Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global technical services company, TÜV Rheinland, as part of a joint commitment to improve sustainable products and services offerings worldwide.
Under the terms of the MoU, TÜV Rheinland will work in collaboration with GECA’s existing JAS-ANZ accredited auditors as a qualified conformity assessment body (CAB) conducting on-site audits for GECA’s certification scheme.
This MoU will also involve jointly developing common core criteria for the development and sharing of standards for products and services certified according to the rules set out for Type 1 ecolabelling members recognized by the Global Ecolabelling Network Internationally Coordinated Ecolabelling System (GENICES) scheme.
“This collaboration will definitely increase the momentum behind ecolabelling in Australia and, by extension, around the world. We will do this through jointly organizing and participating in workshops, seminars, and other business promotion activities and research around how to best stimulate sustainable public procurement through ecolabels,” said Kate Harris, Chief Executive Officer of GECA.
“Not only will we drive demand for sustainable procurement globally, we will also strengthen the links between Australian and international markets for credible, trustworthy ecolabelled products and services. We will make it even easier for people to access those products and services, and to be confident they are making a better choice,” said Ms Harris.
Together, TÜV Rheinland and GECA plan to jointly carry out scientific and industrial research projects on international, German and Australian standards development practices.
The development forms part of TÜV Rheinland’s strategy of creating a global network of Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) partners to enable the global market access of products certified by environmental labels such as the “Green Product Mark.”
“Today, companies in all industries need to consider their ecological and social footprint to remain successful in the market. Consumers want confidence that the products and services they purchase reflect their own values. With this MoU with GECA and other actions we are planning, TÜV Rheinland provides solutions-centric environmental and social sustainability services to help people make change happen in their businesses,” said Mr Holger Kunz, Executive Vice President, Products, TÜV Rheinland.
As Australia’s most trusted mission led ecolabel since 2000, GECA is committed to driving solutions for sustainable consumption and production. Its mission, determined by its core values of integrity, independence and impact, drives it to work with people around the world for positive outcomes for people and planet. GECA achieves these aims through its ecolabelling scheme, standards development and advisory services, benefiting industry, government and global communities.
TÜV Rheinland
TÜV Rheinland is a global leader in independent inspection services, founded 145 years ago. The group employs 19,700 people around the globe. Annual revenue is more than €1.9 billion. The independent experts stand for quality and safety for people, technology and the environment in nearly all industrial sectors and areas of life. TÜV Rheinland inspects technical equipment, products and services, and oversees projects, processes and information security for companies. Its experts train people in a wide range of careers and industries. To this end, the company operates a global network of approved labs and testing and education centers. Since 2006, TÜV Rheinland has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact to promote sustainability and combat corruption. Website: www.tuv.com
