Sustainability Archives

Industry Update – Sustainability in Healthcare by ISQua Education

February 14, 2025March 6, 2025by valueaddedinLeave a comment

ISQua Education – Sustainability in Healthcare

ISQua Education was created in order to foster a global community of learning and improvement in healthcare quality and safety.

ISQua has partnered with the International Hospital Federation’s Geneva Sustainability Centre and The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare to offer a new introductory course on sustainability in healthcare.

This 6-module course, available with any ISQua Fellowship subscription, explores the healthcare sector’s role in climate change, sustainable quality improvement, and practical steps to reduce waste.

Learn from global case studies and gain tools to drive change within your organization.

Bonus: The first 100 Fellows to complete the course get a free 3-month subscription to GSC’s Carbon Emissions Learning Lab.

To know more, please visit : fellowship@isqua.org | www.isqua.org/education

Source: https://www.isqua.org/education

Industry update : NABH GUIDEBOOK FOR CLIMATE ACTION AND SUSTAINABILITY IN HEALTHCARE

December 23, 2024January 3, 2025by valueaddedinLeave a comment

NABH GUIDEBOOK FOR CLIMATE ACTION AND SUSTAINABILITY IN HEALTHCARE

National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) has been developing quality healthcare standards . NABH standards have always focused on creating an ecosystem for quality and safety of the services delivered in the healthcare organizations.

As a step towards addressing the biggest challenge of 21st century i.e. climate change and sustainability, NABH has developed a simple checklist to guide NABH accredited and certified healthcare organizations to achieve climate change adaption, resilience and sustainability.

This cohesive document includes essential of concept of sustainability in healthcare, guidance for implementation and strategic framework. To motivate healthcare organizations, industry best practices are also showcased in the document.

This document along with a self-assessment checklist is available for free download in NABH website http://www.nabh.co/

Click here to read the guidebook with a self assessment checklist

Source: http://www.nabh.co/

Industry Update – New Government guidelines to prevent greenwashing

October 25, 2024October 25, 2024by valueaddedinLeave a comment

New Government Guidelines to prevent Greenwashing

The Government has recently introduced comprehensive guidelines to combat greenwashing, a practice where brands make misleading claims about their environmental benefits. These guidelines, issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on October 15, 2024, aim to ensure that environmental claims made by companies are substantiated with credible evidence.

Key Highlights of the Guidelines

Substantiation of Claims: Companies must provide scientific evidence to support any environmental claims, particularly those using terms like “clean,” “green,” “eco-friendly,” and “sustainable.
Consumer-Friendly Language: The guidelines mandate that companies explain technical terms such as “greenhouse gas emissions” in a way that is easily understandable to consumers. This aims to enhance transparency and prevent confusion
Specific Claims: More precise claims, such as “compostable” or “recyclable,” must be supported by credible certifications or reliable scientific evidence. This requirement extends to all manufacturers, service providers, and advertisers involved in promoting these products
Disclosure Requirements: Brands must disclose all material information related to their environmental claims in advertisements. This can include using QR codes or URLs for additional information

Rationale Behind the Guidelines

The introduction of these guidelines is part of a broader effort to protect consumer interests and promote sustainable business practices. The government aims to foster a marketplace where environmental claims are both truthful and meaningful, thereby enhancing consumer trust

Prohibition of Misleading Practices: The guidelines explicitly prohibit any deceptive practices that exaggerate or conceal relevant information regarding a product’s environmental impact. Companies found violating these guidelines may face penalties for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices

The guidelines align with international best practices observed in markets like the US and Europe, reflecting a global trend towards greater accountability in corporate sustainability efforts

Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) seeks to work closely with industry stakeholders, consumer organizations, and regulatory bodies to ensure effective implementation and compliance with the guidelines in the interest of consumers and public.

Click here to read Green Washing Guidelines

source: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://consumeraffairs.nic.in/sites/default/files/file-uploads/latestnews/Draft%20Guidline%20with%20approval.pdf

Sustainability – Mega opportunity

December 31, 2023December 31, 2023by valueaddedinLeave a comment

In sustainability, a mega opportunity for Indian banks

As India passes the reins of the G20, it has signalled an unwavering dedication to combating global environmental and sustainability challenges. The G20 sustainability working group meetings have spotlighted key pillars: harnessing climate finance, embracing the sustainability development goals (SDGs), and nurturing the financial ecosystem’s capacity.

In parallel, India’s nationally determined contribution commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the ambitious 2070 net zero emissions target unveil a grand vision of fortifying climate resilience and nurturing sustainable growth.

