OLIVE CERTIFIEDNEITHER EAST NOR WEST24:35Olive Certified™Neither East Nor West

The Framework

The 5 Pillars of Olive Certification™

Every applicant is assessed against five pillars drawn from the Qur’anic principles of justice (ʿadl), balance (mīzān), and excellence (iḥsān). Each pillar carries 20 points, for a total preliminary score of 100. Written answers are explored further in the values interview before a final score is issued.

75+

Olive Certified™

90+

Exemplary status

Annual

Renewal review to keep the seal

1

Faith & Purposeنيّة

Mission, intentions, and social impact

  • Our written mission includes serving the community and ethical prosperity, not profit alone.
  • All revenue comes from halal sources — no alcohol, gambling, interest income, adult content, or predatory products.
  • Major business decisions weigh community benefit and ethical impact alongside financial return.
  • Leadership regularly reviews whether the business is living up to its stated values (e.g., an annual mission review).
  • In your own words, how does faith shape the way this business is run?interview question
2

Fair Hiring & Leadershipعدل

Diversity, women's leadership, and just pay

  • We have a written policy for fair wages and pay equity across comparable roles.
  • Women hold leadership roles, or a clear path to leadership exists for them.
  • Hiring practices are documented, inclusive, and non-discriminatory.
  • Employees have a safe channel to raise grievances or give feedback to leadership.
  • Describe your workplace culture and how employees are treated with dignity.interview question
3

Halal Finances & Transparencyميزان

Revenue, debt, and investments

  • The business is free of interest-bearing (riba) debt, or has an active plan to exit it.
  • Pricing and marketing are honest and transparent — no deceptive claims or hidden fees.
  • Business investments and idle cash are screened against Islamic ethical standards.
  • We keep accurate books, pay taxes properly, and pay suppliers and staff on time.
  • Describe how the business is financed (loans, investors, self-funded) and any steps taken toward halal financing.interview question
4

Community & Environmentإحسان

Giving back and sustainability

  • The business gives regularly from its earnings (sadaqah, zakat, or structured charitable giving).
  • We contribute time, mentorship, or in-kind support to the community.
  • We take concrete steps to reduce our environmental footprint (waste, energy, packaging).
  • We consider ethics and sustainability when choosing suppliers and partners.
  • What community impact are you most proud of?interview question
5

Governance & Accountabilityأمانة

Integrity, reporting, and feedback

  • Ownership and decision-making structures are clear and documented.
  • We have a written code of conduct or ethics that staff are trained on.
  • Customer complaints are handled through a documented, fair process.
  • We are willing to complete an annual review and disclose material changes to Olive Certified.
  • Tell us about a time the business made a mistake and how you handled it.interview question

Ready to be assessed?

The self-assessment takes about 20 minutes. Your answers are confidential and reviewed only by the certification team.

Start the Application