Effinature, property development
Certify the biodiversity of your real estate projects
Effinature enables property developers to have the ecological performance of their programmes certified by IRICE, a third-party certification body. An enforceable proof that adds value to your housing and office projects, secures your environmental claims and sets you apart in a market where biodiversity is becoming a decisive criterion.
Certification by IRICE
the certification body
ISO/IEC 17065
third-party certification
Assessment and decision
by IRICE, as a third party
Public registry
of certified operations
Cofrac accreditation No. 5-0655 · Certification of products, processes and services · ISO/IEC 17065 · Scope available on www.cofrac.fr. This accreditation covers the EFFINATURE and EFFINATURE HVE certification programmes.
What certification brings you
Three reasons to certify your programmes
Commercial differentiation
A clear reference point for buyers and local authorities, in the same way as an energy rating. Your programme stands out from the consultation stage right through to the sales phase.
Regulatory safety
CSRD and ESRS E4, Directive (EU) 2024/825, Article 35 of the French Climate Act: communicating about nature without proof is becoming a risk. Third-party certification documents your commitments and reduces your exposure to greenwashing.
Asset value
For an institutional investor, the certificate feeds the asset's extra-financial reporting and supports its long-term value, from land acquisition through to operation.
Why a developer certifies its biodiversity
The ecological performance of a project has become a leading commercial argument. Buyers, both private individuals and investors, compare programmes on their living environment, the presence of greenery, summer comfort and urban nature. Local authorities, for their part, increasingly factor biodiversity into the award criteria of their consultations and building permits. In this context, Effinature certification turns a brochure claim into verifiable proof, measured on site and recognised by a third party independent of the developer.
The difference from a self-declaration is decisive. A developer can claim that it adds vegetation, preserves soils or creates ecological continuity: without external verification, these commitments remain unprovable and expose the company to accusations of greenwashing. Effinature certification, by contrast, rests on a documented assessment and a decision made by IRICE, the certification body, which gives it enforceable value with lenders, buyers and public authorities. Effinature covers the whole process, from the pre-diagnostic through to a signed certification.
Commercial differentiation and asset value
A certified operation stands out at every stage of its marketing. Upstream, the biodiversity commitment strengthens the case presented to local authorities and land developers during consultations. During the sales phase, the certificate becomes a clear reference point for buyers, in the same way as an energy rating. For an institutional investor, it feeds the asset's extra-financial reporting and supports its long-term value. Certification becomes an asset that follows the programme from land acquisition through to operation.
Securing your environmental claims
Regulatory and extra-financial pressure is accelerating: the CSRD directive and ESRS E4 standard on biodiversity, Directive (EU) 2024/825 on environmental claims, Article 35 of the French Climate and Resilience Act, which brings environmental criteria into public contracts, and the growing expectations of local authorities and investors. Communicating about nature without proof is becoming a legal and reputational risk. By relying on third-party certification, you document your commitments with verifiable evidence and reduce your exposure.
The right standard
Which standard for which operation?
The right choice depends on the type of project and its stage of progress.
NCO 8.1
New construction
Housing, offices, mixed-use. 2 phases: design and construction.
Learn more →EVO 8.1
Renovation
Operations on existing buildings.
Learn more →HOR 8.1
Development
Mixed-use zones (ZAC), subdivisions, public spaces, roads.
Learn more →HVE 8.1
High ecological value
Performance does not stop at handover.Performance maintained through recurring conformity checks.
Learn more →Not sure which standard suits your operation? Browse the standards page to download the details, or contact our teams for guidance.
The role of the Biodiversity Partner and IRICE
The assessment of your operation is never carried out by the developer, nor by anyone who has advised it: this is what guarantees its independence. On site, it is conducted by the assessor appointed by IRICE, the certification body, who applies the standard in a consistent and objective way, based on concrete evidence (studies, plans, site surveys); IRICE then takes the certification decision. Beforehand, you may be supported by a Biodiversity Partner, a professional qualified by IRICE who advises you and prepares your file, and who never takes part in the assessment. Whoever advises never assesses: the certificate's credibility rests on this rule. To learn more about the certification body, visit the IRICE website.
The pathway
How to start a certification
The path is straightforward: you create your account, submit an application to IRICE, and once the application is deemed admissible, IRICE assesses your operation against the chosen standard. IRICE then makes its decision independently and issues the certificate, which is listed in the public registry of certified operations. You then hold a recognised proof, ready to use from the moment your programme goes to market.
Registration
Account and SIRENE data, free, in a few minutes.
Application
Operation, Biodiversity Partner, target standard.
Review and contract
IRICE reviews admissibility, the contract is signed online.
Certification
An assessor is appointed, IRICE decides, the certificate is listed in the public registry.
2 to 4 months between the application and the decision, as a guide.
Ready to add value to the biodiversity of your programmes?
Create your account and submit your certification request, or explore the standards suited to your operations first.
Training your teams.
A one-day course allows your in-house teams to understand what biodiversity changes in a project, to know what to ask an ecologist for, and to check what they are given.
7 hours · No prerequisite