How can we drive meaningful environmental progress together? Scientists, engineers, government representatives, leaders in standards developing organizations (SDOs), and other stakeholders found inspiration from top-level insights during ANSI’s conference, “Standards and Sustainability: Shaping the Future,” held during World Standards Week in Washington, DC.
Standards Rise to the Challenge to Fill a Void, Prepare for a More Sustainable Future
Dr. Chandrakant Patel, HP Inc., delivered a keynote address that emphasized how sustainability must balance supply and demand considerations and leverage technology accordingly. If knowledgeable experts such as specialized doctors retire, cyber-physical systems (Generative AI tools acting as surgical advisors, for example) can help fill a void. We need to take actions that deliver net positive impact, he noted. It’s also essential to collect and analyze data to understand our impact as new technology continues to emerge.
Keynote speaker Sara Lisa Ørstavik, UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub, of Norway, spoke about meeting the needs of the present without compromising future generations. She described the UN's ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs), revealing that there is a lot of opportunity for progress to meet these goals. She noted that standards may help navigate the sustainability process. As an example, management standards and reporting standards can be beneficial to organizations that need to focus on how to make decisions (i.e., strategy and operations), as well as what to report on, such as metrics and disclosures.
Standards and Regulations Across Borders
The first panel session, moderated by Mary Saunders, ANSI, featured high-level discussions on trends and developments in the U.S., Europe, and globally. Jenna Larkin and Joseph Shacat of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highlighted the EPA’s sustainability efforts, which includes a new label program that uses a conformity assessment and verification approach to drive more climate-friendly construction materials and products use. Abby Wulf of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) discussed sustainable EV battery goals.
Covering European efforts, virtual panelists Marc Boissonet, TIC Council, spoke about the corporate sustainability reporting directive (CSRD), and Francesca Poggiali, GS1, noted how there is a considerable difference in sustainability efforts from just 10 years ago, with greater movement toward mandatory measures. The session emphasized how it is important to give stakeholders a chance to engage in the standards development process. Dan Krekelberg of Factor Climate Strategies and Phil Ludvigsen of J.S. Held highlighted recent global efforts.
Navigating the Future: Sustainability and ESG in Focus
The session, “Navigating the Future: Sustainability and ESG in Focus,” touched on standards and trends in reporting and disclosure frameworks to help organizations navigate the complex world of sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). Moderated by Ludvigsen, participants included Lisa Greenwood, Rochester Institute of Technology and chair, U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO Technical Committee (TC) 207, Subcommittee 1, Environmental Management Systems; Patricia McCarney, World Council on City Data, co-chair of ISO ESG Committee for IWA 48, and chair of ISO TC 268, Working Group 2, Sustainable Cities; Heather Moore of Corporate Assurance; Liza McAndrew Moberg of IFRS Foundation; and Kai Robertson, senior corporate sustainability advisor. The session covered how mid-size and small business are seeking ESG goals (sometimes as ambitiously as large corporations), and their incentives (i.e., finance capital, corporate goals).
One takeaway message: When it comes to sustainability, how we measure is critical. If organizations can reference standardized data, they can establish a baseline to set targets and measure change over time. Framework standards are helpful for providing structures that organizations can build on to manage subject-specific risks. These standards are flexible, rather than prescriptive, so they can apply to organizations of any size, sector, or location.
Closing the Loop: Pioneering Approaches to Circularity
The final session, “Closing the Loop: Pioneering Approaches to Circularity,” looked into how all parties—including government, industry, and SDOs—can lean into waste reduction through circular product designs to standards and certifications evaluating products. Moderator KC Morris, NIST Engineering Lab, led the discussion with Buddhika Hapuwatte, Ph.D., ASTM Committee E60 on Sustainability, Jason Metnick, Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), and Randi K. Myers, UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE).
When it comes to the circular economy, materials are recirculated into the economy rather than a landfill or the atmosphere. Morris noted that NIST focuses on circularity measurement needs; doing this gives stakeholders the facts needed to make educated decisions. The collective aim: a real, lasting change that will build an environmentally friendly world for generations to come.
ANSI is grateful to the exceptional speakers and attendees who shared pioneering insights and recommendations on dynamic topics that impact the future. Post-event proceedings will be available at www.ansi.org/wsweek soon.
