Frequently asked questions

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What is the basis of our actions?

The main motivation for our actions is the realization that changed “survival conditions” require new “survival strategies”. In view of the global challenges facing humanity, it may be helpful to reflect on the questions: “What actually characterizes a good life? What makes us satisfied or happy?”

Non-monetary values such as community, solidarity, responsibility, friendship, trust, relationships, etc. are of primary importance. The aim of sustainable business is to promote these and establish a “good life” for all people.

We see ourselves as pioneers for a corresponding economic and cultural development. The Economy for the Common Good and the CSE standard offer a possible answer to the question of how the change from a pure growth orientation to an orientation towards ethical values is possible within existing structures. Our ecological product certifications can be an introduction to a more sustainable economy.

We work continuously on the question of “how” sustainable business can be implemented in collaboration with committed stakeholders from business, society and science. We are convinced that change can only be realized through the participation of all those involved in the process.

Our actions are based on a “strong” understanding of sustainability. Strong sustainability is based on the assumption that natural and artificial resources are not interchangeable. Therefore, the total quantity of natural resources and their composition should not only be preserved, but increased as much as possible.
This understanding has a direct influence on the growth of companies: The quantitative growth paradigm has become firmly anchored in modern civilization: driven by capital markets and cut-throat competition, companies also see it as their duty to grow. We, the GfaW, can understand this dilemma. On the other hand, initial examples that focus on quality growth certainly show other possibilities (see “Already on board”).

How do we ensure the quality of the certification?

The quality of a certification is determined by several factors. The basis of every certification is the scope, which must be defined. In order to be meaningful, the criteria must be clearly assigned, formulated and, above all, testable and measurable.

We ensure the quality characteristics of scope and significance as early as the standard and criteria development stage.

Another quality feature is the audit frequency – the regularity with which a company is audited. This initially involves looking at or evaluating the past 12 months, which form the basis for certification. The necessary future measures are derived from this.

We believe that it makes sense to implement annual audits in the process in order to ensure that we meet our ambitious targets.

Good to know: Product certification and its criteria relate exclusively to the product; CSE certification is a combination of management, company and product certification. Accordingly, the certifications differ in their scope and process.

The audit process for product certification is the same every year and involves checking the quality of the raw materials used. This includes the ingredients for the product and the packaging. The inspection procedure is described in the standard.

With CSE sustainability certification, the scope of the annual audit can vary. As management systems, for example, cannot usually be implemented within a year and are not changed annually, experience has shown that the initial audit is very extensive. The two follow-up audits serve to review the initiated processes. The focus is on compliance with the absolute criteria, the product-related criteria and, if necessary, the implementation of measures to rectify deviations. A more extensive audit then takes place in the fourth year.

Communication with the certification bodies is another quality feature for us. Through regular exchange, GfaW as the standard owner remains close to the standard users and receives information about the meaningfulness, manageability and sustainable benefits of the criteria at an early stage. We exchange information with the certification body at regular intervals, but at least once a month.

Training and further training for auditors is another important component in ensuring the quality of certifications; GfaW offers training at least once a year.

GfaW ensures complaint management with regard to certifications by specifying ISO 17065 for certification bodies. Complaints that reach us directly are dealt with personally by the management and are incorporated into our process in accordance with the principle of continuous improvement.

How and by whom are decisions made?

When developing criteria and defining them, we always act holistically in awareness of our previously defined principles.

The focus is therefore on added value in terms of sustainability when establishing new criteria. A comprehensive understanding of sustainability that takes ecological, social and economic aspects into account at the same time is a prerequisite.

In the development process on the way to the new criterion, we ask ourselves the following questions, all of which must be answered with “yes”. Regardless of whether it is a new standard or an existing standard that needs to be updated.

  • Does the criterion meet the associated scope of the standard?
  • Does this criterion provide a distinguishing feature from a non-ecological product or a non-sustainable economic approach?
  • Does the criterion minimize rebound effects?
  • Is the criterion measurable? Is it clearly assigned and formulated?
  • Does the criterion meet our intention and our definition of sustainability?

We develop new and update existing standards in line with our vision and inspired by impulses that are brought to us.

Every year, GfaW offers a working group meeting to which the relevant interest groups such as certification bodies, customers, experts and interested parties are invited. in this “sustainability workshop”, topics are discussed that have an impact on the design of new criteria or the adaptation of existing criteria.

If day-to-day business, research or expert discussions reveal that standards need to be changed, the GfaW management acts according to this defined scheme:
The management prepares a draft that is discussed at the next working group meeting with the participants from business and science (if there is an urgent update that cannot be delayed, the companies that are directly affected will be informed immediately in advance).

