Why ISCC Certification Matters
… to the World
Products are usually manufactured within complex value chains that span companies, industries, countries and continents. Often, insufficient environmental regulations result in strongly negative environmental impacts but lower the cost of production. At the same time, low social standards give labor-intensive products a cost advantage. As a result, market prices do not always reflect the true cost of a product to the consumer. Choosing a lower priced product, a consumer may not know that they are causing these negative side effects.
With the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), all countries within the United Nations agreed to reduce or even eliminate these environmental and social side effects. Unfortunately, progress towards the SDGs varies across regions. In many countries, regulatory measures to control local and global externalities are lacking, or there are problems with the implementation and enforcement of laws. In addition, different societal values exist internationally with respect to externalities. Countries may favor economic growth and expansion of agricultural land over protection of biodiversity and forest carbon stocks.
At the same time, many companies and consumers are interested in supplying and buying sustainable products that meet the SDGs. This is where certification comes in! Supply chain certification can ensure that a product with minimal environmental and social externalities meets the interests of consumers and producers. By ensuring that only suppliers of sustainably produced raw materials are included in the supply chain and that all downstream processes meet sustainability requirements, consumers are informed about the sustainability of their consumption decisions and can thus contribute to sustainability.
Certification sets examples in terms of the feasibility of moving towards sustainable practices, in terms of the administrative feasibility of controlling and maintaining transparent supply chains for a large number of different products with very diverse supply chains.
Farmers who have chosen to become certified not only benefit from price premia paid for certified products, they also experience numerous non-monetary benefits for their livelihood.
Market segments that supply sustainable products that are incentivized and controlled by certification along the supply chain have had an important impact within their segments and have induced more sustainable production practices throughout the world with thousands of farmers and processing companies involved. Certification has tremendous leverage.“
While certification today covers only a small proportion of global markets, it provides a blueprint for expanding the procedures developed so far to a much wider range of market participants.
Certification has helped to create numerous sustainable supply chains for niche markets providing first steps towards a sustainable production system. Its contribution to moving towards sustainability and for meeting many of the SDGs is proof of feasibility.”
… to Companies
Increasing public awareness of the climate crisis has led to a significant rise in green technologies and more environmentally friendly products. The demand for certified sustainable products rises in the process as well. When it comes to building trust in innovative approaches and credible communications, third-party certification is a proven tool to verify compliance with sustainability and traceability requirements.
ISCC plays a critical role in working towards a more sustainable world by helping to implement fully traceable supply chains that are free of deforestation. Through the ISCC certification, we can offer the market reliable and ethically sourced products that help our customers advance their own sustainability agenda and meet the consumer demand.
It is surprising that the implementation of the assumptions of the ISCC programme actually does not generate costs, but economic benefits on my farm.
The adhesion of my farm to a supply chain such as that of Carta del Mulino which has among its rules that of complying with ISCC requests, represents an excellent opportunity in terms of visibility of my business and at the same time allows me to be able to access an interesting economic valorisation of my wheat.
ISCC’s clear, rigorous approach allows us to demonstrate to customers that our waste-derived products meet the highest sustainability standards of our industry.
Following ISCC certification allows us to build trust with our stakeholders in sustainable and traceable waste collection.
The advancements we have made at Regenyx, along with ISCC PLUS certification, are further concrete proof that we have created a circular recycling pathway for polystyrene recycling.
The mass balance certification is another step taken by Trinseo towards helping our customers bring more recycled products onto the market.
By using bio or circular feedstock in the production of PVC, we are supporting our customers in achieving their sustainability goals and offering differentiated solutions to their customer base.
We value the ISCC certification as an indication of our dedication and our commitment to sustainable sources. We are proud to work with the organisation that sets the industry standard for sustainable material certification.
The third-party certification approach from ISCC has been crucial for us in launching a new bio attributed plastics snacks packaging as the first player in the snacks industry worldwide.
ISCC has a solid reputation and is highly trusted among our partners in Europe. It is a trademark of quality to have an ISCC certificate.
Certification of supply chains is a vital part of an organization’s overall sustainability management. This is because it ensures that the integrity and performance of the entire supply chain, from start to finish, are aligned toward common sustainability goals and objectives. Companies and entities must meet certain predetermined standards, such as those indicated under the ISCC Certification schemes.
ISCC Certification Means
- Sustainability and no-deforestation on farms and plantations
- Raw material identity (e.g. waste and residue vs. virgin)
- Traceability
- Correct volumes and conversion factors throughout entire value chain
- Correct use of mass balance calculations and attribution approaches
- Appropriate carbon intensity calculations
The ISCC Licensing Scheme Allows Credible Use of
- Claims towards customers, end consumers and other stakeholders
- On-product ISCC logos by brand owners
… to Customers
Has it ever crossed your mind that the products you buy could have a negative effect on the environment? It is crucial to consider not only the products you use but also their sources.
Over 90% of the world’s environmental impact comes from consumer choices, and more than a third of these decisions are directly linked to our purchasing behavior. We are a global community of over 7 billion people making choices for ourselves, our families and our planet. We know that every time we purchase or eat something, we choose where we want to be in the future. So, one of the most common activities people can get involved with to help the environment is to change their consumption habits.
Every change in our consumer behavior, whether it’s transportation, food, packaging or fashion, has a major impact on the environment. Recently, more and more packaging in stores and supermarkets has been labeled with sustainability seals that indicate the origin of the goods, their production process or that of their packaging. Here at ISCC, we have three types of on-product logos that you can see on commodities such as ice cream tubs, children toys, hygiene articles e.t.c.
Next time you shop, look for our logos on the products you buy!
