Integrating principles of sustainability into product design, development, and production allows companies to manage the environmental, social and economic performance of their products. DNV provides companies the tools and methodologies to better understand the risks and opportunities associated with their products and support the adoption of innovative, responsible and cost-effective measures to improve product sustainability.

Purpose

Today’s business climate requires companies to increasingly focus on integrating sustainability into every aspect of their operations. Companies are under scrutiny from shareholders, customers and other stakeholders to demonstrate their commitment to continually improving the sustainability performance of their products.

With its global perspective and comprehensive approach, DNV can help companies develop and implement a comprehensive product compliance and sustainability strategy.

Benefits

Stakeholders increasingly expect companies to monitor the environmental footprint of their products on a continual basis and ensure that their products are not only safe but are also produced in responsible manner, complying with increasing stringent domestic and international regulations. Businesses are faced with a variety of ways in which to address these issues and demonstrate the sustainability performance of their products in a credible and transparent way. DNV’s product sustainability services support the design and implementation of an integrated product and supply chain strategy that:

• Incorporates product sustainability metrics into overall business strategies
• Develops processes that facilitate efficiency and promote competitive advantage
• Engages suppliers in developing management practices that support continual improvement to products
• Communicates commitment to product compliance and sustainability to customers and other stakeholders.
  

Features

In 2011, independent analyst firm Verdantix rated DNV as one of the top six global leaders in the sustainability assurance market. DNV was the first certification body to certify suppliers in China to SA 8000, a global social accountability standard that helps ensure ethical sourcing of goods and services. With offices in over 100 countries, DNV brings a strong global presence and perspective when developing processes that support product sustainability. Our offerings include:

Consulting Services:

• Product Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) quantifying the impacts of materials use, manufacturing, transportation, disposal and recycling including carbon footrpinting and other environmental impacts from products and operations
• Product compliance with SEC Section 1502 reporting requirements for Conflict Minerals, EU Directives including electronic waste (WEEE), hazardous substances (RoHS), chemicals and their safe use (REACH)
• Management of natural resources, materials sourcing, and use of existing material to manufacture products
• ProSustain, a DNV proprietary standard that analyzes cost-effective production and sustainable sourcing from an integrated reporting output
• Value chain analysis, including identification of cost-saving opportunities and manufacturing efficiencies.

Certification Services to Internationally Recognized Standards:

• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody Standard ensuring that your products can be traced back to well-managed forests and recycled material
• Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Chain of Custody Standard certifying that your marine products come from well-managed and sustainable fisheries
• ISO 14001, Environmental Management System
• Energy using products (EuP) to verify compliance with European-wide products that use, generate, transfer or measure energy.