The big gap: funding the shift to a greener future

Nevertheless, there is a considerable gap between the financial requisites for these ambitions and the current landscape–making for a significant opportunity for India’s banking sector to tap into.

The G20 Leaders declaration underscores the importance of sustainable finance, highlighting needs like for developing countries, blended finance instruments, and reforming multilateral institutions.

Worldwide, banks are increasingly integrating sustainability into their operations. Many have committed substantial funds for sustainability and are transitioning away from fossil fuel financing. They’re also innovating with sustainable finance products like green bonds and leveraging technology for broader customer outreach and lower carbon footprints

While India’s banking sector has begun its ESG journey, it’s still navigating the challenges of balancing sustainability with developmental needs. Drawing from global trends and G20 insights, Indian banks can harness ESG for value creation. By integrating sustainability considerations and technology-driven decision-making, they can champion environmental and social transformation in India’s financial realm.

Indian banks have a pivotal role in driving social change, achieving national objectives, and expanding their lending portfolios.

Their success hinges on accessing global capital, innovating for new segments, and prioritizing digitalization and ESG integration in decision-making.

Achieving these objectives not only promises financial success but also positions Indian banks as leaders in the sustainability transition.

Click here to read the article

source: https://www.livemint.com/

Centre notifies Green Credit Rules, 2023…

December 31, 2023December 31, 2023by valueaddedinLeave a comment

Green Credit Rules, 2023

The green credit programme shall incentivise environmental positive actions through market-based mechanism and generate green credit, which shall be tradable and made available for trading on a domestic market platform.

The green credit will arise from taking measures by a person of any environment activities referred to in sub-rule (2) of rule 4.

The green credit programme shall encourage industries, companies and other entities to meet their existing obligations or other obligations under any law for the time being in force, and encourage other persons and entities, to undertake voluntary environmental measures referred to in rule 4 by generating or buying green credit: Provided that the green credit generated or procured to fulfil any obligation in compliance of any law for the time being in force shall not be tradable

The measures that can be taken for the purposes of protection, preservation, or conservation of the environment includes :
a. tree plantation
b. water management
c. sustainable agriculture
d. waste managemen
e. air pollution reduction
f. mangrove conservation and restoration
g. ecomark label development
h. sustainable building and infrastructure

Methodology of generating green credit

The calculation of green credit in respect of any activity undertaken shall be based on equivalence of resource requirement, parity of scale, scope, size and other relevant parameters required to achieve the desired environmental outcome

Procedure for generation of green credit

The Administrator shall develop the website for registration of activities, evaluation and verification of activities undertaken and award of green credit in respect of such verified activities, electronically.

The responsibilities of the Administrator shall include the following, namely:—

(a) develop guidelines, processes and procedures for the implementation of the green credit programme under these rules;
(b) develop methodologies, registration process, guidelines and associated measurement, reporting and verification mechanism;
(c) establish methodologies and processes for issuance of green credit (including issuance of digital green credit), and equivalence of green credit generated from each identified activity;
(d) develop guidelines for the establishment and operation of the Green Credit Registry and trading platform; for self-certification or third-party certification for the registration of an activity for issuance of green credits and its inspection and verification by designated agency, for empanelment of auditors and audit by such auditors;
(e) establish or designate the Green Credit Registry, and trading platform service provider in accordance with the approved guidelines;
(f) develop guidelines for the green credit programme portal, the knowledge and data platform, and for the fees from the registered entities;
(g) develop guidelines for filing of annual returns and progress reports by designated agency, Registry, trading platform and knowledge and data platform

The Central Government shall constitute a Steering Committee & Technical Committee to monitor the implementation of the Green Credit programme under these rules.

The Administrator or designated agency shall establish and maintain a Green Credit Registry for the registration and issuance of each Green Credit.

The Administrator shall establish and maintain a trading platform , which shall perform functions regarding the trading of green credit, in accordance with the guidelines made by the Administrator with the approval of the Central Government.

The Administrator shall develop and maintain a knowledge and data platform, with approval of the Central Government, which may collate key data points generated from the Registry and other information, such as sectoral achievements, best practices, information on capacity building, etc

The Administrator shall appoint a designated agency in accordance with the guidelines approved by the Central Government, who shall conduct verification and submit reports to the Administrator in accordance
with the guidelines

The participation to the Green Credit programme under these rules shall be based on voluntary participation

The activities of the Administrator, designated agency, Registry, trading platform and knowledge and data platform shall be audited within a period of one year at the end of every third financial year by independent auditors to be appointed by the Central Government on the recommendation of the Steering Committee.

