New Standard closes nature gap to certify products for the Circular Economy

MEDIA RELEASE:

Global GreenTag International announces the introduction of a new NaturePositive+ Declaration and Technical Standard

A first for the product certification sector, Global GreenTag International announces the introduction of a new NaturePositive+ Declaration and underpinning Technical Standard that addresses and achieves the closure of a significant gap in meeting one of the top three aims of circular economy, i.e. providing metrics that engage nature restoration and regeneration in the Circular Economy. It aims to provide third party certification assurance to markets about products that are not only creating circular natural resource flows but also how their design is helping to restore biodiversity and can assist in regenerating the climate and ecosystems.

The new Technical Standard and Declaration has been released as a Stakeholder Release Draft, and is Global GreenTag's newest and probably most important product certification standard to date. Commenting on the draft release, Global GreenTag International CEO and Program Director David Baggs said:

"This new Standard is set to bring everything that we have worked over the years to develop in the certification field into one overarching framework and metric that is calibrated against planetary boundaries. This is important for both advanced manufacturers and projects, especially in the built environment, that are extending the boundaries of circularity design. This NaturePositive+ Standard provides concepts that enable both natural and technical cycles' full scope and benefits to be measured as no product certification system has before."

The NaturePostive standard and its resultant NaturePositive+ Declarations (NP+D) reporting and Marks will take product certifications beyond current thinking on circular economy, life cycle analysis and ingredient, hazard and ethical supply chain transparency and risk mitigation. It has been developed, said David Baggs "to deliver restorative and indeed hopefully regenerative (subject to scale) climate and biodiversity co-outcomes that also conserve and protect resource flows, whether they be within 'Natural or Technical Nutrient Cycles' "

Managing Director of Global GreenTag International, Mary-Lou Kelly, who has worked closely with David Baggs and other members of the Global GreenTag product research team to develop the new Standard, said:

"This is where we have wanted to go with product certification for some time to really help accelerate the changes that are needed now for a healthier tomorrow. It is a Standard that directly supports the Rights of Nature head on, so that we can provide the International and Australian markets with a solution that is focused on changing real world outcomes towards Nature Positive."

David Baggs added: "No other product certification system has done this before. The NaturePositive Standard (NP+D) provides concepts that enable both natural and technical cycles' full scope and benefits to be measured."
The Standard will use already available and in-use processes, systems and metrics to provide:

1. a singular integrate NP+D product score;
2. individual metrics for each issue, resource and process;
3. detailed compiled transparency reporting on:
a. Human Health & Environmental Toxicity;
b. Life cycle impacts and benefits;
c. Ethical Supply Chains & Modern Slavery.

The Standard will incorporate and refocus many of Global GreenTag's existing services but with some important additions and concepts. These are delivered in an integrated package that simultaneously will deliver an overall rating and metric that incorporates not only a recognised circular economy metric but also other essential elements required to truly measure and achieve circularity in a people and planet healthy outcome.

All the indicators will be visible in the reporting in both summary graphic with individual indicators as well as detailed report in full transparency format and all the Global GreenTag Services mentioned within the NP+ standard will be reported in a design yet to be created.

The actual design and content of the Standard will be decided after receiving detailed comment from a self-reporting questionnaire that will be sent to interested parties next week with specific questions and general comment capability.

The NaturePositive+ Declaration Draft for Stakeholder comment can be read and downloaded here:

NaturePositive Draft Stakeholder Consultation

Stakeholder survey and self-reporting questionnaire

CLICK HERE

Due Date to return the questionnaire
Monday 16th January, 2023

For further information or to interview David Baggs or Mary-Lou Kelly, please contact Debra Robertson via

MORE ABOUT GLOBAL GREENTAG INTERNATIONAL

Global GreenTag™ International Pty Ltd assesses products for all aspects of impacts on human health, ethical labour supply and the environment. The company was established in 2010 as a third party verified Conformance Conformity Assessment Body that conducts the award winning Global GreenTagCert™ certification program, and a third party, multi-criteria, consensus based and externally verified Type 1 Ecolabelling Program that complies and operates under strict International Standards. Global GreenTag is legally approved as a Certification Mark operator by the ACCC in Australia and by equivalent government agencies in NZ, USA, Canada, and South Africa.
Global GreenTag websites and all marketing collateral for every product certified by Global GreenTag is verified as 'fit for purpose' and compliant with ISO 14021. What's more, Global GreenTag's governance and its own external verification and certification against standards such as ISO 14024 (Ecolabelling), ISO 17065 (Conformance Assessment) and ISO 9001 (Quality Management) among others, is unparalleled.

Voted one of the Top 100 Most Trusted Brands in Australia for 3 years running, Global GreenTag currently has more than 16,000 products in certification by over 230 manufacturers with factories in more than 20 countries. Global GreenTag™ certified products are determined as healthy for use using the best science available, with the results being peer reviewed by highly qualified, external consultant Toxicologists.

Read more about:

David Baggs

Mary-Lou Kelly