ISOs helping change sustainability mindsets So how much help are ISOs in helping businesses green up supply chains ?
“ Standards capture consensus best practice , because they are developed by leading experts in their field ,” says Martin Townsend , the BSI ’ s Global Head of Sustainability and Circular Economy .
Townsend adds that It ’ s important organisations don ’ t see certification as the main goal , but rather the change that results in their company applying the knowledge that comes from gaining the standard .
“ Training and education is an important part of the process , so that everyone in a company understands the wider objective that is being achieved and the role they play in the process ,” says Townsend .
This , he says , is one of the defining differences between the sustainability standards of today and those of the recent past .
“ The focus was once on measures such as pollution control and the management of risks to the environment ,” says Townsend , “ but the standard has developed to include more criteria regarding compliance requirements .”
He adds : “ Those that use the standard today have to differentiate between activities they can directly control and those they can influence . This encourages organisations to become agents of change . which has resulted in improvements in supply chains . When used in relation to regulation , businesses are driven to develop a more comprehensive environmental strategy and action plan .”
Sustainability standards and ratings alone will not see the world hit its net zero targets by the 2050 deadline , but they are helping keep us on track . sustainabilitymag . com 133