creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of...
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Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business
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How do you make a label credible?
Green Feast
12 March, 2008
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Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business
Labels and Sustainable Food
> Labels also exist or are emerging in numerous other sectors
– Forest products– Tourism– Mining– Aquarium fish– Cotton and textiles– Biofuels
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Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business
What’s Behind a Credible Label?
> A standard
> An multi-stakeholder organisation that is responsible for the standard
> An open, transparent consultation process that defines what is in the standard
> A 3rd party verification or certification scheme for proving conformity with the standard
> A chain of custody programme
> A monitoring and evaluation programme
> A Certification or Trademark Policy that prevents misuse of the label
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Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business
Credibility Applies Throughout the Certification Process ...
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Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business
… & Along the Implementation Chain
Standards Certifier
Accreditation Body
Retailer
Consumer
Producer
Label
Buyer/Manufacturer
Supply Chain
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Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business
Legitimacy & Credibility of Voluntary Standards
ConformityAssessment
StandardSettingProcess
VerifiableImpacts
No More TradeRestrictive than
Necessary to fulfilLegitimate Objectives
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Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business
Setting Standards: Elements of Good Practice
> Clear objectives
> Internationally defined
> Locally adaptable
> Based on law (WTO) & best practice (ISO & ISEAL)
> Clear and consistent procedures
> Easily accessible
> Stakeholder owned
> Open and transparent processes
CredibleStandards
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Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business
Setting Standards: Codifying Good Practice
> Developed in 2004 (due for revision 2008)
> Builds on WTO TBT Agreement Annex 3 and ISO Guide 59.
> Additional requirements specific to social and environmental standards:
– Balanced stakeholder engagement.– Open to all interested parties, including
governments.– Standards are made freely available.
> Compliance is an ISEAL Membership Requirement
> www.isealalliance.org/code
ISEALCode of
Good Practice
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Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business
References to ISEAL Code of Good Practice
> FAO Guidelines on Ecolabelling of Marine Fishery Products (2005)
> World Bank-WWF Alliance criteria for assessing forest certification schemes (2006)
> European Parliament resolution of 13 March 2007 on corporate social responsibility
“Compliance with the ISEAL Code of Good Practice gives a clear sign to both governments and industry that these initiatives are the leaders in the field, backed by credible standards and capable of delivering genuine social and environmental change.”
Richard Howitt, MEP, Spokesperson for the European Parliament on Corporate Social Responsibility
www.isealalliance.org
Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business
ISEAL Alliance Full Members in compliance with Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards:
Fairtrade Labelling Organizations (FLO) International
Forest Stewardship CouncilInternational Federation of
Organic Agriculture Movements
Marine Aquarium Council Marine Stewardship Council Rainforest Alliance Social Accountability International
Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business
www.isealalliance.org
Thank youLucy Glover
Communications Manager
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