Australian businesses should be looking at how to assure sustainability in their supply chains via certification, as compelling new evidence suggests sustainability is a business opportunity Australia should be leading.
A recent report by the Future Business Council reveals that as values-driven consumers are demanding sustainable products, many business sectors in Australia are turning to trusted certification schemes to meet this demand.
With nearly 50 per cent of all plantation forests in Australia now FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified and a 73 per cent increase in Fairtrade sales achieved over the past few years, trusted certification standards are increasingly playing an important role in addressing sustainability in supply chains.
FSC Australia, in partnership with Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand, Rainforest Alliance and sponsor Coles, are holding a forum – ‘Demanding change by changing demand’ – to explore these themes and understand the value of sustainability standards and certification for Australian businesses.
The forum will feature case studies from Officeworks and Coles exploring the value of certification, as well as insights from consumer research bodies Mobium and Republic of Everyone into consumer behaviour trends.
Panel sessions will explore examples of how Australian businesses find value in certification and the need for more rigorous and robust evidence demonstrating the business case for sustainable standards.
Keynote speakers include NAB Head of Corporate Responsibility Strategy Sasha Courville, WWF Australia Head of Sustainable Forestry Tim Cronin and the Lead Consultant for South-East Asia global sustainability consultancy Robertsbridge, Nick Rowley.
FSC Australia CEO Adam Beaumont says he is excited to bring together certification and standard-setting bodies, businesses and advocates in Australia to discuss what the future holds for certification, and the value of sustainability standard-setting for business.
“This forum provides an opportunity to build stronger relationships between certification systems and businesses, hear from businesses about sustainability certification in practice and discover a common ground on challenges that we need to deal with together,” he said.
The forum will be held on November 25 in the Ibis Hotel at 15-21 Therry St in the Melbourne CBD. Tickets are available for purchase here.