HARMONITOR: improving clarity on sustainability certification schemes in Europe
Sustainability certification schemes and labels have many advantages over national or regional laws and regulations. They can be applied to assess and steer toward sustainability along (global) value chains, be designed for specific commodities, be more flexible than public regulation, and complement it. The HARMONITOR project focuses on improving the effectiveness of certification schemes and labels in different sectors of the EU Bioeconomy and strengthening their use as a co-regulation instrument.
Practical and robust certification schemes and labels can set higher sustainability standards within and beyond EU borders. HARMONITOR aims to promote and contribute to better quality and more trustable certification schemes and labels available in the market.
The HARMONITOR project is Horizon Europe's Coordination and Support Action (CSA) contributing to establishing circular bio-based systems that focus on reversing climate change, restoring biodiversity and protecting air, soil and water quality along the supply chain of biological resources and industrial value chains.
The HARMONITOR project is being implemented by a consortium of nine partners from five EU Member States. The project is coordinated by SQ Consult B.V. and executedin collaboration with DBFZ German Biomass Research Center, Utrecht University, Radboud University, SQ Consult, Biomass Technology Group, Rina, agroVet, Global Risk Assessment Services, and Preferred by Nature.
The specific objectives of the HARMONITOR project are:
- To establish a review platform to capture the dynamic development of certification schemes and labels. Encourage their harmonisation and continuous improvement by exchanging information and promoting best practices. Also, to contribute to developing new criteria and indicators for preparing industrial standards.
- To provide quantitative, transparent data on bio-based value chains through analysis and dissemination of trade flows of biological resources, bio-based materials and products (certified and non-certified), and quantification of direct and indirect costs and benefits of certification.
- To review and compare performance requirements (criteria and indicators) and assurance and governance systems to ensure comprehensive sustainability coverage of international and EU certification schemes and labels for bio-based systems.
- To develop and apply a monitoring system on the effectiveness and robustness of bio-based certification schemes and labels.
- To improve the understanding of the opportunities and limitations of using certification schemes and labels as a co-regulation instrument for the future development of the EU bio-economy policy framework.
Benchmarking the bio-based value chains
Preferred by Nature joined as a partner to assist in creating a detailed approach by analysing bio-based value chains to provide insights into the bio-based product certification schemes and their environmental and social impacts. This analysis is vital for understanding the full spectrum of sustainability. In addition, HARMONITOR conducts comprehensive reviews of the performance requirements and governance systems of existing certification schemes to ensure their effectiveness and trustworthiness.
A particularly innovative aspect of HARMONITOR is its potential to serve as a co-regulation tool within the EU's bioeconomy policy framework. This approach could significantly change the interaction between industries and policy, possibly setting new benchmarks for sustainability across various sectors.
The project will also establish and test a participative review platform concept that allows certification schemes and labels to find commonalities and cooperation when operating in bio-based value chains within and across EU borders. EU policymakers will also be invited to use and support the concept platform.
The HARMONITOR project aims to achieve the following outcomes:
- Enhanced transparency and traceability of environmental impacts along value chains and in business-to-business (B2B) trade and communications.
- Higher levels of effectiveness and robustness of CSLs through systematic monitoring.
- Increased awareness of trade flows and their impacts.
- Possible use of CSLs as a co-regulation instrument in the EU Bioeconomy policy framework.
The HARMONITOR project has joined forces with STAR4BBS and SUSTCERT4BIOBASED. All three projects are working together in the BiobasedCert cluster to ensure alignment of project activities and increased impact.
Project Details:
Title
International and EU sustainability certification schemes for bio-based systems
Julie Thirsgaard Hansen
Together we are stronger
HARMONITOR: improving clarity on sustainability certification schemes in Europe
Sustainability certification schemes and labels have many advantages over national or regional laws and regulations. They can be a...