Certified Sustainable Economics

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Certified Sustainable Economics (CSE) is a seal of approval for companies with certified sustainable business practice that follow the model of sustainable business . The CSE seal is awarded after checking ethical, ecological, social and economic sustainability criteria and indicators . The quality seal serves as product identification and may be used as a brand for goods and services by certified companies. The certification by CSE requires the analysis of the entire company based on established criteria from the standard. The CSE mark has been awarded since 2012; testing and certification is carried out by control bodies that work in accordance with ISO 17065.

Classification in the German sustainability strategy

In the German sustainability strategy , management certification is assigned to indicator 12. The wording of the goal for sustainable development is: "Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns" . In it the government demands the promotion of credible and ambitious environmental and social seals. The goal includes the implementation of sustainable consumption, sustainable production and sustainable procurement. On the basis of suitable, strict sustainability indicators for companies, the CSE standard should correspond to a model for corporate sustainability and accordingly identify sustainable products from sustainable economic players.

Classification in sustainability reporting

The standard is one of many management instruments to map the complexity of sustainability in organizations to the outside world. Various structures for sustainability reporting (e.g. GRI , DNK , public welfare balance ) fulfill a reporting function, i. H. the company can use a reporting structure to record and map its sustainability. With the minimum criteria that must be met by the company, CSE strives for a definition of sustainability that serves as a barrier to entry. At this point, the standard leaves the framework of pure sustainability reporting. Sustainability reporting is carried out with the help of the auditor's report from the audit , and also by means of the seal of approval on the product at the point of sale . In addition to its function as a seal of quality and sustainability report, CSE is also a certification . This means that compliance with the sustainability criteria is checked by an accredited certification or control body.

Sustainability understanding of the standard

The sustainability model in the CSE standard includes at least the three dimensions of ecology, economy and social issues, which are also recorded in the standard. The direct focus is on the systemic management level, which is largely mapped in the standard by ISO 14001: 2015 .

Differentiation from product certification

Seals on products refer i. d. Usually on special material product properties (e.g. natural materials, ecological raw materials or vegan quality). Social criteria of a product are also sealed (e.g. manufacturing conditions and / or supply chain). The quality of corporate management, the corporate vision and the entire self-image of the company cannot de facto be captured by product certification. In addition to the ecological and social aspects prescribed in the standard, the CSE standard also checks ethical corporate aspects and commercial criteria. It calls for continuous sustainability management and the fulfillment of the minimum criteria. Based on this understanding, CSE is a company certification or management certification for sustainability.

Structure of the CSE standard

The three components “minimum requirements”, “company-specific sustainability goals” and “sustainability priorities” represent the systematics of the CSE standard. The fulfillment of the minimum requirements covers all sustainability areas (ecology, social affairs, economy) as well as the management level. The ISO standard 14001: 2015 is one of the minimum requirements and ensures valid environmental management. Further requirements are defined requirements for the implementation of sustainability (e.g. production in accordance with the EU Eco Regulation and credible product standards, use of green electricity, ethical finance, etc.) As a continuation of the minimum requirements, at least three company-specific sustainability goals and the period for achieving them of the goals agreed. As a rule, the goals should be achieved within a period of 3 to 5 years. In addition to meeting the minimum requirements, setting the goals is a prerequisite for certification. If a goal is achieved, a new goal and the time of achievement are set.

The focus on sustainability consists of comprehensive topics that a company can voluntarily devote to (e.g. blue economy , common good economy , climate neutrality, etc.). Under certain circumstances, these can be specially marked at the company's request

Award procedure

The CSE seal is awarded by the owner of the standard (GfaW - Society for Applied Business Ethics), control and certification by ISO 17065 accredited certification bodies. Compliance with the minimum requirements, target achievement and new target agreements are then checked in annual repeat audits using indicators.

criticism

  • The consumer platform label-online.de rates CSE as particularly recommendable, "which makes a significant contribution to social, ecological and economic improvements in production processes for detergents and cleaning agents as well as cosmetics. It can be found on products and as a company standard."
  • According to Ökotest, greenwashing is also carried out with the CSE seal . The natural cosmetics manufacturer Börlind has acquired the CSE seal and uses it to advertise its products, although according to the CSE standard only 75% of the products traded have to be certified according to an ecological standard of the product category.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Recognize real sustainability: CSE seal (Certified Sustainable Economics). May 9, 2019, accessed September 16, 2019 .
  2. ↑ Directory of organic and fair trade quality seals most used in Germany. In: www.agenda21-hennef.de/. Retrieved September 16, 2019 .
  3. ↑ Sustainability Seal CSE publishes brochure "Pioneers of Sustainability". Retrieved September 16, 2019 .
  4. ↑ 2005-2019 Aachen Foundation Kathy Beys: Lexicon of Sustainability | Definitions | Three pillars model. November 18, 2015, accessed on September 16, 2019 (German).
  5. ↑ CSE Certified Sustainable Economics | LABEL-ONLINE - The portal with information and reviews on labels in Germany. Retrieved September 16, 2019 .
  6. ↑ Natural cosmetics are not always what they seem. Retrieved September 16, 2019 (German).

Web links

References

  • Elfriede Dambacher: Natural cosmetics: what's inside? How do I recognize quality? How do I find the product that suits me? 1st edition, FA Herbig Verlagsbuchhandlung GmbH, 2015, ISBN 978-3-7766-2771-8