, you must be recertified. For recertification you must complete the workbook again and increase your point total to at least 120 points.
Earn points for practices such as using post-consumable copy paper in your office (5 points) or using reusable cutlery in staff cafeterias (10 points) and/or using onsite solar panels to generate electricity (20 points). All of these add up to bigger, more sustainable impacts!
If your business does not achieve the requisite points, your business is eligible for a provisional certification, which includes all the benefits of a fully certified business, provided you agree to accumulate the remaining points within an agreed-upon time frame. There are many low to no-cost ways to accumulate points that the DEM can suggest.
After the workbook is scored, you will receive an official letter from the DEM detailing your point total and any low-cost recommendations.
The DEM Office of Customer & Technical Assistance will randomly select businesses for verification appointments throughout the year to confirm that certified businesses continue to demonstrate the identified impact areas. These visits will be scheduled, not unannounced, and give businesses the opportunity to showcase their sustainable practices and gain additional recommendations.
Call DEM’s Office of Customer & Technical Assistance at (401) 222-6822 or email your question.