17.01.2022
Abstract
In a constantly changing world, economic, biodiversity and climate issues require a constant assessment of the impact of our lifestyles, production and consumption. Changing behaviour and thus acting on these consequences is a difficult task. Therefore, it seems necessary to pay more attention to the sustainability labels that surround us in order to better understand them. This study will thus set out a framework for analysis that will allow for a comprehensive consideration of the main environmental and socio-economic issues, their interactions and above all their measurement.
This study draws up a state of the art in the field of sustainability and particularly in the normative, certification and labelling approaches. It proposes a non-exhaustive reading of existing approaches and presents the new European position on impact measurement and labelling. The standards, labels, certifications and reference systems of sustainable development are tools to support a sustainable development approach. These tools have become a necessity for companies, communities, administrations and organisations in Europe that are undertaking a process to measure their impact.
Valuing one's environmental, social and economic performance has become an essential issue for all actors in sustainability in Europe. Expectations are high for states, but also for companies that are faced with the obligation to show and demonstrate their sustainability to major clients. While labels, norms and other standards such as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Science-Based Target Initiative (SBTi) are multiplying, they are struggling to attract certain companies with their voluntarist approaches and, above all, are creating confusion in civil society.
Our society is constantly evolving in the context of climate change, loss of biodiversity or simply changes in our behaviour as consumers. This situation calls for support. We are provided with tools to define our orientations, our actions and to implement them.
The project presented in this research establishes the link between tools and their use and transparency in the field of sustainability. Finally, the study presents the projection of the unified approach of the Member States to the European level.
#sustainable development #SDG #ESG #label #certificats #Ecolabel #Taxonomie #Green Bond #Social Bond #ESG #GRI #ISO
About the author
Tsvetelina Tsvetanova/Wijsbroek is an expert in the field of sustainable development at international level. She has experience in teaching at the Jules Verne University in Amiens, but also as a senior manager in the private sector in France and Bulgaria.
Her professional expertise lies in the field of equality and diversity with the development of various tools and publications in France. She also has management experience as director of a business club in France, which allowed her to work in partnership with many companies.
As an expert in sustainable development, she was able to participate in the elaboration of various reports, in particular with the International Organisation of the Francophonie, but also of reports carried by civil society initiatives at the international level. She is the author of the first "White Paper on the Circular Economy and Sustainable Development in the Balkans". She has also created training programmes in the field of ecological transition in partnership with European universities.