We Contribute to Community CO2 Offset Programs - Self Declared is one of the declarations under the Ekko Score Systemic Sustainability Standard.
We Contribute to Community CO2 Offset Programs - Self Declared means that this specific product is supported by a program that is actively involved in a community CO2 offset program. This might typically involve offsetting directly in activities like planting community trees, electricity sharing or any program that reduces the emissions by supporting businesses who engage in offset activity.
Any contribution to CO2 offset programs counts - whether a formal program or your own activity, such as planting trees. All businesses create emissions in addition to those created by the products they sell, releasing greenhouse gases through use of natural gas and other fuels and use of hydrofluorocarbons in refrigerators and air conditioners. They also indirectly contribute to emissions through electricity consumption.
We Contribute to Community CO2 Offset 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.