PRESS RELEASE Updating the standards from GfaW – ethics and business practice combined

Organic qualities, GMOs and other criteria have been raised to a more demanding level.

The Society for Applied Business Ethics (GfaW) is the standard setter for two ecological product standards and the sustainability standard for companies: CSE. The standards are revised annually to bring them into line with the latest requirements. The respective “ecological raw materials” and “living sustainability” working groups meet for one day each. The “Ecological Raw Materials” working group focused on updating the NCS (Natural Cosmetics Standard) and the NCP (Nature Care Product Standard), both of which are ecological product certifications from GfaW. A fundamentally new requirement of both product standards is the mandatory procurement of certified organic quality for the natural ingredients sunflower, olive, soy, shea butter, coconut and jojoba. The reason for this decision is that these substances are generally readily available in organic quality. In addition, the new requirement is intended to ensure that the standards adapt to market conditions in order to meet the highest possible ecological requirements. For NCP, the standard for organic everyday articles, it was confirmed that all substances of petrochemical origin will continue to be excluded. TAED was approved as an exception in bleaching agents and dishwasher tabs up to a maximum content of 3.5%. TAED is classified as biodegradable and is also effective at lower temperatures, which is why the GfaW opted for this exception in favor of ecology. With regard to GMOs, it once again became clear that the legislator should focus more on the verification obligations of producers of chemical starting materials. Both product standards continue to be based on the requirements of the EC Organic Regulation. This also applies to substances that are not covered by the EC Organic Regulation, e.g. non-food products or non-organically certified raw materials. Although standard setters and standard users are united in their opposition to GMOs, it unfortunately became clear once again that GMOs cannot be avoided under certain circumstances if chemical producers do not comply with their GMO-free declarations in a comprehensible and responsible manner. GfaW is asking all companies that may wish to participate in a working group focusing on GMOs to get in touch. The aim is to create clear regulations and obligations so that GMOs can be demonstrably and completely excluded from products, if not excluded, then at least identified. The “living sustainability” working group focused on updating the CSE standard. The company certification for sustainability is based on product certifications. The standards of the IFOAM family were newly approved as product standards for food. Furthermore, Rapunzel Hand-in-Hand was included in the CSE standard as proof of fair procurement. The PEFC certification is now also approved in the CSE standard as proof of environmentally friendly packaging. It has once again become clear that the plan to expand CSE as the most demanding sustainability standard meets the wishes of pioneering companies and consumers. The foundation, ISO 14001:2015, on which the CSE quality seal is built, remains untouched.

The methodology and transparency of CSE is becoming increasingly popular with companies and consumers. New companies will soon be completing their CSE certification. Further information on CSE can be found at https://gfaw.eu/cse/. The Society for Applied Business Ethics is the point of contact for sustainable companies. The standard setter has been offering CSE as a test seal for sustainability for more than 6 years and contributes to the expansion of ecological product diversity with its ecological product certifications. If you are interested in participating in the working groups, please send an e-mail to info@hosting196937.ae939.netcup.net.

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