CSR Certification Programs

We have studied extensively 13 of the leading biodiversity credit schemes. Results were surprising!   The Biodiversity Footprint Intelligence Company (BioInt) (in particular Giada Lampitelli & me) and Bloom Labs (Simas Gradeckas) have spent months analyzing the inner workings biodiversity certificate schemes, their indicators & metrics. You thought you had seen it all? (and if you’re discovering our work, check out the links in comments!)   Today I’m releasing a new batch of fresh content focusing on 13 leading schemes! (and we'll present it all in a webinar in coming weeks)     📖 Before delving into the key insights, quick reminder: Biodiversity certificates go through a number of steps in their life cycle: Registration ➡ Implementation ➡ Verification ➡ Issuance ➡ Transaction ➡ Retirement   At the registration step, indicators are used to calculate the total amount of potential certificates that can be registered at the start of a project. This is what we call the “certificate calculation” step and this is the focus of today’s analysis (at the issuance step, other indicators are used to establish how many credits can actually be issued at milestones over the project lifetime).     💡 So what have we learned? 1️⃣ Standard setters have not yet made up their mind on how flexible indicators should be Half allows project developers to choose the best metric to report against an indicator, while the other half impose the metrics. 2️⃣ 62% of the schemes use an Absolute uplift measurement system, the remaining 38% use a Relative one This is a major difference. There are valid reasons to favour a "relative" uplift measurement system but overall, certificates based on such systems are worth less than those based on absolute measurement systems.   3️⃣ Close to half the schemes "cook" Condition-adjusted area "dishes", and many other include other considerations in their "recipe" 4️⃣ More than a third of the schemes do not consider time into their formula to register credits This is another major difference between schemes, even though this one is even more technical (I’ll probably post about it in the future). There is a lack of clarity from standards & methodologies on this critical aspect, this needs to improve. 5️⃣ More than half of the schemes consider Significance as a credit rating category (a "nutri-score") and do not integrate it into the credit calculation itself 6️⃣ Almost all the schemes cover both Conservation and Restoration activities     Looking forward to expanding this analysis to more schemes!     💬 What surprises you in those insights?

FINALLY after 10 years! Changes Coming to ISO 14001 – What Certified Companies Need to Know ISO has released Draft Amendment 2 to ISO 14001:2015, and the updates are far from minor. If your company is certified, it's time to pay attention. Here are some changes — and why they matters: ✅ 1. New Focus on Climate and Biodiversity Organizations must now consider environmental conditions like climate change, ecosystem health, and pollution levels in their EMS planning. ✅ 2. Compliance Language Tightened Say goodbye to vague wording. The standard now uses “meet compliance obligations,” signaling a more precise expectation. ✅ 3. Life Cycle Thinking Strengthened From raw material sourcing to end-of-life disposal, life cycle perspective must be clearly integrated into EMS decisions. ✅ 4. Transparency Gets a Boost It’s not just about documentation — it’s about making environmental information available to interested parties. ✅ 5. Risk-Based Planning Expanded Companies must now link risks and opportunities directly to external environmental changes and internal decision-making. 🟩 These revisions are still in draft — but if you want to stay ahead of the curve, now is the time to act. 🔗 Follow LRQA profile for expert updates, guidance, and transition support. #ISO14001 #EMS #Sustainability #Compliance #ISOUpdate #ClimateRisk #LRQA #ManagementSystems #LifeCycleManagement

The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) and Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) just launched the "Global Biodiversity Standard: Manual for Assessment and Best Practices,” including the 10 golden rules of #reforestation, emphasizing the dual objectives of #carbon sequestration and positive impacts on community livelihoods and native biodiversity. This will be a new certification tool and practitioners will have the opportunity to participate and receive training. In sum, the Global Biodiversity Standard is designed to provide assurance that #tree planting, habitat #restoration, and #agroforestry practices are protecting, restoring, and enhancing #biodiversity. The methodology outlined was created and refined collaboratively with a diverse group of organizations and experts. As highlighted by our strategic partner Eliane Ubalijoro, Chief Executive Officer at World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), “the methodology presented in these pages has been conceived and developed by an impressive array of organizations and individuals, including biodiversity experts, ecologists, sociologists, tree planting organisations and certification agencies in consultation with local communities. It has also been rigorously tested across more than 100 projects and land uses in multiple countries and cultures.” Invaluable input for all our five-star restoration champions here in #Brazil, such as re.green, Belterra Agroforestry, and Rioterra - and the world over. Let us all step up because natural ecosystem restoration offers a tremendous and possibly the largest-scale, most cost-effective, near-term opportunity for climate mitigation and community development! 🙏🏾🌎🌳 See full report below, or download it from the following link: https://lnkd.in/dvzbGrGF

