scores

Distinguishing between ‘compliance’ (score 1) and ‘non compliance’ (score 0) is the most clear and uncomplicated method. It is clear that this is the most suitable method to evaluate mandatory criteria.

It could be considered to use a more differentiated scale to evaluate optional criteria. However, especially with large numbers of criteria, this makes the process a lot more complicated. Therefore it is preferred to evaluate all criteria with score 1 or 0. During the monitoring it appeared that it is not always easy for the monitoring instance to choose between 1 and 0. The evaluation of most of the criteria is based on qualitative and not on quantitative elements.

2.3 INTEGRATION

Mandatory criteria all have to be complied with. All criteria should have score ‘1’, so there is no need to integrate the individual scores. Compliance with optional criteria is compared to a set score level.

Here, the end score is calculated with the linear additive model

∑

=

Combining optional and mandatory criteria has both the advantages of flexibility as well as guaranteeing compliance with the main sustainability aspects. Moreover, it allows the inclusion of (optional) criteria with different feasibility for developing and western countries, or for small and large companies. The users committee found that the social criteria in the first draft were too basic and did not cover items that are on the western unions’ agenda nowadays. Optional criteria allow including these items without imposing them on producers in developing countries.

However, some users committee members were not convinced that this combined method is the most appropriate, the main concerns being that different producers can comply with different criteria and that this is difficult to communicate to the consumer. Therefore, it was agreed upon in the committee meeting that benefits and drawbacks of the different systems would be illustrated (cfr 1.4.) and that both the method with mandatory criteria exclusively and the method combining mandatory and optional criteria would be elaborated.

2.4.1 Mandatory criteria exclusively

The process of preparing product-specific criteria includes chain delimitation and identification of the main chain actor. The main chain actor will usually be the applying company. It was decided that the main chain actor has to fulfil more criteria than the other chain actors (suppliers and subcontractors).

The criteria that are mandatory for the main chain actor exclusively often concern the company as a whole, and are not limited to the processes directly linked to the product concerned. For example, the main chain actor has to limit energy use in the whole production unit, while energy related criteria for the other chain actors directly concern the production of the product. The product-specific environmental criteria can be different for the different stakeholders.

The criteria list made for the coffee sector is added in annex 3b. The indicators in bold are mandatory for all chain actors. The indicators printed italic and bold are only mandatory for the main chain actor.

The indicators printed in standard are not mandatory and are not to be considered in this scenario.

The structure of the list is illustrated below:

Chain actor 1: main chain actor:

- General criteria and indicators: environmental, social, economic and integrated: bold + italic and bold

- Product specific environmental criteria 1: bold + italic and bold Chain actor 2:

- General criteria and indicators: environmental, social, economic and integrated: bold - Product specific environmental criteria 2: bold

Chain actor 3:

- General criteria and indicators: environmental, social, economic and integrated: bold - Product specific environmental criteria 3: bold

etc.

For the label to be awarded, all chain actors have to comply with all applicable criteria and indicators in the list.

2.4.2 Combining mandatory and optional criteria

The criteria and indicators in annex 3a en 3b printed in bold are mandatory for all, those printed in italic and bold are mandatory for the main chain actor but optional for other chain actors, and the ones printed in standard are optional for all. An overview of the criteria each chain actor has to comply with is given below.

Optional criteria: standard

1. general: environmental social

economic integrated 2. product specific: environmental 1

EXTRA mandatory general criteria: italic and bold environmental

social economic

integrated Mandatory criteria: bold

1. general: environmental social

economic integrated

2. product specific: environmental 1 Chain actor 1: main chain actor

Optional criteria: standard: italic and bold 3. general: environmental

social economic integrated 4. product specific: environmental 2 Mandatory criteria: bold

3. general: environmental social

economic integrated

4. product specific: environmental 2 Chain actor 2

Chain actor 3…

Chain actor 4…

…

Optional criteria: standard + italic and bold 5. general: environmental

social economic integrated 6. product specific: environmental x Mandatory criteria: bold

5. general: environmental social

economic integrated

6. product specific: environmental x Chain actor x

Each chain actor has to comply with all applicable mandatory criteria. On top of this, the optional criteria and indicators need to be lived up to to a set minimum score. A certain score of e.g. 1/3 has to be reached for each of the 4 pillars of sustainable development. An example for coffee is given in annex 1.

C

VI

P ROCEDURES

In this chapter the role of the principal actors is described in the internal organisation of the labelling organisation. The selection of the product groups will be explained as the development of the product specific criteria, and the chain delimitation. Furthermore a procedure is proposed. This procedure treats of the information given to the company, the application, the monitoring, the award or refusal, the follow-up, the renewal and the complaint system. In the end an estimation of the financing is given and an alternative lest costly system is proposed. This chapter is based on the supposition that the label is based on a Belgian law. If the label would be based on a European regulation, the text should be adapted only in this way that the Belgian law is replaced by the European regulation.

1 INTERNAL ORGANISATION OF THE SCHEME