Annex 3: Examples to Illustrate Components of New Zealand's Eco-Verification System
Current arrangements for eco-verification are illustrated in the sections that follow using the structure shown in Figure 1 (the numbers in the section headings below cross reference to that figure).
(1) Standards
Eco-verification is anchored both by formal environmental standards for products and services ("product standards" for goods and services and "management standards" for the way in which firms operate) and by a range of less formal codes of practice and accords. These standards and codes are developed, set and maintained by many different public- and private-sector organisations. Examples include:
- management standards for environmental performance by firms which are set by the International Standards Organisation (e.g. the ISO 14064 standard provides methods for quantifying, reporting and verifying greenhouse gas emissions and removal processes);
- eco-labels for products and processes which are tied to "standards" ranging in quality from what are essentially promotional claims (e.g. "environmentally friendly", "sustainable") to the fully reputable and traceable (e.g. the Environmental Choice eco-label is anchored in international and NZ standards and regulations);
- voluntary industry standards and codes of practice (e.g. the Packaging Accord developed by the Packaging Council of NZ and the Ministry for the Environment provides a voluntary code of practice aimed at encouraging originators of packaging to take more responsibility for the complete lifecycle of materials used);
- voluntary environmental management standards for primary producers (e.g. Demeter is a world-wide standard for food production under biodynamic methods);
- voluntary supply-chain standards and codes of practice (e.g. the Forestry Stewardship Council certifies that timber and timber products come from sustainably managed forests);
- proprietary standards and codes of practice which are being used increasingly by large overseas retailers (e.g. Tesco sets environmental standards for many of the products it buys);
- compulsory standards and codes of practice with environmental and sustainability elements that are put in place by local and regional councils under the Local Government and Resource Management Acts ; and
- mandatory national standards (e.g. minimum energy efficiency standards for products jointly set by Standards NZ and Standards Australia and administered in New Zealand by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority under its Act) and codes of practice (e.g. building codes under the Building Act).
(2) Practical tools
Measurement methods and measurement science underpins eco-standards. Firms also need different sorts of protocols, technologies and processes in order to meet these standards. Examples of these tools include:
- a guide developed by the Sustainable Business Network and the Ministry for the Environment to help businesses adopt practices that will make a positive difference for the environment and society, while at the same time improving their overall business performance;
- a stream-health monitoring kit developed by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research to enable non-scientists to collect consistent, scientifically valid information from small rural streams and to use that information to make assessments of stream health;
- commercial services provided by Landcare Research for calculating carbon footprints, providing advice on ways to reduce emissions and purchasing carbon offsets; and
- the minimum energy performance guidelines under development by EECA to help firms in product design, production-line management and quality assurance.
(3) Verification or conformity assessment
Verification of performance, or assessment of conformity to standards, is required to check that product or management standards are being met. Independent organisations usually act as verifiers (i.e. not the standard setter, the certifier or the firm itself) to ensure integrity (and these organisations are usually accredited by further independent organisations – see (5) below). Examples are:
- about ten firms provide verification services for the ISO 14001 management standard; and
- Independent Verification Services Ltd verifies for Biosecurity NZ that timber packing standards are met.
(4) Certification
Processes are required for issuing certificates which firms can use to show that they are meeting standards. Examples of organisations involved include:
- the NZ Association of Certification Bodies is an umbrella organisation for organisations that are accredited to certify that ISO 14000 standards are met by firms;
- the international Marine Stewardship Council certifies that fisheries are managed sustainably;
- Agriquality NZ Ltd provides standards, guides and certification processes for organic production systems in New Zealand and is accredited by the International Organic Accreditation Scheme; and
- "Green tick" is a private-sector, internationally-based certification system for the sustainability of products and production processes (there are strong parallels with Environmental Choice NZ – see paragraph 11).
(5) Underpinning arrangements
The national standards and conformance infrastructure is underpinned by official bodies set up under various Acts. These, in turn, have links to international organisations. Key New Zealand bodies are:
- Standards NZ which develops standards for products and systems for New Zealand and jointly with its Australian counterpart and which represents New Zealand on the International Standards Organisation;
- the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand which accredits the organisations that carry out the independent audits of ISO 14000 (and other) management systems;
- International Accreditation NZ which undertakes accreditation of inspecting and testing bodies (e.g. chemical laboratories) and which is a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation; and
- the Measurement and Product Safety Service and Measurement Standards Laboratory of NZ.
(6) Scanning and updating arrangements
Scanning and updating arrangements are required so New Zealand keeps abreast of emerging international standards and best practices and with emerging needs in New Zealand. These roles are filled formally and informally by a wide range of organisations:
- MFAT, NZTE, MAF, MFish and MED all have responsibilities that relate to exports, trade, and NZ compliance and alignment with international agreements and all have roles to play in keeping NZ in touch with developing international eco-standards;
- the key NZ bodies listed in part (6) play similar roles in their individual spheres of operation;
- sector organisations and marketing bodies play significant roles in preparing firms and producers for changes in overseas standards and regulatory regimes.
(7) Networking
Networking and good information flows are essential to hold the various components of the eco-verification system together. Many organisations contribute here. Some particular examples are:
- the Food Miles Group convened by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (noted in Annex 1);
- the Ministry for the Environment's web sites and outreach programmes;
- organisations like the NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Business Network and the Natural Step which work across help many different sectors and businesses move towards sustainability; and
- the various organisations mentioned in sections (3),
Back to Top