Drivers and Opportunities for Convergence of Certification Systems

1
Drivers and Opportunities for Convergence of
Certification Systems

• Dr. Sasha Courville
• Regulatory Institutions Network, ANU

2
Presentation Overview

• The Rise of Certification and Labelling Programs
  in Europe and North America
• Drivers for Convergence
• Consumer concerns
• Producer and retailer frustration
• Funding and intergovernmental body perspectives
• Opportunities for Convergence
• Policy context in Europe and North America
• Case study SASA project and the One Stop Shop
  idea for ISEAL

3
The Rise of Certification and Labelling Programs

• Certification and labelling programs tend to be
  sector specific and issue specific
• Grey Areas where existing certification systems
  dont cover
• Stakeholders (companies, NGOs) develop new
  initiatives to suit their particular needs
• Competition advantages and disadvantages
• Significant variation in credibility and meaning
  of certification and labelling systems

4
The Rise of Certification and Labelling Programs

• Proliferation Example Coffee
• Rainforest Alliance Certified (shade grown,
  labour, IPM)
• Fairtrade Certified
• Organic Certified
• Conservation International (Shade Grown)
• Starbucks Preferred Supplier program
• Utz Kapeh
• EurepGAP (producer oriented, not for consumers)
• SA8000 certified coffee (no cases as yet)
• ISO 14001 (mainly mill operations)
• Smithsonian Migratory Bird Centre (shade grown)

5
The Rise of Certification and Labelling Programs

• Proliferation Example Apparel Industry
• Social Accountability International SA8000
• Clean Clothes Campaign
• Ethical Trading Initiative
• Fair Labor Association
• Fair Wear Foundation
• Workers Rights Consortium
• PLUS corporate codes of conduct.

6
The Rise of Certification and Labelling Programs

• Others Areas where there are multiple competing
  certification systems
• Forestry
• Sustainable Tourism
• Energy
• Agriculture

7
Drivers for Convergence

• Consumer Concerns
• How to differentiate strong from weak programs?
• Consumer fatigue or consumer cynicism
• Producer and Retailer Frustration
• Producers feel that they are constantly asked to
  jump through more and more hoops
• Producer frustration and confusion what markets
  might be asking is not always what is most
  appropriate
• With multiple certification systems and meanings,
  how do retailers develop a coherent strategy?
• If certification systems dont coordinate,
  retailers and brand companies will create their
  own systems
• Funders and Intergovernmental Body Perspectives
• Awareness of duplications in research and
  implementation
• Financial and other Incentives for Cooperation
  and Coordination

8
Opportunities for Convergence

• Policy Context in Europe and North America
• Convergence is the buzz word
• Producers and Retailers are interested
• Funding Agencies ready with support
• Examples
• Sustainable Commodity Initiative (IISD and
  UNCTAD)
• Multi-stakeholder Organisations Project in the
  garment industry
• SASA project

9
Social Accountability in Sustainable Agriculture
Case study SASA project and the One Stop Shop

• Social Accountability in Sustainable Agriculture
  (SASA) project of
• FLO International (fairtrade)
• Social Accountability International
• IFOAM (organic)
• Sustainable Agriculture Network
• FAO and ISEAL are project partners
• Objectives
• To improve social auditing methodologies and
  standard setting across a range of agricultural
  systems
• To facilitate convergence of the four initiatives

10
Social Accountability in Sustainable Agriculture
Case Study SASA project in the field
11
Social Accountability in Sustainable Agriculture
Case study SASA project and the One Stop Shop

• Initial Results
• Improved understanding of applicability of
  different social standards to different
  production systems (smallholders, plantations)
• Progress on difficult social issues/indicators
• Freedom of association and right to collective
  bargaining
• Working hours
• One Stop Shop for Social and Environmental
  Certification and Labelling

12
Social Accountability in Sustainable Agriculture
Case study SASA project and the One Stop Shop

• Under discussion are coordination for
• General information and self-evaluation tools to
  producers
• Capacity building and extension support (without
  conflict of interest)
• Cooperation in auditor training
• Integrated audits and reduced documentation
  burdens
• Appropriate and cost-effective certification
  packages for use by brand name companies,
  retailers and consumers