Click here to read the Notification

Source:https://moef.gov.in/moef/index.html

Industry Information Updates

July 18, 2023July 18, 2023by valueaddedinLeave a comment

UGC paves way for university-industry partnerships for research, paid internships, funds

To encourage research through industry partnerships in universities, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has drafted guidelines on sustainable and vibrant university-industry linkage for the institutions.

The draft guidelines on Sustainable and Vibrant University-Industry Linkage System for Indian Universities recommend creation of Industry Relation Cell or IRC at the universities and University Relation Cell at companies for collaborations.

The main objective of the IRC, as per the guidelines, is to enable collaborative project creation between a university faculty group and an industry group. Its responsibility will be to identify research topics, including topics relevant to the local area, identify potential research problems for industry and the university, explore funding sources for the research among others.

It also suggests creating a “cluster of universities and industries” enabled by technology at state level led by institutions of state or central government in each region.“ Each cluster may create a technology centric mechanism to capture the local problems and then assign the same as projects to the students based on the infrastructural cum human expertise available at the host institute of a student,” the ugc guidelines state.

To facilitate this, the guidelines encourage joint development of new technologies in research labs of the universities or educational institutions to benefit technology transfer.

The guidelines further facilitate roping in professors of practice to facilitate collaboration between industry partners at the universities.

Endowment, degrees by industry partners

The industry, as per the guidelines, can provide endowments to create advanced facilities and vocational training centres as per the requirement of the industry or for the cause of education.

It allows industry partners to help university students to use “sophisticated and costly equipment” available in industry and open access of university resources for industry partners for testing and certification.

According to the draft, industries can also establish industry chairs in universities and support scholarship schemes to attract meritorious young researchers to university.

To make students job-ready, the guidelines recommend offering collaborative degree programmes tailored for industry personnel or with emphasis on practice. Project work under this programme can be executed under joint guidance of the teachers and experts from industry on generic or industry problems, the guidelines states.

Internship and apprenticeship

Apart from research collaborations, the draft guidelines also bat for internship and apprenticeship opportunities. University can introduce internship or apprenticeship irrespective of the field including Arts, Science and Engineering as per the UGC Curriculum and Credit framework for programmes. The internship related credits will be awarded based on the credit framework.

Universities will be free to decide the number of internships and types of internships with the approval of statutory authorities. A faculty member will be assigned to handle and coordinate the internships related to the academic programme.

The guidelines further encourage firms to offer paid internships to students and put in efforts in making the internships sustainable. To safeguard students’ interest, the guidelines also have provision for companies to ensure accident insurance protection for the participants.

Source:https://news.careers360.com/ugc-guidelines-industry-partnership-universities-research-paid-internship-endownment-fund

SEBI – Regulatory Frame Work

July 14, 2023July 14, 2023by valueaddedinLeave a comment

Sebi – Regulatory Framework for value chain ESG disclosures for listed entities

Sebi came out with a regulatory framework for listed entities on ESG disclosures on supply chain and assurance.

Sebi has introduced BRSR Core, a sub-set of the BRSR (Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report), comprising nine Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for several E, S and G factors that need to be assured. Under the framework, large listed companies will have to make disclosures and obtain assurance as per ‘BRSR Core’ for their value chain.

Keeping in view the relevance to the Indian market context, few new KPIs have been identified for assurance such as job creation in small towns, openness of business and gross wages paid to women. Further, for better global comparability, intensity ratios based on revenue adjusted for purchasing power parity have been included.

In addition, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has introduced disclosures and assurance for the value chain of listed entities, as per the BRSR Core. In the supply chain, Sebi said that ESG disclosures according to the BRSR Core for the top 250 companies on a comply-or-explain basis will start from 2024-25, with assurance beginning the following year, according to a circular.

Disclosures for the value chain will be made by the listed company as per BRSR Core as part of its annual report. In this regard, the value chain would encompass the top upstream and downstream partners of a listed entity, cumulatively comprising 75 per cent of its purchases or sales by value, respectively.

