Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

SUMMARY: SCS is working to empower companies, NGOs, institutions and government agencies around the globe meet the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more about our programs and read about these exciting efforts at www.scsglobalservices.com.

BACKGROUND: While the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) successfully encapsulate the interrelated aspects of sustainability, they are necessarily high-level principles, open to interpretation. As always, the devil is in the details. One of the keys to transforming these sustainability principles into action is the development of clear standards, or codes of practice, against which companies can measure their own performance, manage risks at the supply chain and operational levels, and identify opportunities for improvement. Third-party certification adds value to these efforts by providing a useful independent perspective to support internal decision-making and investments, clear procedures to address stakeholder issues, market credibility to support public claims based on verified performance, and market differentiation from competitors. As a sustainability-driven benefit corporation, SCS works across the natural resource, product manufacturing, green building, food and agriculture, and energy industry sectors to develop leadership standards and provide rigorous third-party auditing and certification. This cross-disciplinary work has given SCS unique insights into the challenges faced by companies in achieving their sustainability goals, as well as the latest innovations in operations and technology to overcome these challenges.

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Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Jim Knutzon Takes the Reins of SCS Global Services’ Food and Agriculture Division
Sustainable agriculture veteran Jim Knutzon has assumed oversight of SCS Global Services’ industry-leading food and agriculture services division. This division provides a wide array of third-party certification, standards development and consulting services, addressing the food safety, sustainability, and quality needs of the entire value chain, including food and fiber producers, manufacturers, handlers, retailers and consumers around the world.

Health & Healthcare

Building Health and Wellness Into Healthcare Buildings
Since the medical care system first embraced health and wellness as a core business paradigm, hospitals, healthcare workers and patients alike have reaped the benefits. Healthcare workers have fewer sick days, reduced medical expenses and greater workplace satisfaction, leading to increased employee retention.

Responsible Production & Consumption

PMA and United Fresh Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices Gains First Endorsement from Third-Party Certifier
SCS Global Services (SCS), a leading international third-party certification body and standards developer, is pleased to announce its endorsement of the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices, a joint initiative of the Produce Marketing Association and United Fresh Produce Association. The Charter establishes baseline principles for the ethical treatment of workers in the global fresh produce and floral industries.

Sustainable Development Goals

The Value Independent Certification Brings to Global Water Stewardship
Every year, World Water Week, a conference organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), brings together experts from around the world to discuss global water issues. This year’s event focused on Water, Ecosystems and Human Development, with discussions concentrating on how business, NGOs and government agencies are collaborating to address water-related challenges. During a session organized by third-party certifier SCS Global Services, water leaders shared how their water stewardship programs have advanced with the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard.

Green Infrastructure

GeoKrete® Geopolymer Awarded "Reduced Carbon Footprint" Certification
Quadex LLC, a division of the Vortex Companies recently announced that its GeoKrete® Geopolymer mortar has received Reduced Carbon Footprint Certification by SCS Global Services, an internationally recognized sustainability certification body. GeoKrete was evaluated for its lower overall carbon footprint as it relates to potential greenhouse gas emissions from raw material extraction through manufacturing, use and end-of-life.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Successes of Starbucks' Responsible Sourcing Program for Coffee
International NGO Conservation International’s new progress report on Starbuck’s C.A.F.E. Practices program for responsibly sourced coffee provides an in-depth look at the positive impact one company is having on land conservation and human dignity.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Environmental Paper Network Launches Extensive Update to Its Paper Calculator
An improved web-based Paper Calculator, launched today by the Environmental Paper Network-North America, provides users with new information and features to help them measure the impacts of their paper and reduce that impact through better choices. Paper Calculator version 4 is the most comprehensive update of this tool to be released. It delivers more expansive environmental impact categories including additional pollutants and new biodiversity and ecosystem impacts, for a total of 24 indicators in all. It provides more accurate climate change reporting and has been updated with the latest paper industry and life cycle assessment data from trusted sources. Additionally, the new calculator covers an expanded range of paper grades. Read more...

Environment

World Bee Day Deserves All the Buzz It's Getting
Honey bees and other pollinators are essential for the reproduction of more than 85% of the world' flowering plants, and much of the food we eat. As a result, these creatures are essential players in support of Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 15 (Life on Land). But they are under threat from such factors as land use changes, agriculture chemicals, large-scale monoculture and climate change

Responsible Production & Consumption

Market Forces Driving Combined Food Safety and Sustainability Initiatives
Sound food safety practices are integral to sustainable and resilient agricultural production systems, which in turn are viewed as essential to ending hunger worldwide, as discussed under the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal #2. Even so, approaching food safety and sustainability in tandem is just now becoming mainstream. Nonetheless, a recent consumer survey by SCS Global Services shows that today's shoppers already see food safety and sustainability as congruent. Read more about what's driving this convergence in SCS' latest blogpost.

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