Building bridges between the environment and consumers – we are taking on a new role at ISO
ECOS has been approved as a liaison to ISO’s committee on consumer policy, also known as COPOLCO. In a world increasingly attuned to the importance of environmental protection and sustainability, the connection between consumer concerns and the environment is stronger than ever. Our new role at ISO will help to reinforce it – on a global scale.
ISO COPOLCO and ECOS: Paving a sustainable route for consumers in standards
Our lives are touched by standards in many ways, and ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, is a leading setter of these important specifications. Companies all over the world align their products and services to ISO standards, which are meant to help provide impetus for entire industries to take steps forward in areas like product safety and sustainability.
Standards are strongest when they are developed with consumers and the environment in mind. Take the common charger, for example. The overflowing cable drawers in our homes now look very different following the introduction of mandatory USB-C connectors for electronic devices – a development that ECOS long advocated for. Harmonising such products and practices lowers their impact on the environment. For more than two decades, ECOS has been the environmental voice in the room when individual standards – including for the common charger – are developed. It is only natural for us to step into a new, non-technical liaison position in ISO’s committee on consumer policy, COPOLCO.
In a dynamic and evolving consumer landscape, the environmental voice is crucial. We want to know that the products and services we buy and the decisions we make respect planetary boundaries. To achieve this, products should be designed sustainably and consumed responsibly. COPOLCO plays an integral role in developing international standards that guide countries and industries in creating a fair, transparent, and sustainable marketplace for consumers.
By participating in the committee’s work, ECOS brings its wealth of environmental expertise and standards knowledge to the forefront of shaping global standards, effecting a powerful convergence of environmental and consumer policy. This is particularly vital in an age where problematic issues like greenwashing guide public discourse.
Referencing this new partnership, fellow COPOLCO member Saral James Maniam, Secretary General of the Malaysian Association of Standards Users, declared it “a remarkable achievement,” confirming that the appointment of ECOS to COPOLCO is a recognition of its “dedication and excellence in the field of advocating for environmentally friendly technical standards, policies, and laws”.
Enhancing the international presence of ECOS
As a liaison to COPOLCO, ECOS will be empowered to bring the two spheres of consumers and the environment together on an international stage. This new partnership with ISO will enhance our international presence, as well as our presence in consumer policy. Standards developed by ISO are already international, so such a step is not entirely new for ECOS, but becoming a liaison to COPOLCO will enable us to become a more comprehensive and versatile advocate for the environment.
As issues like the climate crisis, pollution, and resource depletion become increasingly intertwined with consumer behaviour, organisations such as ECOS play a critical role in fostering an inclusive and holistic approach to global standards.
We are thrilled at the prospect of bringing about positive changes in the way the world addresses environmental and consumer policy. Sustainability and responsible consumption are inseparable elements in building a better future – and ECOS will be there every step of the way, shaping the standards of tomorrow.
