Aequilibria meets... Verification/validation of ESG information and connections with ecodesign

June 1st, 2023
In recent years, both the public demand for sustainability statements by the market and by consumers, in the B2B and B2C approach, and the request and/or obligation to communicate such information have grown exponentially (yes may take for example European Union Green Deal legislation, US SEC climate disclosure, commercial supply chain contracts).
Faced with the significant and recognised market need for information relating to sustainability performance, the risk of "washing" episodes has also increased, both relating to environmental aspects and the fight against climate change (greenwashing) and relating to social aspects (social -washing or "pink-washing" for gender equality issues). Added to this is the proliferation of numerous certification and attestation schemes, which generates confusion and risks supporting the washing phenomenon.
The market and consumers increasingly feel the need for reliable and internationally or supranationally recognized ESG assessment standards. To respond to this need, some international bodies, such as the International Organisation for Standardisation, (ISO), have begun to develop a series of standards, voluntary or mandatory, which will regulate and give certainty on a fundamental aspect, the verification and validation of company information on sustainability issues.
In addition, other subjects, such as the European Union, recognize the value and importance of conformity assessment by third parties that can therefore guarantee compliance with the rules with impartiality. An example can be given to the proposal for ecodesign of products that will be made in the EU, providing for a verification of compliance of sustainability aspects.
We thank:
Stefanie Vehring, ISO CASCO working group "Development of the ISO/IEC 17029 standard for validation/verification bodies"
Davide Polverini, EU Commission, DG for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs