How purchasing sustainable certified products helps save the environment
When buying products, consumers often check the label for its nutritional value. But nowadays, it's not the only information customers are looking for. They are also looking for certifications.
Consumers are now checking for product certifications
Source: Pexels
As more people gain awareness and understanding of the important role that sustainability plays in saving the environment, more consumers now check for information on whether the items that they're buying are environment-friendly, or whether the companies manufacturing them implement sustainable business practices.
Therefore, aside from the nutritional value and price, being eco-friendly is now among the top considerations of consumers when purchasing products or availing of services.
Why it's important to get products and services certified
Source: WSO
Importance of getting products and services certified
Practicing sustainable farming and fishing is a great step towards addressing environmental problems.
However, companies can further promote sustainability by letting their consumers know that they employ sustainable business practices.
And the best way to do this is by having a logo or seal of approval, which proves that their products are certified eco-friendly.
The World Sustainability Organization (WSO), a group based in Italy and operating worldwide, advocates for the conservation of ecosystems.
And they have developed two international certification schemes: Friend of the Earth and Friend of the Sea.
Mr. Paolo Bray, founder and director of WSO, emphasized the importance of certifications, in a statement given to GMANetwork.com.
Mr. Bray said, “The Philippines is a wonderful country, but with very fragile habitats and limited availability of certain resources. It is thus of utmost importance that both companies and consumers consider the environment and social accountability behind the products and raw materials they handle and purchase.
“It is essential for sustainability to become a 'must' in the future, for both consumers and companies.”
Friend of the Earth logo
Source: Friend of the Earth
Friend of the Earth
As mentioned earlier, one of the certification schemes of WSO is the Friend of the Earth.
Having the Friend of the Earth logo on a product guarantees that the company producing the commodity safeguards the ecosystem, and protects the wild fauna and flora, as well as soil and water resources.
The Friend of the Earth logo also signifies that the company behind the product prohibits the use of hazardous substances, protects the animals kept for farming and abides to the legal limit, practices responsible waste and energy management, and holds social accountability of its whole production chain.
The Friend of the Earth logo is also intended for other businesses and industries that work closely with farms and/or are utilizing sustainable practices in their operations in general.
There are currently five variations of the Friend of the Earth logos:
- Sustainable farming
- Sustainable agriculture
- Sustainable fashion
- Smart working company
- Sustainable Sport
Friend of the Sea logo
Source: Friend of the Sea
Friend of the Sea
Another certification scheme of WSO is the Friend of the Sea. Having its logo certifies that the product you are buying originated from non-overexploited fish resources and were obtained through fishing methods that are not harmful to the seabed.
Companies of products that have the Friend of the Sea certification are proven to respect the environment in their aquaculture facilities, complies with fishing regulations, practices responsible waste and energy management, and holds social accountability for its whole production chain.
And just like the Friend of the Earth logo, the Friend of the Sea certification can also be given to other businesses and industries, which contribute to marine conservation.
There are currently nine variations of the Friend of the Sea certifications:
- Sustainable fisheries and fleets
- Sustainable aquaculture
- Sustainable nutraceutical products (Omega-3 Oil and UV Cream)
- Sustainable shipping (Shipping and Cruise Lines)
- Sustainable dolphin and whale watching
- Sustainable aquaria
- Sustainable restaurants
- Sustainable beach
- Sustainable salt
Products with Friend of the Sea certifications
Source: Friend of the Sea
How to get certified
The first step to getting certified is getting in touch with Friend of the Sea and Friend of the Earth through the e-mail address provided on their respective websites.
Interested companies would also have to fill out a preliminary information questionnaire, in order to receive a quotation for the audit and for royalties of the logo use.
Once deemed qualified, the company will now proceed to the next step in the certification process which is the Audit and Licensing Agreement.
For more info on the criteria, and for queries about the application process, visit the official website of WSO, or the individual websites of Friend of the Earth and Friend of the Sea.
Everyone wins when practicing sustainability
Source: Friend of the Sea
Benefits of certifications
Product certification not only benefits the businesses that avail of it, but more importantly, it also helps consumers who genuinely support sustainability find the right products and services.
And what's the ultimate benefit of it? Everyone wins. Mother Earth benefits when companies employ sustainable businesses practices; companies profit when consumers patronize sustainable certified products and services; and consumers who help save the environment through their wise purchases will also reap the long-term benefits of Mother Earth healing through sustainability.
So, for companies out there, you should definitely consider getting your products and services certified.
And for consumers who want to do their part in saving Mother Earth, on your next grocery run, make sure to choose sustainable certified products.
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