With increasing global market pressures to create a commercial edge, sustainability is fast becoming the key concept that shapes a company’s short-term prospects and overall long-term success. Consumers are demanding greater transparency in the sustainability claims of the products they buy, and SGS, with its sustainability service program, is at the forefront of this development.
Dr. G. Sudesh Kumar, Director, Consumer Testing Services, SGS India, spoke of the need to introduce sustainability initiatives to the Indian marketplace, initiatives which SGS has successfully established in both Europe and China over the last four years.
“There are very few certification companies like ours which are working towards achieving sustainability, and we are the first ones operating in India to come up with these new services. Though there is a basic understanding of the concept of sustainability, people are a little hesitant to invest in such projects. But we are working towards spreading the awareness of what the services are and how they are beneficial for long-term growth.”
SGS measures sustainability in business through a three core-area classification assessment. This assessment determines the environmental impact of a product during its entire life cycle; the eco-design, with particular focus towards the eco-packaging in respect of sustainability; and the carbon footprint of a product, for which SGS has developed its own carbon footprint mark, supported by an extensive and dedicated carbon footprint consulting service.
The SGS Product Carbon Footprint Marks (PCF Marks) have helped companies develop a greener profile by providing clients with a scientific standard based around the environmental impact of their product with respect to international standards. As SGS’ Charles Ly Wa Hoi explains, “sustainability today is not a trend; it helps organizations to improve their efficiency, attain positive cost cutting and better use of available resources.”
The means to determine carbon foot printing can help improve a company’s overall services and demonstrate an environmental commitment to its clients.
Charles Ly Wa Hoi adds: “People and companies in India are constantly talking about sustainability, but there is still confusion amongst the industry about how to go about it, and this is where our role is important.”
Once carbon footprints have been evaluated, SGS provides three different carbon footprint marks. With transparency a key principle, the first step a business can take is to demonstrate its social responsibility by displaying the footprint of any given product through the Product Carbon Footprint Mark. With this environmental commitment established, a further mark can be sought, the Product Carbon Reduction Mark, which conveys to clients a continuing commitment, on behalf of that business, to reducing its impact on the climate.
The final carbon footprint mark, the Product Carbon Neutral Mark, represents the absolute limit to which a particular business has sought to eliminate all unnecessary carbon emissions. Charles Ly Wa Hoi’s belief is that Indian companies can sustain business in the long run if they invest in sustainable initiatives today.
SGS’ comprehensive range of sustainability services covers green house gas emission reduction, environmental management systems, carbon footprint, energy and water audits, indoor environmental quality, corporate sustainability reporting and carbon labeling.
SGS offers an extensive and dedicated carbon footprint consulting service. It enables you to calculate your footprint and provides the data needed to improve your service and demonstrate environmental commitment to clients.