Das falsche Versprechen der Zertifizierung

The report argues that the proliferation of certification labels creates consumer confusion and allows companies to greenwash their operations without achieving substantive environmental improvements. In fisheries, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Friends of the Sea (FOS) are criticized for certifying overfished areas and lacking transparency. In the palm oil sector, programs like RSPO, ISCC, and ISPO are found to have failed in slowing deforestation or peatland drainage. In textiles, the Higg Index and Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) are highlighted for weaknesses such as reliance on self-assessment and allowing GMO seeds. The authors call for a shift toward mandatory government regulations and a reform of certifications based on transparency, independence, holistic life-cycle approaches, and scientific standards.

• Voluntary certification programs in the textile, palm oil, and fisheries sectors often act as a 'cover' for companies to avoid scrutiny and confuse consumers, rather than driving positive environmental change.
• Major fisheries certifications, specifically the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Friends of the Sea (FOS), have certified fisheries that operate in overfished areas, have high bycatch rates, or violate national laws.
• None of the examined palm oil certification programs, including the RSPO, have successfully slowed deforestation, peatland drainage, or biodiversity loss.
• The Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) initiative is described as a 'race to the bottom' because it only requires compliance with weak existing national laws.
• In the textile industry, the Higg Index is criticized for its lack of transparency and its reliance on company self-assessments.
• The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has been found to allow the use of GMO seeds and toxic chemicals, and has reportedly displaced organic cotton in some markets.
• The report concludes that voluntary initiatives cannot replace state and international regulations and proposes four reform principles: transparency, independence, a holistic life-cycle approach, and a commitment to continuous scientific improvement.

APA

Changing Markets Foundation (2018). Das falsche Versprechen der Zertifizierung. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FALSE-PROMISE-EXEC-SUM-DE.pdf

Chicago

Changing Markets Foundation. Das falsche Versprechen der Zertifizierung. 2018. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FALSE-PROMISE-EXEC-SUM-DE.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Changing Markets Foundation |title=Das falsche Versprechen der Zertifizierung |date=May 2018 |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FALSE-PROMISE-EXEC-SUM-DE.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{changingmarketsfoundation2018das, author = {{Changing Markets Foundation}}, title = {{Das falsche Versprechen der Zertifizierung}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, year = {2018}, month = may, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FALSE-PROMISE-EXEC-SUM-DE.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }