FEATURE
credibility to the company, and it also allows companies to feel very comfortable with disclosing their positioning transparently, based on an understanding that this is not about punishing companies,” he said.
Additionally, emerging regulations such as the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) impose stringent traceability requirements on certain commodities, compelling businesses to ensure that their supply chains adhere to ESG best practice. Indiana explains what that means in the real world: “[The EUDR] is a text that requires that, for commodities that are within the scope, we know exactly when and where this was produced, and whether any deforestation, or forest degradation activities, have taken place to produce that commodity. We need to have full traceability and make sure that our suppliers – or their suppliers – have met all the requirements of local legislation.
https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/forests/deforestation/regulation-deforestation-free-prod- ucts_en
“It obliges EU operators to look at what's happening outside the boundaries of the EU, make sure that everything is in conformity – not only with environmental requirements, but also human rights, labour rights, the rights over the land and indigenous population rights.”
Following an update from the European Commission, the EUDR implementation has now been postponed by 12 months. The official date is currently 30 December 2025 for large and medium companies and 30 June 2026 for micro and small enterprises.
Nalise Hahn also makes the case for a more inquisitive view of the supply chain, encouraging businesses to look at the social impact of land use change. “We need to start thinking about this from a social perspective – there are indigenous people in local communities who live in these areas, who rely on these pieces of land and rely on these ecosystems.”
THE ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL LABELS AND TRUSTED ACCREDITATIONS In an increasingly crowded marketplace, eco labels and certifications can provide businesses with a competitive edge. But to what extent can consumers rely on them?
Nalise identifies that there are certain trusted certifications to give consumers peace of mind. She said: “Really having that direct relationship with suppliers and engaging with them directly plays a big part. But then you can also, of course, use certifications that have been around for a very long time. For example, FSC or Forest Stewardship Council. And what these are really doing is helping you to verify that the products you're purchasing are coming from a sustainable source.”
But it’s clear there is no single source of truth here. Again, it’s the lack of uniformity across industries and markets that stands out to Indiana de Seze. “There is not a single, certification or label that we should be looking at that would be applicable across industries, or across the world, or even across EU member states
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at the moment. There are some indicators like Ecolabel and these kinds of things. But it's partial information and I’m not sure the consumer really understands.”
Perhaps third-party testing could help level the playing field and ensure businesses are meeting the same rigorous standards? The experts suggest it may not be so simple.
SO WHY DOES ANSELL STRIVE TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND ITS REQUIREMENTS? AND HOW CAN OTHER BUSINESSES TO FOLLOW SUIT? For Indiana de Seze, it comes down to Ansell’s core mission – to protect people. “We are in the safety business, so our incentive is always to look out for what can preserve the safety of our products or improve the safety of products, or the safety that it brings to the users,” she said. “It’s certainly a market positioning that obliges us to follow and anticipate the trends.”
In the wider market, what impact could a more harmonised approach to eco labels have? Nalise Hahn is clear that helping businesses and consumers make informed choices is hugely important.
“Creating eco label schemes and product passports is going to make it much easier for consumers, whether that's B2B or B2C, to verify claims, "said Nalise." But also, we all want to make informed choices at the end of the day. So that's really where I see a lot of the change happening and where I see the importance of PPE fitting into sustainability practices.”
www.ansell.com/gb/en
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