Know your certifications: A guide

Have a better idea of the social and environmental conscience of the products you buy with Element's guide to common certification stamps. Photo / Getty Images

Fairtrade. Organic. Biodynamic. There is a certification mark for them all. Here’s Element’s guide to common certification stamps.

Demeter

Demeter is a

worldwide biodynamic certification scheme

. The objects are to maintain the biodynamic approach to agriculture, horticulture, forestry and animal husbandry initiated by Rudolf Steiner in 1924.

BioGro

The BioGro stamp is the

mark of a New Zealand organic certification body

. BioGro-certified producers must undergo a rigorous certification process and their products contain no pesticides, herbicides or genetically modified organisms.

AsureQuality

AsureQuality is the

New Zealand government organic accreditation

. This includes supplying auditing, testing, inspection and certification services in the dairy, meat, seafood, horticulture, wine and arable sectors.

Fairtrade

Fairtrade is about

better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade

for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices, Fairtrade enables growers to improve their position and have more control over their lives.

CarboNZero

CarboNZero certified organisations

have measured their organisations greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions so they understand what their impact is on the global climate. They then make a commitment to managing and reducing their GHG emissions by creating an emissions management and reduction plan. Remaining emissions that the organisation cannot avoid are then offset by purchasing verified carbon credits.

CEMARS

CEMARS is the first two steps of carboNZero certification.

CEMARS certified organisations

have measured their organisations greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in compliance with ISO 14064-1and made a commitment to managing and reducing their emissions by creating an emissions management and reduction plan.

SPCA Blue Tick

The Royal New Zealand SPCA Blue Tick accreditation

ensures that welfare standards for animals have been met

. Look out for it on animal products such as eggs and pork. All farms are audited by the SPCA before the tick is awarded.

Sustainable Winegrowing

Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand

is an industry initiative directed through New Zealand Winegrowers and was commercially introduced in 1997 and adopted by growers from all grape growing regions. Winery standards were introduced in 2002 to further substantiate the industry commitment to sustainable production.

Conscious Consumers

Conscious Consumers is an

accreditation programme and marketing platform that promotes sustainable and ethical food companies across NZ

. They have a free smartphone app that you can use to find these businesses, learn about their sustainable practices, get notified about specials and be rewarded for regularly purchasing from them. Over 400 businesses are now listed, and the programme is going global in 2015.

FSC

Forestry Stewardship Certified products is a

global, not-for-profit organisation

dedicated to the promotion of responsible forest management. FSC Certification ensures that wildlife habitats were protected, local communities & indigenous groups were consulted, & workers rights were respected, in the forests of New Zealand and around the world.

MSC

The MSC is the

world's leading certification and ecolabelling program

for sustainable seafood. Look for the blue MSC ecolabel when shopping or dining out.

Buy NZ Made

Established in 1998, Buy NZ made is a membership-based, non-governmental organisation. The iconic

kiwi logo ensures that that product is produced in this country

.

Lifemark

Lifemark accreditation represents home design features that make life easier. Only

Lifemark accredited builders

and architects can offer plan designs that feature a minimum of 25 standards based on adaptability, accessibility, usability, safety and lifetime value.

NZGBC

The New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) is a

not-for-profit, industry organisation

dedicated to accelerating the development and adoption of market-based green building practices.

Homestar

Homestar is a

home sustainability rating system

administered by the New Zealand Green Building Council. It awards homes a rating out of ten for energy efficiency and water efficiency, health and waste.

Environmental Choice

In New Zealand, Environmental Choice is the

official environmental label

. The programme operates independently from the government but is government owned and endorsed. More than listing environmentally friendly products for green homes or businesses, the ECNZ eco-label offers strong proof of environmental performance.

Future-Proof Building

Future-Proof Building is all about

educating homeowners to make the right choices for their home

, based on quality of product and performance over time. Information also includes how to make your home energy efficient.

Vegetarian Society

The New Zealand Vegetarian Society trademark

means that the product is free from animal products, genetically modified organisms, egg products produced under intensive farming conditions, not tested on animals and not cross contaminated with equipment used to process animals.

Coeliac NZ

The Crossed Grain logo is the symbol both nationally and internationally

recognised by those who need to follow a gluten free diet

. The logo gives consumers a quick reference point when shopping and faced with uncertainty on the genuine gluten free status of a product.

Read More from Element:

• The rise of the conscious consumer

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