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Certifiably Sustainable? The Role of Third-Party Certification Systems: Report of a Workshop (2010) / Chapter Skim
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8 Future Research Directions
Pages 67-72

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From page 67...
... More importantly, if certification programs begin reaching a tangible share of consumer markets, it will be critical to identify how and where these programs are leading to positive environmental and social outcomes. Given the pressing need to mitigate the negative impacts of global consumption, and recognizing that certification is one means to this end, workshop participants were asked to identify some of the top areas in need of improvement or innovation if certification is to become an effective tool for more sustainable development.
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From page 68...
... Understandably, certification programs have not generally taken a critical look at their impacts. Often times a program focuses on scaling up its efforts, but, as many participants noted, scaling up the intended impact is much more effective at advancing sustainability goals.
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From page 69...
... Participants noted that government agencies such as the FTC may be open to advice on when and/or where to regulate nonsensical claims of "sustainable" products and services, thereby helping to remove falsely labeled items from the market. Furthermore, agencies such as NIST, who focus on technology standards and measurement, and FTC, who focus on consumer protection, could benefit from more rigorous analysis of the proliferating standards and claims of sustainability.
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From page 70...
... Some participants suggested that environmental health and nutrition concerns may be a vehicle for mainstreaming certification programs and changing the markets. There is some emerging evidence that, for example, consumers buy organic products primarily for reasons of personal health, even though these alleged benefits are minor compared to the benefits to local ecosystems and agricultural workers.
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From page 71...
... . Participants noted that the research community can help consumers understand lifecycle issues for particular products -- especially if current research models or tools are marketed for use by the general public.
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From page 72...
... Developing world economies are beginning to promote and experience more domestic household consumption, and the ramifications of this trend are poorly understood. Knowing more about global consumption and opportunities to reduce or more equitably distribute it may help address overconsumption in developed countries and help developing countries as they transition to less resource-intensive economies.
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Key Terms

  • certification program
  • market transformation
  • developing country
  • credible process
  • previous certification

  • current certification
  • role certification
  • effective certification
  • promoting certification
  • certification standards

  • mainstreaming certification
  • reveal universal
  • world economies
  • environmental quality
  • remove falsely

  • comparative studies
  • products compare
  • personal health
  • emerging evidence
  • power dynamics

  • firm behavior
  • sustainable product
  • program evaluate
  • thereby helping
  • consumer preference

  • moving target
  • positive environmental
  • achieving results
  • standards setting
  • help consumers


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