Category: Certification

Bee certification program enhances sustainable agriculture with 3rd-party verification

Read the full story at Environment + Energy Leader.

The Pollinator Partnership is expanding its bee certification program by adding a third-party verification option designed to encourage farmers and growers to create safe habitats for bees and other essential pollinators, which will improve sustainable and regenerative agriculture.

The program is being offered in collaboration with Where Food Comes From. Silk Canada, a product from Danone, and KIND Snacks have taken a step toward sustainable almond production by beta-testing a portion of their almond volume under the Bee Friendly Farming Certified third-party verified program. Two almond suppliers in California – Harris Woolf Almonds and Treehouse Almonds – are also participating in the beta test of the program.

EPA adds nine chemicals and removes one PFAS from the Safer Chemical Ingredients List

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating the Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL), a living list of chemicals organized by functional-use class that EPA’s Safer Choice program has evaluated and determined meet Safer Choice criteria. This update is part of an effort to expand and maintain the SCIL. With this update, there are a total of 1,064 chemicals listed on the SCIL.

In this update, EPA is adding nine chemicals to the SCIL. To expand the number of chemicals and functional-use categories on the SCIL, EPA encourages manufacturers to submit their safer chemicals to EPA for review and listing on the SCIL. In support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals, the addition of chemicals to the SCIL incentivizes further innovation in safer chemistry, which can promote environmental justice, bolster resilience to the impacts of climate change, and improve water quality. Chemicals on the SCIL are among the safest for their functional use.

EPA is also changing the status for one chemical (CASRN 27619-97-2, 1-Octanesulfonic acid, 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluoro-) that has recently been identified on the SCIL as a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS). 1-Octanesulfonic acid, 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluoro- is not used in any Safer Choice-certified products. The chemical was added to the SCIL in 2012 based on the data available and the state of the Agency’s knowledge at the time. EPA has now updated the SCIL listing for this chemical to a grey square because of a growing understanding of the toxicological profiles for certain PFAS and incomplete information on the potential health and environmental effects of these substances.

EPA’s process for removing a chemical from the SCIL is to first mark the chemical with a grey square on the SCIL webpage to provide notice to chemical and product manufacturers that this chemical may no longer be acceptable for use in Safer Choice-certified products. A grey square notation on the SCIL means that the chemical may not be allowed for use in products that are candidates for the Safer Choice label, and any current Safer Choice-certified products that contain this chemical must be reformulated unless relevant health and safety data is provided to justify continuing to list this chemical on the SCIL. The data required would be determined on a case-by-case basis. In general, data useful for making such a determination would provide evidence of low concern for human health and environmental impacts. Unless information provided to EPA adequately justifies continued listing, the chemical would then be removed from the SCIL 12 months after the grey square designation.

The SCIL is a resource that can help many different stakeholders.

  • Product manufacturers use the SCIL to help make high-functioning products that contain safer ingredients. 
  • Chemical manufacturers use this list to promote the safer chemicals they manufacture.
  • Retailers use the list to help shape their sustainability programs.
  • Environmental and health advocates use the list to support their work with industry to encourage the use of the safest possible chemistry.

EPA’s Safer Choice program certifies products containing ingredients that have met the program’s rigorous human health and environmental safety criteria. The Safer Choice program allows companies to use its label on products that meet the Safer Choice Standard. The EPA website contains a complete list of Safer Choice-certified products.

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Request for Comment: AASHE STARS 3.0: Procurement & Waste

As part of the development process for the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) 3.0, AASHE is seeking public comment on a Procurement and Waste section slated for inclusion in the new version (projected release is currently fourth quarter of 2023). AASHE encourages feedback from stakeholders who may have relevant expertise or interest in participating. Public comment is open through Oct. 31.

IGA, Ratio Institute partner to offer sustainability education, certifications

Read the full story at The Shelby Report.

The Independent Grocers Alliance and Ratio Institute, an independent nonprofit dedicated to sustainable efficiencies, have partnered to offer food retailers a sustainability program. This program offers food retailers education, a nationally recognized certification program and the marketing materials needed to create awareness around their sustainability initiatives.

Behemoths and B Corps: Multinationals’ role in the stakeholder economy

Read the full story at Sustainable Brands.

Several global brands have now achieved B Corp certification, leading some to criticize certifier B Lab for abandoning its original mission: Making business a force for good. But, as advocates point out, welcoming multinationals into the B Corp family is a logical step in scaling systemic change.

Certifications proliferating on product labels

Read the full story at Food Business News.

The US Department of Agriculture’s organic seal remains prominent on many product labels, and increasingly, it is gaining company. Other certifications and sustainable promotions are emerging, gaining in sales and becoming familiar to more consumers.

Climate change: new rules for companies to stop EU-driven deforestation globally

Read the full story from the European Union.

To fight climate change and biodiversity loss globally, Environment MEPs want only deforestation-free products to be allowed on the EU market.

The Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee today adopted its position with 60 votes to 2 and 13 abstentions on the Commission proposal for a regulation on deforestation-free products to halt EU-driven global deforestation.

The new law would make it obligatory for companies to verify (so-called “due diligence”) that goods sold in the EU have not been produced on deforested or degraded land. This would assure consumers that the products they buy do not contribute to the destruction of forests outside the EU, including of irreplaceable tropical forests, and hence reduce the EU’s contribution to climate change and biodiversity loss globally.

MEPs also want companies to verify that goods are produced in accordance with human rights protected under international law and the rights of indigenous people in addition to the relevant laws and standards in the country where the products are produced.

Denmark to roll out new state-run climate label for food

Read the full story at Food Tank.

Denmark will establish a state-controlled climate label in order to help residents purchase more environmentally-friendly foods.

According to a report by the Danish Council on Climate change, the average Dane can reduce the environmental impact of their diet by 31-45 percent if they follow Denmark’s dietary guidelines. These guidelines are based on the EAT-Lancet diet—a diet designed with human and planetary health in mind—and they will inform the creation of the country’s new climate label.

In a press release, Rasmus Prehn, the Danish Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries, notes that consumers can often access information around nutrition contents, animal welfare practices, and organic certification. But it is more difficult to determine whether foods are climate friendly. For this reason, Prehn states, “Denmark must now have a state-controlled climate label.”

Carbon labels for food businesses and restaurants launched in ‘world first’

Read the full story in Food Navigator.

A company claims it is the first to make eco-labels widely available to all food businesses.

ReGrained receives certification for upcycled flour

Read the full story at Food Business News.

SuperGrain+ flour developed by ReGrained has become the first ingredient to receive the certification created by the Upcycled Food Association. The flour is derived from the byproduct of beer brewing and is rich in protein, dietary fiber and prebiotics, according to the company.