Whether companies pursue supply chain, operational, or workplace strategies to meet sustainability requirements or in respond to specific regulatory requirements in given markets, the TIC sector has integrated sustainability considerations into its solutions.
Our members offer sustainability due diligence throughout manufacturing processes and supply chains. This may include conformity with environmental requirements, equality policies, human rights protection and healthy working conditions throughout the value chain. Moreover, our members provide conformity assessment according to well-recognised labelling and non-financial reporting requirements.
In this context, the TIC Council develops positions that encompass all ESG criteria.
Existing global positions
Towards a Promising Circular Economy Ecosystem in India - March 2023
TIC Council India gives recommendations to support India to build a promising circulare conomy ecosystem while putting it on the path of economic prosperity.
TIC Council’s Policy Recommendations for Societies Resilient to Sanitary Risks - May 2021
With this position paper, TIC Council gives its guidelines and recommendations to support the global relaunch of the economy following the COVID-19 crisis. It is important to ensure a safe transitition to the new normal with clear and easily implementable sanitary rules, while also designing preventive and cost-effective measures for protection against sanitary risks caused by contagious diseases.
Existing EU positions
Enhancing product sustainability through third-party conformity assessment - January 2023
TIC Council welcomes the European Commission’s proposal on empowering consumers for the green transition (COM(2022)143) and strongly supports the European Commission’s actions against greenwashing. TIC Council members play a pivotal role in ensuring that sustainability claims are consistent and accurate. In this framework, they already offer services related to the environmental impact of products, such as the calculation of the carbon footprint and the verification and validation of recycled materials.
Third-party verification is key to successful corporate sustainability due diligence - May 2022
TIC Council welcomes the European Commission’s proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence. We expect it to act as a cornerstone in implementing and enforcing human rights and environmental protection.
Ensuring robust verification processes meant for addressing and adequately mitigating identified adverse effects will be key pillar of the Directive’s success. The testing, inspection and certification (TIC) sector will contribute to this effect.
TIC Council recommendations for improving inspections for the Energy Performance of Buildings - May 2022
With this position paper, TIC Council welcomes the European Commission's proposal for revising the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), as we believe it can play an important role in reducing emissions together with the revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive.
TIC Council Position on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism - November 2021
TIC Council supports the Commission's intention to limit carbon leakage and promotes the role of accredited independent conformity assessment bodies in the verification of embedded carbon emissions.
TIC Council Position on Energy Efficiency Directive - November 2021
TIC Council welcomes the Commission's proposal for the introduction of energy management systems for all enterprises with an average annual consumption higher than 100TJ, to be conducted solely by independent conformity assessment bodies.
Independent assurance service providers under CSRD: suggestions towards a level playing field for all - October 2021
With this position paper TIC Council welcomes the proposal for the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) which has the potential to accelerate responsible change and create transparency across all sectors by standardising the disclosure, reporting, and assurance of sustainability metrics. In this context, TIC Council makes recommendations aiming to level the playing field among all potential independent assurance services providers interested in performing external sustainability assurance of reported information.
TIC Council Position Paper on the EU Farm to Fork Strategy - March 2021
The TIC Council welcomes the European Commission’s Farm to Fork Strategy, considering it an important development towards reducing the environmental footprint of food value chains as well as improving the availability of safe food in the EU. Among the plethora of existing environmental claims in the food supply chain, proper assessment and verification are key to busting myths and providing facts to help consumers make informed decisions.
TIC Council Position on the Taxonomy Regulation - February 2021
The testing, inspection and certification (TIC) sector welcomes the ongoing discussion in the EU for the development of an implementation framework for the Taxonomy Regulation that would promote sustainable investments.
We recommend TIC activities to be fully included in the delegated acts of the Taxonomy regulation, because they enable several sectors and validate/verify whether their activities contribute to the six environmental objectives of the EU.
TIC Council Position Paper on the Circular Economy Action Plan - February 2020
With this position paper, TIC Council states the necessity that mandatory third-party certification is a key element to the successful implementation of the upcoming circular economy action plan. Overall, we believe that it is rightly accompanied by ambitious investment programmes and a robust regulatory framework.
TIC Council Position Paper on the Marking of Plastic Carrier Bags - June 2019
The independent Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) sector welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to lay down EU-wide rules for the marking of biodegradable and compostable plastic carrier bags. We firmly believe that biodegradable and compostable plastic carrier bags provide a substantial contribution to the European environmental and waste policy objectives.
Past global positions
IFIA Statement of Position on Mandatory Utilisation for Social Compliance Auditors - August 2013
In the development of best guidance for supply chain social compliance, the Global Social Compliance Program (GSCP) established recommendations or guidelines for many elements of supply chain social compliance programs. IFIA recognizes the responsibility of audit companies to manage their businesses within legal structures and with integrity. However, in this statement IFIA expresses its scepticism on whether the use of an arbitrary and largely undefined auditor utilization metric creates the risk of significant negative and unintended consequences, because it does not relate well to how the market actually works.