The Need for a Holistic Global Sustainability Standard

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(Editor’s note: This article was written in December 2023 when Michael was co-chair of the 2-12D Task Group. He passed away in January 2024.)

No one can deny that the resources of our fragile planet are finite. The environment seems like a third party, subject to constant degradation. We’re acutely aware of the effects of pollution on our climate, and despite our “throw-away” culture, recycling and recovery of materials has remained relatively expensive, even as we use more energy just to survive.

As individuals, we feel helpless; anything we do carries little meaning. How can we all get on the same page? I’ve seen some local groups (from different industries with different goals) finding inroads to overcome these challenges. Some examples include using renewable energy, recycling key materials, economies in consumption, and advances in materials.

How do we reduce the amount of raw materials and energy being consumed and motivate companies to recycle? Not many companies want additional costs to their bottom line.

Governments and some forward-thinking companies either offer incentives or impose penalties, a “carrot and stick” approach to measure results and drive toward a more sustainable future. However, this can expose a company’s sensitive intellectual property, including product design, manufacturing performance, and supply network information. Thus, their default response to these incentives and penalties is a solid “no.”

As an industry, we are very creative. In cases where information must be shared, we can consistently and accurately measure, calculate, and derive that information. In their own way, individual companies will devise their own methods and results. There is, after all, little specific guidance as to how to measure, declare, and communicate the required information. The only specific mandate is that it must be authorized. We need standards.

To read the rest of this article, which appeared in Spring 2024 issue of IPC Community, click here.