A Commercial Look into Sustainability Compliance

1. What trends do you see in sustainability standards that businesses are most eager to adopt?

The standard that organisations are most eager to adopt in my opinion is ISO 14064-1. This is primarily due to the growing demand for organisations to quantify and report their emissions, along with having a reduction plan in place.

As companies implement ISO 14064-1, they are required to assess emissions across their entire supply chain, and through tools like supplier questionnaires, the organisations are increasingly being asked to provide this information. The adoption of such standards is often driven by external requirements and industry demands. 

Another standard gaining traction is PAS 2080, largely due to National Highways' push for industry-wide adoption of PAS 2080 carbon management standards by the end of 2025. This initiative is aimed at reducing emissions within the construction buildings and infrastructure sector.

2. How does your team support clients in navigating sustainability standards?

We believe the process begins with an open conversation. Given the pressures from formal procurement processes, supply chain demands, and government-set targets for net-zero, navigating these challenges can often feel overwhelming. Our goal is to understand your key priorities and driving factors so we can assist you in selecting the standard best suited to your business. 

The simplest way to initiate this process is to reach out to us. We can schedule an initial discussion to help you identify the most relevant standards for your business and provide the necessary services to achieve certification or verification. 

We also have a range of sustainability training courses we have designed to support you on this journey. NQA offer virtual, public and in-house training options to suit all learning styles and needs. These training courses can support the first step towards achieving and maintaining verification for your organisation’s sustainability strategy.  

3. What types of businesses or sectors are showing the most interest in obtaining sustainability certifications, and why do you think that is?

The sectors showing the greatest interest in obtaining sustainability verification and certification include construction, healthcare, hospitality, utilities, manufacturing, and any organisation serving public sector clients. 

In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift, with larger and more corporate organisations increasingly seeking to demonstrate their alignment with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) objectives, emphasising their commitment to a sustainable and responsible future. 

More recently, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have also faced growing demand to showcase their sustainability efforts, driven by supply chain requirements (e.g., supplier questionnaires) or the need to meet contract stipulations in certain industries.

4. Are there any initial barriers clients are facing and how are they overcoming them?

There is often uncertainty regarding where to begin when addressing sustainability requirements. Organisations, whether acting as suppliers, buyers, or both, are faced with varying demands and commitments, and there are multiple approaches to meeting or demonstrating compliance with these expectations. 

Particularly in tender processes, there is currently a lack of consistency in the questions related to social value. These questions may encompass a mix of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors or may be predominantly focused on specific areas, such as Social Impact or Community Engagement.

My recommendation is to first define your organisation’s priorities and goals. A useful starting point would be to review the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and identify those that are most relevant to your organisation and industry.

We offer a broad range of standards that can assist in meeting overall ESG objectives and further demonstrate your commitment. Additionally, we provide various training courses and can connect you with experienced consultants to support the successful implementation of these standards. 

5. What role do you believe certification bodies play in driving sustainability improvements across industries?

As a Certification and Verification Body, we play a pivotal role in driving sustainability improvements across industries by offering independent third-party verification and certification audits. The impartiality of these audits fosters trust and ensures the integrity of the data we verify, as well as the requirements we assess against. This approach guarantees that decisions are based solely on objective evidence of conformity, without any influence from external interests. 

We are committed to upholding the integrity of standards and the rigor of the certification process. As part of this commitment, we seek accreditation for our services wherever possible, such as UKAS accreditation for ISO 14064-1, PAS 2060 and ISO 14068-1.

In cases where a scheme is not accredited, we still apply the same level of rigor, processes, competence requirements, and impartiality as if the scheme were accredited.

Find out what sustainability standard suits you best here.



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