IRICE is the only independent certification body dedicated to biodiversity in real estate and development.
Since 2009, its standards have structured the assessment and certification of the ecological performance of projects based on measurable indicators, verified by a third party compliant with ISO/IEC 17065. IRICE
's services cover biodiversity certification (Effinature®), ecological assessment (BPS), and construction site carbon measurement (Efficarbone).
Effinature® - Biodiversity Performance Certification
Effinature® is a certification based on a public framework structured into 6 families of requirements and 52 measurable criteria . It qualifies the level of biodiversity performance of a real estate or development project following an independent audit process.
Certification is issued by IRICE after verification by a third party in accordance with ISO/IEC 17065. This architecture guarantees the strict separation between the design of the standard, the evaluation and the certification decision — a requirement of ISO/IEC 17065, §5.2.
Effinature® produces enforceable evidence , usable in regulatory (EU Directive 2024/825, public procurement), ESG (CSRD/ESRS E4) and financial (European taxonomy, SFDR) frameworks.
Two complementary levels for integrating biodiversity into a project
Evaluating and certifying serve two distinct purposes.
Ecological Assessment - BPS
Structured diagnosis allowing analysis of the biodiversity performance of a site or project based on measurable indicators, without issuing certification.
Effinature Biodiversity Certification
A certification approach based on a dedicated framework and an independent assessment process, aimed at qualifying the level of biodiversity performance of a real estate or development operation.
A structured methodological foundation
The approaches taken by IRICE are based on:
- public and documented reference materials,
- measurable and traceable criteria,
- formalized evaluation and certification processes,
- a strict separation between the design of standards, evaluation and certification decision.
Assessment and certification tools dedicated to biodiversity
IRICE designs and operates tools to analyze, evaluate and, where appropriate, certify the biodiversity performance of real estate and development projects, according to distinct and complementary methodological frameworks.
Effinature - Ecological Performance Certification
Effinature® is based on assessing the biodiversity performance of real estate and development projects against a structured public framework and measurable requirements.
Certification is awarded by IRICE following a documentary analysis and audit process conducted by an independent third-party organization.
Certification is awarded by IRICE following a documentary analysis and audit process conducted by an independent third-party organization.
Biodiversity Performance Score (BPS)
The BPS® is a preparatory, non-certifying ecological diagnosis.
It measures biodiversity performance from verifiable indicators, compares options and structures trade-offs before commitment.
It measures biodiversity performance from verifiable indicators, compares options and structures trade-offs before commitment.
Technical criteria related to the ecological functionalities of the sites
IRICE methods utilize indicators relating to the functionality of environments, pressures exerted by projects, natural dynamics and conditions of coexistence between species and habitats.
The results are produced by an independent third-party organization, in order to ensure neutrality, traceability and reproducibility .
They support the design, document the commitments during the construction phase and facilitate the integration of ESG expectations and the European Taxonomy.
An operational ecological framework for real estate stakeholders
IRICE's tools and indicators are integrated into the technical decisions and environmental obligations of real estate actors.
They provide an objective basis for analyzing the feasibility of choices, comparing options and informing operations (public decision-making, financing, ESG reporting).
They provide an objective basis for analyzing the feasibility of choices, comparing options and informing operations (public decision-making, financing, ESG reporting).
Consideration of biodiversity in the analysis of real estate projects
Biodiversity assessment and certification processes help to document the environmental performance of projects, to produce objective indicators and to feed into extra-financial analyses, particularly in ESG and CSRD frameworks.
Additional information and resources
Reference frameworks
Access to official documents and methodological frameworks IRICE.
Contact us
Initial discussions to define the scope of your project or your questions.