Nowadays, more and more companies consciously choose products and pay special attention to ensure that they have the appropriate certificates and come from sustainable development. In our previous blog, we wrote about which certificates to pay attention to when buying organic products.
 


Below are other important certificates that are worth paying attention to.

 

 

 



amfori BSCI

BSCI - this is an audit standard that was created by the amfori organization (a global business association for open and sustainable trade), based on the assumptions that international trade contributes to building prosperity and fosters socio-economic development.

Amfori BSCI members come from all parts of the world, and their supply chains span several continents (including by relocating production to other countries). This makes supply chains increasingly complex. amfori BSCI enables Organizations to improve social performance in their supply chain, use natural resources responsibly and initiate open trade around the world, and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
amfori BSCI contains a set of principles and values ​​that members of the association should follow in socially responsible supply chain management. The standard contains thirteen areas that are verified during the audit:
1. Social responsibility management systems and the cascading effect (in the supply chain),
2. Employee involvement and protection,
3. Freedom of association,
4. No discrimination,
5. Fair remuneration,
6. Decent working hours,
7. Occupational health and safety,
8. Prohibition of child employment,
9. Protection of the work of minors (juvenile workers),
10. Legal employment,
11. No compulsion to work,
12. Environmental protection,
13. Ethical behavior in business.



 

 

Declaration of Conformity

It is a formal declaration by the manufacturer or manufacturer's representative that the product to which it relates meets all relevant requirements of all product safety directives that apply to that product.

Signing the declaration of conformity entitles you to affix the CE marking to the machine. The CE marking elements shall have the same height, which shall not be less than 5 mm.
The CE marking applies only to some groups of products to which the provisions implementing the New Approach directives into Polish law apply. They concern e.g. machines, electrical equipment, toys, pressure and gas equipment, personal protective equipment, while CLOTHING, TEXTILE PRODUCTS, SHOES, ACCESSORIES (BAGS, BELT, etc.) Clothing and textile products (blankets, bedspreads, bed linen) are not subject to the CE marking obligation .

Issuing a perfect EU declaration of conformity is a difficult task. On the one hand, it requires fluent knowledge of the basic provisions (New Approach directives), on the other hand, it requires extensive knowledge of specific provisions (harmonized standards). Unfortunately, on the market, the vast majority of EU declarations of conformity, EC declarations of conformity, national declarations of conformity and declarations of performance are issued incorrectly, which is subject to financial penalties, and often product withdrawal from the market.

What is the difference between a certificate of conformity and a declaration of conformity?
Declaration of conformity is a legal concept appearing in many regulations, from New Approach directives, through regulations, harmonized standards, to laws and national regulations. The CE certificate is a concept with no legal basis, invented and used by the market.

 

 

 

 

Soil Association

It is an English non-profit organization that checks and certifies organic farms and businesses that meet the required standards.
Founded in 1973, it has certified over 4,500 companies worldwide. Experience, knowledge and specialization in every aspect of the organic sector means that the Soil Association symbol is the most recognized mark in the UK.
What does the visible mark on the product mean?
• the producer's farm, farm or production line is visited annually by the Soil Association or other certification body. The control includes an audit of organic ingredients along with a check of production methods,
• labels and recipes have been accepted
• if inorganic ingredients are used, this means that there are no organic equivalents
• products do not contain genetically modified ingredients, and inorganic ingredients can only be used when the manufacturer confirms that they are not genetically modified
• products are processed in accordance with the principles of ecology.
This certificate guarantees that the cosmetics are not harmful to health and that they have a minimal impact on the environment during the production process.

 

Entry of the plant into the Sanepid register

An entrepreneur who wants to operate on the market and plans to produce or sell food or products intended to come into contact with food must obtain an entry in the register of plants subject to official control of the State Sanitary Inspection.

An entry must be made by anyone who:
- is an entrepreneur or a farmer and produces or sells food of non-animal origin
- sells products from animals that are not subject to veterinary control
- sells or produces food that contains both plant-based foodstuffs and animal products (with reservations)
- deals with materials and articles intended to come into contact with food, including recycling.

 

For a more sustainable future, we all need to take ambitious steps and choose consciously certified products.