# Material certificates

> Link existing certificates to a material, create a new one from the material, and unlink or review certificates on the Certificates tab.

Source: https://docs.vestislabs.com/library/material-certificates/

The **Certificates** tab of a material shows every certificate linked to that material, such as organic or recycled standards. You can link a certificate you already have, create a new one, or unlink one. Certificates matter for Digital Product Passport readiness, and a note at the top of the tab says so.

**Where to find it:** Library → Materials → (open a material) → Certificates

**Requires:** permission `UPDATE_PRODUCT,VIEW_PRODUCT`

## Before you start

- Save the material first. The tab is part of an existing material, not of the create form.
- To link a certificate, it must already exist in **Certificates** and not be linked to this material yet. See [Certificate management](https://docs.vestislabs.com/certificate/certificate-management/).

> [!NOTE]
> The **Link Existing** and **Create New** buttons, and the **Edit** and **Unlink** actions, need the permission to update products, which is also what opens the material and its tabs.

## What the tab shows

Each linked certificate is a card with:

- the certificate **name**, a **type** badge and a **status** badge;
- the licence number, the validity dates and the institute, when they are filled in;
- the attached file name, with an eye icon to view the file and a download icon.

With no certificates the tab says "No certificates linked".

## Link an existing certificate

1. **Click "Link Existing"**
   Click **Link Existing** at the top right of the **Certificates** section. The **Link Certificate** dialog opens.

   ![The Link Certificate dialog listing the certificates that are not yet linked to the material](https://docs.vestislabs.com/assets/library/assets/material-certificates/60-link-existing.webp)

2. **Find the certificate**
   Type in **Search by name, licence, or type...** to narrow the list. If nothing is available, the dialog says "No unlinked certificates found. Create a new one instead."

   ![The Link Certificate dialog with a search typed in the Search by name, licence, or type field](https://docs.vestislabs.com/assets/library/assets/material-certificates/61-search.webp)

3. **Click "Link"**
   Click **Link** on the certificate you want. You see "Certificate linked successfully" and the card appears on the tab.

   ![The Certificates tab with a linked certificate shown as a card with its type and status](https://docs.vestislabs.com/assets/library/assets/material-certificates/62-linked.webp)

## Create a new certificate from the material

1. **Click "Create New"**
   Click **Create New**. The **Add Certificate** dialog opens with this material already linked.

   ![The Add Certificate dialog opened from Create New with the material already linked](https://docs.vestislabs.com/assets/library/assets/material-certificates/63-create-new.webp)

2. **Fill in the certificate**
   Enter at least the **Name**. The dialog also asks for the **Certificate Number**, **Type**, **Status**, **Group**, **Categories**, **Licence Number**, **Institute**, **Certificate Holder / Supplier**, **Linked Materials / Products**, **Valid From**, **Valid To**, **PO Number** and a **File**. See [Create a certificate](https://docs.vestislabs.com/certificate/create-a-certificate-on-certificate-management/) for each field.

   ![The Add Certificate dialog with a Name entered and the other certificate fields below it](https://docs.vestislabs.com/assets/library/assets/material-certificates/64-fill-in.webp)

3. **Click "Save"**
   Click **Save**. You see "Certificate created successfully" and the certificate appears on the tab.

## View, edit or unlink a certificate

Click the three dots on a certificate card.

- **View Details** opens a read-only summary.
- **Edit** opens the **Edit Certificate** dialog. Saving shows "Certificate updated successfully".
- **Unlink** opens **Unlink Certificate**: "The certificate will not be deleted — it can be linked again later." Click **Unlink** to confirm, or **Cancel**.

> [!NOTE]
> Unlinking removes the certificate from this material only. Other materials that use the same certificate keep it.

## Related

- [Certificate management](https://docs.vestislabs.com/certificate/certificate-management/)
- [Open and edit a material](https://docs.vestislabs.com/library/material-detail-and-edit/)