Have You Ever Wondered How Certifications Could Boost Your Business’s Credibility and Competence? Imagine walking into a store and picking up a product that proudly displays a certification you trust. You instantly feel more confident in your choice, right? This is the power of sustainability certifications — they not only guide companies toward better practices but also reassure consumers about the claims those companies make. In today’s world, Where the triple bottom line (TBL) of social, environmental, and economic factors is increasingly important, certifications are more than just badges of honor. They’re essential tools for building business competencies and trust. Let’s break it down a bit. Not all certifications are created equal. First-party certifications are internal, kind of like giving yourself a pat on the back. Second-party ones are industry-specific, often more about boosting sales than ensuring genuine sustainability. But third-party certifications? These are the real deal. They come from independent organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council and the Marine Stewardship Council, which focus on sustainability, not industry profits. Take the Cradle to Cradle (C2C) certification, For example. It’s a gold standard in sustainability, assessing products on criteria like material health, renewable energy, and social fairness. The benefits are clear. Products with certifications like C2C aren’t just meeting standards; They’re signalling a commitment to continuous improvement and transparency. This builds trust with consumers, who are becoming more discerning every day. While there’s a cost to achieving these certifications, more businesses are realizing the value they bring. They’re investing in independent assessments to not only meet consumer demands but to genuinely improve their sustainability. And it doesn't stop there. The C2C Product Innovation Institute even offers free online courses and hosts annual competitions to encourage ongoing innovation and improvement in sustainability practices. So, How can your business step up its game with certifications? What’s the next step in building credibility and competence through sustainability? Let’s talk about it! 💬

Sustainability Learning Framework 🌍 This is another great example from Trane Technologies. It highlights how companies can embed sustainability into culture. Learning is the foundation. Building a sustainability culture requires intention. It depends on structures that develop awareness, skills, and accountability across the entire workforce. Trane’s framework takes a tiered approach. It engages experts, leaders, ambassadors, and all employees, ensuring that everyone has a role in the journey. For experts, the focus is advanced development. Conferences, certifications, and working groups help keep technical knowledge at the cutting edge. Leadership development creates momentum. Nominated employees receive mentorship and external training that strengthen their ability to drive change. The Ambassador Network connects peers. Through roundtables, newsletters, and challenges, ambassadors spread best practices and inspire collective action. At the broadest level, all employees have access to e-learning, webinars, and intranet resources. This makes sustainability part of everyday work. The structure shows that depth and breadth matter. Specialists receive advanced tools, while the entire workforce gains essential knowledge. Trane also links learning to performance. Employees set annual goals tied to 2030 commitments, making sustainability part of accountability. Ongoing communication reinforces this. Micro-learnings, guides, and webinars keep climate knowledge practical and current. The outcome is a workforce where sustainability is not external, but internalized and embedded into decisions and behaviors. Creating a culture of sustainability learning is a strategic imperative. It enables resilience, drives innovation, and prepares businesses for the future. #sustainability #business #sustainable #esg

Fostering climate action with AI? IBM is investing $30m. 71% of business leaders anticipate a heightened emphasis on sustainability skills in hiring, and 92% plan to invest in sustainability training in the next year. Sustainability skills are in demand and so is the need for climate action. IBM recently announced the $30m investment to help bridge the skills gap and empower individuals to make a tangible impact on our planet. It includes two new initiatives: 1. IBM SkillsBuild- free sustainability courses designed by IBM experts in sustainability and technology fields. ⬜ The target is to skill 30 million people by 2030, with a focus on underrepresented communities. ⬜ It includes free training connecting technology to ecology and climate change and includes AI, cybersecurity, and ESG reporting. 2. IBM Sustainability Accelerator- a pro-bono program dedicated to supporting environmentally at-risk communities around the world. ⬜ 5 new projects focused on water management solutions in 🇦🇪 UAE, 🇮🇳 India, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇺🇸 USA and 🇦🇺 Australia. ⬜ Projects target water access, quality, flood forecasting, and sanitation infrastructure planning. Sustainability and AI expertise are both key players in shaping our future. It's at that intersection we'll see even more great stuff happening. What do you think? ⭐ I'll include a link to the press release and learning in the comments. 👇 #IBM #AI #technology #Sustainability #TechForGood #futureleadership

Joined Low Choon Chye from NTUC LearningHub on CNA Singapore Tonight programme coverage on the findings of their Sustainability for Business Resilience Report 2024. The findings indicate that only 6% of business leaders report that their organization has completed at least one round of sustainability implementation, down from 14% in 2022. This is worrisome given the urgent need for companies to decarbonize. Our own survey suggests that while 76% of businesses are ready to adapt to the demands of a low carbon economy, 41% do not know how or where to start. The top 3 asks from companies are funding for sustainability reporting, improved clarity and consistency on ESG metrics for reporting and availability of technology to measure and track ESG initiatives. I shared the abundance of sustainability training programmes in the market. A quick search on SkillsFuture SG returns over 500 courses. Enterprise Singapore has also curated a suite of Foundational courses and Decarbonisation courses to help companies get started on carbon accounting. I have attended such a course “Foundations in Corporate Sustainability” delivered by UN Global Compact Network Singapore which covers key sustainability topics in decarbonisation, circular economy and sustainability reporting. Singapore Business Federation also offers the Career Conversion Programme for Sustainability (CCP-S). Over 300 companies have tapped onto the programme to hire new or redesigned jobs in carbon reporting, project management and regulatory compliance. Eligible companies receive up to 90% of monthly salary support for trainees over the programme duration. For more information about the CCP-S, please contact Mabel Tang from the SBF Business Institute. Sustainability Is the Next Digital. The time to act is now. In the sustainability revolution, no company will be left unchanged, and those that act quickest will be those that end up leading. https://lnkd.in/gJ8iW-nj

