We Contribute to Community Offset Programs - Self Declared is one of the declarations under the Ekko Score Systemic Sustainability Standard.
We Contribute to Community Programs - Self Declared means that this specific product is supported by a program that is actively involved in a community service program. This might typically involve programs in poverty, gender equity, domestic violence, health, education, sanitation, gender equality and helping people find decent work.
Supporting community programs enables others by simply choosing a We Contribute to Community Programs - Self Declared product over one that does not. Community programs help get things done that might otherwise be neglected, helps counter poverty, hunger, social exclusion and other vulnerabilities like domestic violence. Some programs also work with health, education, sanitation, gender equality and helping people find decent work. All these programs help some kind of disadvantaged group and develop social responsibility, better social cohesion – a global view of society and a heart for 'giving back' and helping others who may not be as fortunate as you.
We Contribute to Community Programs - Self Declared sits in the COMMUNITY Family under the Societal Standard: Systemic Sustainability of Ekko Score. One set of weighted Ekko Score points are gathered from each Family.
These are the claimable declarations & certifications under the Societal Standard: Systemic Sustainability. 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.