Zero Waste Production - Self Declared is one of the declarations under the Ekko Score Multi Sector & Business Standard.
Products that are made using Zero Waste Production techniques have no by-product in the manufacturing process. Typically by-products of these product's manufacturing process are used to either make other items or integrated into the product itself. Zero Waste Production applies at an individual product level, but may also apply at a factory level where waste product is deployed to make other products.
Zero Waste Production allows a trader to keep both cost and waste to an absolute minimum, limiting the unnecessary use of resources.
Zero Waste Production - Self Declared sits in the LIMITED PRODUCTION Family, under the Societal Standard: Multi Sector & Business of Ekko Score. One set of Ekko Score points are gathered from each Family.
These are the claimable declarations & certifications under the Societal Standard: Multi Sector & Business. Please note that different certifications and declarations may be relevant to each category.
Yes, where the impact of the claim is similar. This is how it works.
IMPORTANTLY, SELF DECLARATIONS ARE GOVERNED BY CONSUMER LAW. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR BUSINESSES TO MAKE FALSE CLAIMS (INCLUDING IMPLIED CLAIMS IN A CONTEXT LIKE EKKO SCORE).
EVEN IF A PRODUCT HAS A FORMAL CERTIFICATION, THAT CERTIFICATION DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ENTIRE INTEGRITY OF THE PRODUCT'S MAKE UP.
An example might be a Handmade, Australian, Certified Organic chocolate that contains Palm Oil. Under Ekko Score, this product would claim Certified Organic and would self declare: Zero Waste Production and Australian made, but could not claim the No Palm Oil declaration. This would mean a lower score under the No Exploitation Standard, making the inclusion of Palm Oil clear to potential consumers, without detracting from its other assets.
No product is perfect, but some products are definitely better than others. Ekko Score allows you to make the best decision you can, or to put it another way, the least worst decision. And to make that decision with the confidence of not being green washed. Find out more about how Ekko Score works.