Certification ProSpace : la certification RSE/ESG de la filière spatiale
Investisseurs, agences, maîtres d'œuvre et candidats interrogent les entreprises du spatial sur leurs pratiques sociales, environnementales et éthiques. La Certification ProSpace répond à leurs questions par une évaluation sur plus de 500 critères, conduite par ESTRADS Certification sur pièces justificatives et lors d'un audit sur site. Elle est la première certification européenne RSE/ESG propre au spatial et s'adresse aux industriels, aux start-up, aux opérateurs, aux sociétés de services et aux institutions publiques du secteur.
Une grille RSE/ESG faite pour le spatial
Un référentiel RSE/ESG généraliste passe à côté du quotidien d’une entreprise du spatial. Beaucoup de ses produits sont duaux et relèvent du contrôle des exportations. Ses programmes durent des années, ses équipes sont souvent petites et très qualifiées, et ses informations techniques sont protégées.
The ProSpace Certification takes this into account: the questionnaire varies depending on whether the organization manufactures, operates, analyzes data, or conducts research, as well as on its size. The questions asked of a startup with ten engineers are not the same as those asked of a satellite prime contractor.
From Components to Data: What Can Be Certified?
Depending on the type of organization, certification serves different purposes:
- Large corporations and general contractors: Ask your suppliers for an assessment based on the same criteria as yours, and track them based on their certifications using ATLAS, the supplier and subcontractor directory.
- PME et ETI équipementières : présentez une réponse vérifiée aux questionnaires RSE/ESG de vos donneurs d’ordres.
- New Space startups: Start with the Essential level—an assessment of your current practices—and share it with your investors as soon as you begin raising funds.
- Engineering, consulting, and services: The assessment focuses on your own organization—that is, your teams, your work methods, and your subcontractors.
- Laboratoires, écoles et institutions publiques : obtenez une évaluation indépendante de votre démarche RSE/ESG, avec des critères adaptés à une organisation publique, pour rendre compte à votre tutelle et à vos financeurs.
The questions your contacts ask you
Your investor: “Are your ESG commitments verified?”
Funds, business angels, and banks request ESG information before investing, even in startups that haven’t launched anything yet. The certification report provides them with answers that have been verified by a third party, which they can incorporate into their own analysis.
Your client: “Are you meeting our requirements?”
Agences, maîtres d’œuvre et opérateurs transmettent leurs exigences RSE/ESG à leurs fournisseurs. Dans les marchés publics français, chaque appel d’offres publié depuis le 21 août 2026 doit comporter au moins un critère d’attribution environnemental et une condition d’exécution environnementale. Le certificat ProSpace et son rapport sont des pièces à joindre à votre réponse.
The regulator: “Where do you stand on sustainability?”
In France, the Law of June 3, 2008, on space operations requires authorization for the launch of a space object and its control in space. On June 25, 2025, the European Commission presented a draft regulation on the safety, resilience, and sustainability of space activities (the EU Space Act), which provides for a common method for calculating environmental impact and a framework for assessing cybersecurity risks. The Zero Debris Charter, launched by the European Space Agency in 2023, aims for debris-free missions by 2030.
The candidate: “Why should I join your company?”
Engineers, technicians, and recent graduates compare aerospace companies before signing on. The certification evaluates your recruitment, equality, training, and working conditions policies, as well as your efforts to pass on rare skills. The rating you receive can be included in a job posting or presented to an engineering school.
The certificate comes with a logo, a plaque, a diploma, and suggested wording to help you communicate your level.
What the ProSpace Certification Assesses
La Certification ProSpace compte plus de 500 critères, regroupés en trois blocs : l’éthique, le social et l’environnement. Le questionnaire s’adapte à l’activité et à la taille de l’organisation. Plusieurs personnes peuvent le remplir : la direction, la finance, les ressources humaines, la production et le ou la responsable RSE/ESG.
