The Culture Rings Social Sustainability & Maturity Model (SSMM) Certification is a rigorous, independently assessed framework that evaluates how deeply inclusive culture and social sustainability are embedded within an organization’s leadership, operations, and impact.
Grounded in the latest EU directives—including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)—the SSMM also integrates best practices from the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, ILO Core Labour Standards, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Organizations are scored across six key domains:
Each certified organization receives a maturity level (from Emerging to Transformational), along with a tailored certificate indicating their level of alignment with global standards and their ecosystem impact.
The SSMM Certification not only helps organizations demonstrate compliance and leadership—it empowers them to build better business, create empowered workplaces, and contribute meaningfully to a more inclusive and sustainable society.