GSCP approves SCSs sustainable agriculture certification program

SCS Global Services announced today that it has completed the Global Social Compliance Programme (GSCP) Equivalence Process for its Sustainably Grown certification program. SCS Sustainably Grown is the first U.S.-based sustainable agriculture certification program to be benchmarked to both the GSCP Reference Code and Audit Process and Methodology Reference Tool, which represent international best practice in sustainable supply chains and social auditing. The benchmarking also means that Sustainably Grown now meets the requirements for recognition by the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH).

Sustainably Grown received an “A” grade average for all GSCP criteria, demonstrating the certification program’s high level of alignment with the GSCP requirements for labor conditions and auditing systems.

“The GSCP congratulates SCS on this successful completion of the Equivalence Process. The commitment necessary to complete the process is a clear testament to SCS’ dedication to actively promoting the harmonization and transparency in global compliance schemes,” said Sonja Schmid, GSCP Equivalence Process Manager.

“Alignment with the GSCP Reference tools is one more way in which we are demonstrating our continued commitment to providing global leadership in creating tools to verify social and environmental sustainability practices in the agricultural sector,“ said Lesley Sykes, Sustainably Grown Program Manager. According to Sykes, SCS pursued alignment with the GSCP Reference Code during its scheduled update of the Sustainably Grown Standard earlier this year to Version 2.0. “Version 2.0 lines up with the GSCP framework for fair labor conditions and fundamental labor rights, and assures stakeholders that compliance is verified according to best practice in social auditing.”

Sustainably Grown is also now among the approved responsible sourcing standards for IDH’s fruit and vegetables program, SIFAV (Sustainability Initiative Fruit & Vegetables). “We welcome SCS’ Sustainably Grown certification program as a new recognized standard for social compliance, and it will now be part of the SIFAV basket of standards” said Kebba Colley, Senior Program Manager at IDH. SIFAV aims to make imports of fresh produce from Africa, Asia and South America 100 percent sustainable by 2020. In addition to field level projects, member buying companies across the EU agree to source imports from the SIFAV recognized standards, which represent a common definition and understanding of sustainability.

Linda Brown
SCS Global Services
2000 Powell Street,
Ste. 600, Emeryville,
CA 94608 USA
Tel: 1 510 452 8000
Fax: 1 510 452 8001
lbrown@scsglobalservices.com
SCSglobalservices.com