- Ethics: The certification verifies that the organization complies with the laws and regulations that apply to it. This includes export controls, a sensitive issue in an industry where many products are dual-use. It also examines anti-corruption measures, governance, transparency regarding share ownership, and ethical requirements shared with customers, suppliers, and subcontractors. Cybersecurity is part of this category, along with team training and the protection of sensitive data. Finally, the certification examines how research and development are conducted and shared.
Social: This section focuses on how the organization recruits, trains, and treats its teams. It covers gender equality, disability, the prevention of harassment and discrimination, and working conditions. Certain skills in the space sector are rare. The certification therefore also addresses the attractiveness of these professions and the transfer of expertise from experienced engineers and technicians to newcomers.
Environment: The certification assesses what the organization does to reduce its environmental footprint: energy consumption, resource use, emissions, and biodiversity protection. It also examines waste management, including hazardous waste.
The page Our Certifications page lists the documents from which these criteria are derived. The standards are reviewed annually.
Dual-Use Activities and Sensitive Data: A Sovereign Entity for Your Sensitive Data
An observation satellite can be used by a farmer just as it can be by a military command center. Many space companies work in this way for both civilian and military clients, and some of their components are subject to export controls—whether French or foreign, such as the U.S. ITAR regulations. During the certification process, they provide information about their facilities, suppliers, and programs.
ESTRADS Certification est détenue à 100 % par des capitaux français et échappe au Cloud Act américain : ces informations restent sous le contrôle d’un acteur français. Les garanties sont détaillées sur la page Notre souveraineté.
Depending on your business:
- You also work for the military or the defense aerospace sector: the ProD&S Certification assesses your practices against criteria specific to defense and security;
- If you want to measure your own sovereignty (capital, dependencies, suppliers), the NSI index rates it on a scale of 100;
- Part of your business is outside the space sector: the FranceRSE Certification covers all sectors.
They chose ProSpace, along with our partners in the space industry
AndroMach, a Paris-based startup founded in 2023 by IPSA engineers, is developing Envol, an autonomous and reusable suborbital aircraft. It has held ProSpace and FranceRSE certifications since May 30, 2026. Read the article on AndroMach.
Two partners support companies in the sector:
- Starburst, an accelerator for the aerospace and defense sectors: its members benefit from a specialized program and support for ProSpace Certification, under preferential terms;
- ASTech Paris Region: A partnership to support stakeholders in the aerospace industry in transitioning to more sustainable business models.
Details about each partnership can be found on the page Our Partnerspage, and the list of certified organizations is on the Our References.
Who issues the ProSpace Certification?
Tiers de confiance indépendant, ESTRADS Certification est un organisme de vérification, de notation ESG, de certification RSE et de mesure de souveraineté. Elle a délivré 650 certifications et aucune n’a été refusée par un donneur d’ordres ou un client. Elle applique à elle-même ce qu’elle évalue : certifiée ISO 9001, ISO 14001 et ISO 45001, elle a le statut de société à mission (Nos engagements).
ESTRADS Certification received an official letter of recognition from the DGA highlighting the relevance of his work. As this excerpt states:
“The Defense Industry Directorate (DGA/DID) has taken note of the work conducted by ESTRADS Certification in the field of ethical, social, environmental, and sovereignty certification as applied to complex and sensitive industrial sectors, and more specifically to strategic sectors related to defense and security. This letter serves as explicit recognition of the value of the approach developed by ESTRADS Certification as an independent private initiative aimed at supporting industrial stakeholders in a proactive effort to advance and structure their practices.”
Let's talk about your ProSpace certification
Décrivez votre activité et vos clients : l’équipe d’ESTRADS Certification vous indique le questionnaire qui vous concerne, le niveau à viser et le calendrier. Une organisation certifiée qui recommande ESTRADS Certification à une autre entreprise bénéficie du programme de parrainage.
La Certification ProSpace est une marque déposée d’ESTRADS Certification.