The results of the working groups are incorporated into the draft, which is sent for comment to all stakeholders and those affected (certification body, customers, experts). there is a deadline for commenting on the planned changes. Experience shows that there is no need for a second round, but that the comments submitted can be incorporated into the planned changes. If necessary, however, there can also be a second round in which comments can again be submitted within a deadline. Following this final round of voting, the changes are incorporated into the updated standard; the respective version can be clearly identified by its version number.

The current standard is available online at any time on the website under downloads at any time. If you have any queries, please contact the office.

Procedure and working methods of the working groups
The results of the working groups are incorporated into the draft, which is sent for comment to all stakeholders involved and those who are affected (certification body, customers – Satndard users, experts). There is a deadline for commenting on the planned changes. Experience shows that there is no need for a second round, but that the comments submitted can be incorporated into the planned changes. If necessary, however, there can also be a second round in which comments can again be submitted within a deadline. Following this final round of voting, the changes are incorporated into the updated standard; the respective version is clearly identifiable by its version number. The current standard is available online at any time on the website under downloads at any time. If you have any queries, please contact the office.
When are decisions made regarding the standards?
The working group meetings take place regularly once a year and also when required and are convened by the GfaW management.
How can the public participate?
You are cordially invited to participate. You can reach us via the contact form, by email or by phone. We communicate with stakeholders and consumers via social media, particularly in the area of the CSE label.
If I have a complaint, who can I contact and how?

If there are any complaints that are addressed to us, please contact us as soon as possible via

E-mail: info@gfaw.eu
Contact form or complaint form
Phone: +49 (0)551 30674834 .

Please indicate what type of complaint this is. We distinguish between complaints concerning our communication, our practices, our event and our procedures, and complaints about label abuse.

If you suspect that a product or company is incorrectly bearing one of our labels, please contact us immediately. We do our best to ensure the correct use of our labels by means of contracts and checks, issuing certificates and, if necessary, withdrawing certificates. However, we are not always everywhere and are therefore grateful for information on possible misuse.

More about our complaints management

How do we finance ourselves?
GfaW is not an association and therefore has no membership fees. In order to maintain the objectivity of the structure of a standard provider, GfaW is a limited company. We therefore do not have “members” but “customers”. Legally speaking, GfaW trades in license fees. For this reason, it cannot currently be a non-profit GmbH, as the type of income is not charitable in itself. We therefore have to act like any commercial enterprise and are subject to the same conditions as our customers. We generate our income from license fees for our Union guarantee marks License fees for the use of our sustainability software CSE-STAR Fees for events that we offer Consultancy services in the context of certifications Services in the context of standard and criteria development GfaW is still in the process of being established and operates according to the principles of purpose companies. Our orientation is the purpose of the company, not profit maximization. This means that profits, if they are generated, remain in the company and serve to build up GfaW.
What are we, the GfaW, doing in terms of sustainability?

As the developer and owner of the most demanding and comprehensive sustainability standard, we naturally also adhere to the principles we have defined.

GfaW has been certified according to the CSE standard since February 2019.

CSE certificate

Our CO2 compensation certificates:

2018: CO2 compensation.2018

2019: CO2 compensation Greenpeace gas and CO2 compensation 2019

2020: CO2-Kompensation-2020

2021: CO2 compensation 2021

2022: CO2 compensation 2022

You can find our Sustainability Report 2020 with the help of the STAR here.

In our office, we only use articles from sustainable wholesalers memo and use recycled paper. When purchasing new PCs or other electronic devices, we also buy them from memo or AfB.

Our server provider works with green electricity from hydropower and uses energy-efficient hardware.

We receive both electricity and gas from Greenpeace Energy. We offset the greenhouse gas emissions that still occur via atmosfair or positerra.

In addition to the legally prescribed separate waste system (waste paper, yellow bag, etc.), we also rely on internal recycling, for example for paper printed on one side or packaging materials. We use the cleaning agents from our CSE pioneers Sonett and Sodasan for room cleaning.

And of course, the idea of sufficiency runs through all operational processes, from consumables to travel expenses.

We offset the greenhouse gas emissions that still arise via positerra.
Positerra combines climate protection and soil improvement. That’s why we opted for positerra.

In 2019, we introduced a sustainability management system similar to ISO 14001:2015.

Our employees are largely free to organize their working hours as they wish and have the option of working largely from home. Regular meetings ensure transparency in a structure of flat hierarchies in which the suggestions and impulses of all those involved are seen as potential. For us, the personal well-being of our employees and partners forms the basis of a trusting and successful collaboration.
Partnerships that we enter into beyond this are designed for the long term and are based on shared values.

GfaW achieves the greatest impact on the environment and sustainability through the activities of its customers. It is therefore GfaW’s declared sustainability goal to lead even more companies to CSE certification.

We are currently investing in the GfaW infrastructure and the further development of certification tools and processes. As soon as surpluses or profits are generated, these will flow into a charitable foundation that is about to be established.

Do you have any further questions about GFAW or our products?
Then talk to us!

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