Aligning with the EUDR: Preferred by Nature's Sustainability Framework now open for consultation
Share your thoughts to help shape the future of sustainability practices! Preferred by Nature is inviting interested stakeholders to provide feedback on the revised version of the Sustainability Framework through a public consultation launching today.
Based on the valuable feedback received during the last consultation, we have revised and updated our Sustainability Framework to version 1.3. Our goal is to ensure that the Framework covers relevant sustainability issues throughout supply chain, including child labour, pesticides, deforestation, climate change and gender equality.
The Framework has been developed with inspiration from existing sustainability schemes and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We are excited to announce that this new version has also been comprehensively aligned with the latest text of the EU Deforestation Regulation* adopted by the European Parliament on 19 April 2023. Note that it will be revised again, if necessary, to align with the final version of the regulation once this is published in the official journal of the European Union.
Preferred by Nature's Sustainability Framework can be applied to various commodities and sectors. It can be used in all stages of the supply chain; from farm or forest, through manufacturing, to the end user. We use a risk-based approach that enables an effective approach to on-site evaluation and due diligence systems. We also recognise the assurance provided by other schemes – allowing a smooth integration of different schemes for different types of commodities into one sustainability objective.
Organisations that meet all applicable requirements will be able to make related off-product and promotional claims about compliance with the Sustainability Framework. Additionally, if their product’s carbon footprint is reduced and residual emissions compensated for, the organisation will also earn the right to use the Preferred by Nature on-product seal – taking their brand to the next level.
We value stakeholder feedback as it is key to making the Sustainability Framework effective. You can download a summary of the changes made to this version here.
If you would like to access the comprehensive overview of all the changes from the Sustainability Framework version 1.2 to version 1.3, please click here.
To participate in the public consultation and share your thoughts and ideas on the Sustainability Framework, please:
- download the Sustainability Framework Standard V1.3 here,
- access the Sustainability Framework Terms and Definitions V1.4 here, and
- respond to our online survey here.
Note: EUDR-specific questions may be found at the end of our online survey.
The deadline for the public consultation will close on 25 June 2023.
Please note that we will be hosting a webinar on 16 May 2023, from 13.00-14.00 CET. To register, click here.
* Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the making available on the Union market as well as export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010. More information here.
Note: Preferred by Nature strives for a transparent and multi-stakeholder-based approach to developing the Sustainability Framework. We welcome your suggestions for improvement. We also strive to meet ISEAL requirements for standard development in this work and will be following the NEPCon Procedure for the Development and Revision of Standards. Please see the Terms of Reference for the Sustainability Framework here.
For more information, please contact:
