ISEAL AllianceBetter Standards Systems, Bigger Impacts

Photo © Bonsucro

About ISEAL and the Credibility Principles

ISEAL’s Mission

To strengthen sustainability standards systems for the benefit of people and the environment.

Photo © UTZ CERTIFIEDPhoto © Forest Stewardship Council

ISEAL Membership Criteria

› Open to all multi-stakeholder sustainability standards

› Must embrace the ISEAL Credibility Principles

› Must demonstrate ability to meet the ISEAL Codes of Good Practice and accompanying requirements

› Must commit to learning and improving

Walter Pacaya & logs, Peru © David Dudenhoefer

A Growing Movement

Full Members Associate Members

Sectors covered by ISEAL members

› Forestry

› Fisheries

› Aquaculture

› Agricultural commodities: coffee, tea, cocoa, palm oil, cotton, beef, sugar

› Biotrade

› Biomaterials

› Tourism

› Jewelry (gold and silver)

› Oil and gas

› Textile weaving, etc.Cockle Picking © Marine Stewardship Council Certified fishermen © MSC

ISEAL Credibility Principles: First global agreement on credible standards and certification

www.iseal.org/credibilityprinciples

1. Sustainability

©FSC

• Clearly defined objectives

• Actions and decisions align with sustainability vision

• Structured to deliver outcomes

Baobab © David Brazier UEBTProcessing palm oil © Bremen Yong, RSPO

2. Improvement

• Demonstrate and improve impact

• Strong monitoring and evaluation systems

• Continual learning

Measuring logs in Peru © David Dudenhoefer, 2011, Rainforest Alliance

3. Relevance

Colombia © David Bonilla for 4C Association

• Most significant sustainability issues in product or sector

• Reflect scientific knowledge and international norms

• Global consistency and local adaptation

Photo © Bonsucro Conference, November 2013

4. Rigour

• Requirements lead to measurable progress

• Consistency throughout standards system

• Accurate certification decisions

Photo © Robin Romano, GoodWeave

Gaining Consensus

1. Start with clear objectives –

•Define goals

• Theory of change

› Does everyone agree they are trying to achieve the same thing?

United Plantations © RSPO

Gaining Consensus

Gaining Consensus

2. Advance preparation

› Increase consultation

› Technical experts

› Additional decision making criteria

Photo © UTZ CERTIFIEDPhoto © Forest Stewardship Council

Gaining Consensus

3. Controversial?

› More controversy requires more formal decision making

Photo © FSC A.CCow herd © Rainforest Alliance

Gaining Consensus

› Taking time in the “groan zone”

› Getting agreement:

›What can you live with?

›What do you really need?

›What is good enough?

Sorting nuts © Charlie Watson, Rainforest Alliance

Standards Systems:A Time of Innovation

What do we mean by “standards system”?

Case Study: Forest Stewardship Council

› Stakeholder-driven

› Membership-based

› National standards initiatives

› External certifying bodies

› One accreditation body

› Traceability system

› One logo / multiple claims

FSC Pine boards © Rainforest Alliance

Case Study: Common Code for the Coffee Community (4C)

› Entry level standard

› Step-wise, traffic light system

› For all producers

› Hybrid assurance model

• Producer units

• Verification with decision by Secretariat

› No market facing label

Photo © 4C Association, Claire Hogg

Case Study: Better Cotton Initiative

› Production Principles and Criteria: 6 key principles

› Capacity Building Program

› Assurance Program

• Self Assessment

• 2nd party credibility check

• 3rd party verification

› Claims Framework

Photo © 4C Association, Claire HoggPhoto © ISEAL Alliance

Business Case

› Yield improvement

› Professionalization

› New market access

› Upstream investments

› Improved competitiveness

› Buyer partnerships

› Income stability

Photo © Aquaculture Stewardship Council

Sustainability Standards Video Series

Short animated videos explaining the core elements of credible standards systems

good standard-setting measuring impacts chain of custody claims and labelling

…and many more! Visit:

www.vimeo.com/isealalliance

The ISEAL Community

› Peer exchange

› Communities of practice

› Issue based Working Groups

› Collaboration & networking

› Awareness raising

› Policy and advocacy

Thank You!

Photo © UTZ Certified

info@isealalliance.org

www.iseal.org