COLOGNE, Germany, April 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- TUV Rheinland, a global leader in independent technical services, has marked a significant development in its sustainability services offering with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA). This development is an important milestone in TUV 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 TUV Rheinland 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 partnership, TUV Rheinland provides solutions-centric environmental and social sustainability services to drive changes in their businesses," said Mr. Holger Kunz, Executive Vice President, Products, TUV Rheinland.
Under the terms of the MoU, TUV Rheinland will work in collaboration with GECA's existing IAF accredited auditors as a qualified conformity assessment body (CAB) conducting on-site audits for GECA's certification scheme. This MOU will also include joint development of the common core criteria for the development and sharing of standards for products and services certified in accordance to the rules set out for Type 1 ecolabelling members, recognized by the Global Ecolabelling Network Internationally Coordinated Ecolabelling System (GENICES) scheme.
"This is a significant development in the evolution of GECA and it will definitely increase the momentum behind eco-labelling 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 on how best to stimulate sustainable public procurement through eco-labels," said Kate Harris, Chief Executive Officer of GECA.
"We work with leading global companies to overcome sustainability challenges by building knowledge, implementing tools and ensuring credibility to engage stakeholders effectively. With GECA in Australia and other MRA partners around the world, we are committed to substantially extending the reach and scope of environmental labelling services such as the TUV Rheinland Green Product Mark," said Mr Kunz.
Together, TUV Rheinland and GECA plan to carry out joint scientific and industrial research projects on international, German and Australian standards development practices.
"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.
TUV Rheinland has always taken a 100% client-focused approach to solutions. Its experts and advisers lower the hurdles that customers face and make it easier for them to grow and profit sustainably. It has developed a variety of green solutions to help organisations reach their sustainable development goals.
TUV Rheinland Green Solutions include:
Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA)
Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) runs Australia's only independent, not-for-profit, multi-sector ecolabelling program and is the only Australian member of the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN). It develops standards against which products can be independently audited by GECA's JAS-ANZ accredited conformity assessment bodies (CABs). Its standards are developed following ISO 14024 principles for global best practice in ecolabelling.
TUV Rheinland
TUV 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 EUR1.9 billion. The independent experts stand for quality and safety for people, technology and the environment in nearly all industrial sectors and areas of life. TUV 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, TUV Rheinland has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact to promote sustainability and combat corruption. Website: www.tuv.com
