ICERTIAS Certification Backed by ESOMAR Global Standards

• ICERTIAS certifications are built on globally accepted ESOMAR research standards and strict adherence to ethical protocols.

• All methodologies are fully auditable, regulator-ready, and free from any commercial influence or data manipulation.

• ICERTIAS certification strengthens brand equity through transparent, scientifically valid, and reputationally resilient recognition.
 

In today’s information-heavy world—where consumer trust is fragile and brand claims are often unverified—transparency, ethics, and methodological discipline have become essential cornerstones of credibility. Since 2011, ICERTIAS (International Certification Association), headquartered in Zurich, has been committed to raising the global standard of consumer perception research. That commitment is made tangible through its corporate membership in ESOMAR and its full compliance with the ICC/ESOMAR International Code on Market, Opinion and Social Research and Data Analytics.

ICERTIAS certifications are not merely based on consumer opinion—they are grounded in an internationally accepted framework of ethical and professional research conduct. Operating in over 40 countries, with studies conducted across more than 70 markets, ICERTIAS has built a research ecosystem that aligns its processes with the highest global standards, ensuring its certifications are not only trusted—but verifiable.
 

Upholding the Global Code of Ethics and Research Practice

The ICC/ESOMAR Code is widely regarded as the foundational ethical and procedural standard in the research industry. It defines how data should be collected, managed, interpreted, and published in a way that protects respondent rights and ensures stakeholder trust. ICERTIAS has fully embedded this Code into every phase of its research lifecycle—whether conducting unaided consumer surveys for the Best Buy Award and QUDAL – Quality Medal, or performing advanced trust audits for the Customers’ Friend certification.

This compliance mandates a strict separation between research and commercial activity, bans any form of manipulation, and requires full transparency in how respondents are treated and how data is presented. In practice, this means that ICERTIAS research is free from commercial influence, respects the privacy and consent of every respondent, and maintains a clear line between data collection and marketing application.
 

For ICERTIAS: A Commitment to Global Research Integrity

As a corporate ESOMAR member, ICERTIAS is not only part of the world’s largest professional community of market and opinion researchers—it is also publicly accountable to that community. Every certification awarded under the ICERTIAS name is subject to the ethical, legal, and methodological expectations of ESOMAR and its Code. This accountability ensures consistency across countries and industries, and it reinforces ICERTIAS’s position as a neutral, research-led certifier rather than a marketing-driven award issuer.
 

For Certified Companies: Recognition Built on Trustworthy Methods

For companies, ICERTIAS certification means more than external validation—it signifies that the recognition was earned through a fully independent and globally standardized process. Brands that rank highest in consumer surveys were not involved in the research, did not apply, and were not prompted. Companies certified under the Customers’ Friend program must meet measurable criteria across reputation, transparency, and customer experience—benchmarked against ESOMAR-approved research protocols. The outcome is a form of recognition that is fully auditable, legally defensible, and reputationally resilient.
 

For Consumers: Confidence Through Ethical Research

Consumers increasingly demand transparency in brand communications. When they see the ICERTIAS mark, they can be confident that the recognition reflects genuine consumer experiences—collected, protected, and analyzed under strict ethical conditions. Respondents are never misled, their data is never sold, and their opinions are never steered. This safeguards the integrity of the feedback and elevates the authenticity of the certifications.
 

For Markets and Society: Raising the Standard

Beyond individual companies or consumers, ICERTIAS’s alignment with the ICC/ESOMAR Code contributes to healthier, more transparent markets. It supports regulatory goals related to fair competition and truthful advertising. It also empowers societies by reinforcing public trust in data, combating misinformation, and promoting informed consumer choice. In a world where superficial awards and undisclosed promotional claims are common, ICERTIAS stands as a model for responsible research-based certification.