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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Workshop Agenda." National Research Council. 2010. Certifiably Sustainable?: The Role of Third-Party Certification Systems: Report of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12805.
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Appendix A
Workshop Agenda

Workshop on Certification of Sustainable Products and Services

January 19-21, 2009


Location:

Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center, National Academy of Sciences

100 Academy Dr.

Irvine, California

*All times are PST*


Workshop Objectives:

  • Identify strengths and weaknesses of certification as an approach to encouraging sustainable consumption

  • Identify problem-driven research topics which might be taken up by academia and the analytical community

  • Determine whether or not there is an opportunity for a traditional, National Research Council (NRC) consensus study to articulate guiding principles for scientifically reliable certification systems

  • Highlight what is needed from the various institutional actors to foster improvement in certification systems (i.e., governments and regulatory bodies, businesses, NGOs, research organizations, public-private partnerships, and the academic community)

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Workshop Agenda." National Research Council. 2010. Certifiably Sustainable?: The Role of Third-Party Certification Systems: Report of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12805.
×

Monday, January 19, 2009

9:00 am

General welcome and introductions

[Harold Schmitz and Leslie Carothers]

9:30 am

Presentation on Certification’s growth, opportunities, and limitations

Ben Cashore, Yale University

10:00 am

Questions and discussion

10:30 am

Break

11:00 am

Plenary discussion: Certification’s Place in the Toolbelt

[Leslie Carothers]

The use of product certification and labeling is growing as an alternative or supplement to state regulation or other voluntary approaches to achieve sustainability. Are there certain sectors, or situations, in which certification might be the most desirable approach? How does certification help or hinder complementary approaches to reducing adverse social and environmental impacts? Lead discussants:

  • Peter Vandergeest, York University

  • Bob Stephens, Cal/EPA (retired)

12:30 pm

Lunch

1:30 pm

Plenary discussion: Surveying the Landscape of Certification Schemes

[Pam Matson]

The success of some certification schemes is contributing to a proliferation of claims, both in new sectors and as competitors to existing frameworks. How are these standards typically developed and implemented? What share of the market do certified products represent? Are there sectors which have been slow to adopt standards? Lead discussants:

  • Tensie Whelan, Rainforest Alliance

  • Ruth Norris, Resources Legacy Fund

  • Patrick Mallet, ISEAL Alliance

3:00 pm

Break

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Workshop Agenda." National Research Council. 2010. Certifiably Sustainable?: The Role of Third-Party Certification Systems: Report of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12805.
×

3:30 pm

Plenary discussion: What Makes a Standard Credible?

[Harold Schmitz]

Consumers and industries are increasingly concerned with “green noise” in the marketplace. While these claims are meant to convey additional information related to environmental or social impacts, they can also be misleading, contradictory, or downright false. Lead discussants:

  • Urvashi Rangan, Consumers Union

  • Anne Caldas, ANSI [telephone]

  • Alison Kinn Bennett, EPA

5:00 pm

ADJOURN FOR DAY

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

10:00 am

Plenary discussion: Drivers, Tipping Points, and Ratchets

[Kai Lee]

What has been the experience of suppliers and retailers in addressing the demand for certified sustainable products? What mechanisms exist for a standard to improve, and what drives this improvement? What seems to enable a standard to move beyond a niche market? Lead discussants:

• Dave Long, SC Johnson (retired)

• Suzanne Lindsay, PetSmart

• Kevin Rabinovitch, MARS

12:00 pm

Lunch

1:15 pm

Plenary discussion: Obstacles, Impacts, and Unintended Consequences

[Pam Matson]

What have been some of the primary challenges associated with certification (either the process, or marketing the product/service)? What is known about the impacts (to the market, to producing communities, to the environment)? Lead discussants:

• Jason Clay, WWF

• Jodie Keane, Overseas Development Institute

• Papa Gora Ndiaye, Enda Diapol

3:00 pm

Break

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Workshop Agenda." National Research Council. 2010. Certifiably Sustainable?: The Role of Third-Party Certification Systems: Report of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12805.
×

3:30 pm

Plenary discussion: Supply Chains and Lifecycle Analyses

[Dick Jackson]

Certification often refers to production processes, but alternative efforts are emerging which seek to foster improvement throughout the lifecycle of products. Such approaches can be desirable for retailers, and they might also aid in incorporating other social and health concerns, but what has been the experience with addressing supply chain and lifecycle issues? Lead discussants:

  • Tim Smith, University of Minnesota

  • Paul Firth, Green Standard

  • Jonathan Kaplan, NRDC

  • Chet Chaffee, Scientific Certification Systems

5:00 pm

ADJOURN FOR DAY

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

9:00 am

Roundtable discussions: Enhancing the Effectiveness of Certification as a Tool

[Leslie Carothers and Harold Schmitz]

Where might science and technology help enhance desirable outcomes? What social science research is needed, or could lead to further improvement? What sustainability issues on the horizon might lend themselves to certification schemes?

10:30 am

BREAK

11:00 am

Roundtable discussions: What Would a Credible Sustainable Certification Scheme Look Like?

Participants will discuss how existing standards and schemes might be improved, and how enhanced or new standards could aid a transition to sustainability. Participants will reflect on the earlier discussions at the workshop, and will consider not only standards themselves, but the implementation of these standards, and their impacts on markets, producer communities, consumers, and the environment.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Workshop Agenda." National Research Council. 2010. Certifiably Sustainable?: The Role of Third-Party Certification Systems: Report of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12805.
×
Page 121
Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Workshop Agenda." National Research Council. 2010. Certifiably Sustainable?: The Role of Third-Party Certification Systems: Report of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12805.
×
Page 122
Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Workshop Agenda." National Research Council. 2010. Certifiably Sustainable?: The Role of Third-Party Certification Systems: Report of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12805.
×
Page 123
Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Workshop Agenda." National Research Council. 2010. Certifiably Sustainable?: The Role of Third-Party Certification Systems: Report of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12805.
×
Page 124
Next: Appendix B: Workshop Participants »
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Consumption of goods and services represents a growing share of global economic activity. In the United States, consumption accounts for more than two-thirds of gross domestic product. This trend of increasing consumption has brought with it negative consequences for the environment and human well-being. Global demand for energy, food, and all manner of goods is on the rise, putting strains on the natural and human capital required to produce them. Extractive industries and production processes are prominent causes of species endangerment. Modern economies are underpinned by substantial energy consumption, a primary contributor to the current climate crisis. Expanding international trade has led to many economic opportunities, but has also contributed to unfair labor practices and wealth disparities.

While certain processes have improved or become more efficient, and certain practices have been outlawed or amended, the sheer scale of global consumption and its attendant impacts continue to be major challenges we face in the transition to sustainability. Third-party certification systems have emerged over the last 15 years as a tool with some promise. There has been anecdotal evidence of success, but to date the overall impact of certified goods and services has been small. Moreover, definitions of sustainable vary across sectors and markets, and rigorous assessments of these programs have been few and far between.

In order to take a step in learning from this field of practice, the National Academies' Science and Technology for Sustainability Program held a workshop to illuminate the decision making process of those who purchase and produce certified goods and services. It was also intended to help clarify the scope and limitations of the scientific knowledge that might contribute to the economic success of certified products. The workshop, summarized in this volume, involved presentations and discussions with approximately 40 invited experts from academia, business, government, and nongovernmental organizations.

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