🌍 Upcoming ISO 9001 & ISO 14001:2026 Revisions — A Shift Toward Sustainability 📣 The upcoming 2026 revisions of ISO 9001 (Quality Management) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) mark a significant step forward in aligning management systems with sustainability, climate resilience, and responsible governance. 🔑 Key Sustainability Enhancements Across Both Standards: ✅ Climate Change Integration Both standards now explicitly reference climate change in Clause 4.1, requiring organizations to consider climate-related risks and opportunities in their strategic planning. ✅ Stronger Life Cycle Perspective Organizations are encouraged to consider environmental and quality impacts from design through disposal, supporting circular economy thinking and long-term value. ✅ Stakeholder Expectations Matter Clause 4.2 emphasizes the need to engage with and respond to sustainability-related stakeholder concerns—whether they be customers, regulators, or the public. ✅ Leadership, Ethics & Responsibility New emphasis in ISO 9001 on ethical leadership and organizational culture highlights the growing importance of trust and transparency in sustainable business practices. ✅ Enhanced Clarity & Consistency Both standards adopt updated ISO Harmonized Structures, with clearer language and improved guidance notes to help organizations apply sustainability principles in practice. 🗓️ What’s Next? Drafts are under review and final versions are expected: 📘 ISO 14001:2026 – January 2026 📘 ISO 9001:2026 – Q3 2026 💡 Whether you're working in quality, environment, ESG, or compliance — now’s the time to review your management systems and prepare for this alignment with global sustainability standards. 🔗 Learn more: ISO 9001 Update ISO 14001 Update #ISO9001 #ISO14001 #Sustainability #ESG #ClimateAction #QualityManagement #EnvironmentalManagement #ISOStandards #ManagementSystems #FutureReady

🌿 ISO 14001:2026 – Latest Update & Key Changes 🚦Big news for environmental management! The ISO 14001:2026 revision has reached a major milestone: 📄 Full report circulated, and the Draft International Standard (DIS) has been approved for registration as Final Draft International Standard (FDIS)! ⏳ Publication of the final standard is expected in early 2026, with a transition period of up to 3 years for certified organizations. 🔍 What’s new in ISO 14001:2026? Modernized structure and terminology ⚙️ Stronger requirements on considering climate change, biodiversity, and resource use as part of the EMS 🌏 Enhanced clarity on EMS scope—requiring a full lifecycle perspective of environmental impacts ♻️ New and improved change management clause 🔄 Extended operational control to externally provided processes and suppliers 🏭 Improved leadership accountability and restructure of management review 💡 Streamlined documentation and guidance for more effective implementation 📘 The changes are aimed at keeping ISO 14001 relevant for today’s environmental challenges and easier to align with other ISO management systems standards. Stay tuned as the FDIS is finalize now’s a good time to start reviewing your EMS and get ready for the next era of environmental management. #ISO14001 #EnvironmentalManagement #EMS #Sustainability #ClimateAction #Compliance

🇪🇺 The European Union has unveiled a package of new initiatives aimed at supporting partner countries and safeguarding #biodiversity globally worth close to €160 million at #COP16. 🇪🇺 ✅ Towards #biodiversitycertification and #naturecredits The EU presented its exploratory works on the potential and challenges of biodiversity certification and nature credits, as part of the innovative finance instruments toolbox for - broadening sources of funding to mobilise resources, - help companies set #naturepositive goals, and - reward those who protect and restore #nature, including farmers, foresters, fishers, and other sea- and land managers as well as IPLCs. EU exploratory works include two pilot projects, one on wetlands in partnership with France 🇫🇷 and one on private forests in partnership with Estonia 🇪🇪 , as well as a project in the Peruvian Amazon. These projects are conceived to make a positive contribution to nature, not to offset or compensate for the destruction of #biodiversity. The EU's approach to biodiversity certification and nature credits is resolutely collaborative, by engaging with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and international partners, such as the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits, the Biodiversity Credits Alliance and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. ✅ €69 million package of actions aimed at enhancing capacity and increasing knowledge in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean to provide support to governments, civil society, Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) ✅ €48 million programme on illegal wildlife trafficking ✅ Through a €40 million program, partner countries will be supported in their efforts to conserve and sustainably manage biodiversity in the high seas ✅ Since public funds will not be sufficient to address the #biodiversityfinancing gap, the EU is stepping up efforts to leverage private capital through de-risking instruments such as blending and guarantees from the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) and as part of the Global Gateway Strategy. #sustainability https://lnkd.in/dwAvNgHW