As per Sebi, listed entities will have to report the KPIs in the BRSR Core for their value chain to the extent it is attributable to their business with that value chain partner. Such reporting may be segregated for upstream and downstream partners or can be reported on an aggregate basis. Sebi also said the board of the listed entity will have to ensure that the assurance provider of the BRSR Core has the necessary expertise for undertaking reasonable assurance. Further, the listed entity would have to ensure that there is no conflict of interest with the assurance provider appointed to assure the BRSR Core. For instance, it needs to be ensured that the assurance provider or any of its associates do not sell its products or provide any non-audit related service, including consulting services, to the listed entity or its group entities

Click here to View the SEBI Notification

Source: https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/sebi-puts-in-place-regulatory-framework-for-value-chain-esg-disclosures-for-listed-entities-10948501.html

Announcement – ICAI issues Social Audit Standards

January 17, 2023January 17, 2023by valueaddedinLeave a comment

Social Audit Standards – Sustainability Reporting

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has issued the Social Audit Standards (SAS) for the members. These Social Audit Standards will be applicable from the date of their hosting on ICAI website. (SAS 100 should be read in conjunction with the “Preface to the Social Audit Standards” and “Framework for the Social Audit Standards”, issued by the ICAI

This Social Audit Standard relates to the thematic area of “eradicating hunger, poverty, malnutrition and inequality’’. The Standard aims to provide the Social Auditor with the necessary guidance in relation to independent impact assessment engagement of Social Enterprises engaged in eradicating hunger, poverty, malnutrition and inequality and the audit steps and procedures that should be applied while conducting the social impact assessment. The Standard sets out the minimum requirements to be followed while conducting impact assessment. Laws or regulations may establish additional requirements which should be followed, as applicable.

The Social Auditor should conduct a desk review of existing documents to gain further insight into the evaluation procedure and impact assessment.

The social auditor should review the evaluation questions addressed through Questionnaires, In – depth Interviews and Focused Group Discussions to assess the responses received from various stakeholders and to understand what has changed.

The Social Auditor should review the project/program documents to frame the evaluation criteria for assessing impact. Such key metrics may be collated from base-line, mid-line (monthly / quarterly) and end-line assessment (if available), respectively at the beginning, middle and end of the reporting period/project/program to effectively understand and evaluate impact.

The Social Auditor should identify the inherent limitations of the evaluation process which might have an influence on the impact assessment.

Click here to read the Standard

Source – https://resource.cdn.icai.org/72658srsb58573.pdf;

Source: https://www.taxscan.in/icai-issues-social-audit-standards/245984/

WAD 2022 Event Update from CCC

June 25, 2022June 25, 2022by valueaddedinLeave a comment

World Accreditation Day Conference – Post Event Update

World Accreditation Day Conference 2022 – Post Event Update

WAD 2022 Conference jointly organised by International Accreditation Services (IAS), USA; Bureau of Indian Standards and Consultants Consortium of Chennai ended on June 10th 2022 with a positive a note.

Two days conference held on June 9th and 10th had eminent speakers from India and abroad , from various sectors , sharing rich insights about Standards, Certifications, Accreditations, Inspections & Regulations related to Sustainability and Environment across the globe.

Two days of intense learning sessions came to an end on June 10th.

Conference had 324 delegates registering for multiple sessions across two days and the feedback received from them is very encouraging.

The conference is supported by many Trade and Industry Platforms as listed below :

Sharing few pictures of the event for reference :

Dr R Velraj & CCC’s VP Mr Ramkumar Sivaraman

Dr Deepak Samuel V, CMR – NCSCM, Speaker

Mr Ashish Dev
Lead Auditor & Tutor- COTECNA India

Mr Premkumar Jayvin
Md/ Principal Consultant , Jayvin Management Systems and Solutions

Dr R Velraj & Dr Ghadevaru Sarathchandra

Mr Ramanathan Ganesan
DQS India , Speaker

Ms B Sandhya, Scientist G – Head – Certification, KIHT, Speaker

Dr Harinder Singh Oberoi
Advisor ( Quality Assurance ) – FSSAI

Mr VIshnu P. Sudarsan
Partner, J Sagar Associates

Dr Aparna Dhawan
Executive Director, TIC Council India

Ms Jyotsna Belliappa, Founder and Director – Bluesky Sustainable Business, Speaker

Mr Sandeep Bhargava
CEO – Onecert International
Nominee – ACBI, Speaker

Session Videos are shared here for industry and stakeholders benefit. Please check the links below

INAUGURAL SESSION :
Theme – Sustainability in Economic Growth and the Environment

Click Here

TECHNICAL SESSION 1:
Theme – Sustainable Standards for a Safer World

Click Here

TECHNICAL SESSION 2 :
Theme – ESG Rating for Sustainability Initiatives

Click Here

TECHNICAL SESSION 3 :
Theme – Sustainability Initiatives in Food Sector

Click Here

TECHNICAL SESSION 4 :
Theme – Sustainable Healthcare Initiatives

Click Here

TECHNICAL SESSION 5 :
Theme – Incorporating Sustainability in Educational Institutions

Click Here