Unfortunately, many consumers are unaware of the criteria behind individual seals. And indeed, as is so often the case, the devil is in the detail: Not everything that sounds “eco” meets the expectations of conscious consumers. This applies both to green products and to green seals on products. In the case of seals in particular, it is important to take a close look at the criteria set out in the standard (standard = text in which the seal is defined or what must be fulfilled for the seal to be awarded). The standard setter is responsible for the design of the standards. We hold annual working group meetings to ensure that our standards meet consumer expectations and can be fulfilled by companies at the same time. We met again on April 17 and 18 to clarify questions about our standards. And once again it was confirmed that we are and will remain at the highest level together. In the NCP and NCS product certifications, genetic engineering was once again a hotly debated topic in the “organic raw materials” working group. Of course, we are all against genetic engineering and it is excluded from all our standards. However, the problem – and this applies to all standards and products – is that genetic engineering can be easily concealed. For example, the product does not actually contain any genetic engineering. However, genetically modified organisms that produce certain enzymes are used, for example. These enzymes, in turn, are used to produce the desired substance, which a consumer uses to clean their mirror, for example. This is genetic engineering, even if the end product does not contain any genetically modified substances. Manufacturers of natural products cannot produce every single ingredient themselves. They have to use a supplier who fills out a so-called “GMO clearance certificate” for the manufacturer. But how far-reaching and credible can this certificate be? As the Society for Applied Business Ethics, we find it worrying that there is no legal regulation for mandatory labeling. Not only we, but all standard setters and responsible companies are confronted with this problem. It must not be allowed that genetic engineering is secretly spread through this loophole. Almost three quarters of all consumers are skeptical about genetic engineering and everyone in the working group was unanimously against GMOs. As the issue is very complex and far-reaching, it was decided to hold a workshop with experts to think further about a viable solution for us. If you have any suggestions or ideas on this topic, we would be delighted to hear from you. In the “living sustainability” working group, there was also once again a great deal of approval for the high bar set by the CSE standard. Among other things, we again discussed whether the foundation of the ISO 14001:2015 standard also makes sense for small companies.
With the experience of already certified companies and the expertise of Niels Christiansen from sustaineration, it became clear again: Yes! Because ISO 14001:2015 can be broken down into simple documentation even for the smallest companies and requires less effort than a first glance might suggest. For larger companies, ISO 14001:2015 offers enormous potential for improving material flows and should be seen as an investment. Ultimately, a genuine sustainability standard, such as the CSE, must be based on the documentation of environmental measures. At this point, we are planning an enormous simplification for all those who want to document ISO 14001:2015 with ease. More on this soon. The two working group meetings have once again shown that we are on the right track. With companies that lead the way and represent high ethical values, we can define standards and label products that are good for all people and the ecosystem. As a company, we at GfaW naturally always strive to make the most sustainable decisions. We see ourselves as an actor that serves the common good. For this reason, we see the transfer of the standards into a corporate form, such as a foundation, as groundbreaking. We will clarify the exact details in the near future. We would like to thank the many participants who traveled from far and wide to set the course with us. The pioneering spirit is clearly palpable!
