Welcome to the Eurofins Sustainability Services’ first newsletter. The objective of this newsletter with its associated articles is to highlight important topics and provide information and knowledge that will enable our customers to make informed decisions about sustainable business practices. Why? Because there are now over eight billion people and only one planet so sustainability really matters to us, to you and to future generations.
What does sustainability mean?
Sustainability may have slightly different meanings to people depending on the context of the situation.
In 1987, the United Nations defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Building on this they developed the sustainable development goals, creating a high-level blueprint as a guide for those companies that want to contribute and align.
At Eurofins Sustainability Services we want to support our customers on their sustainability journey, providing them with services that will enable them to better achieve and quantify their success. As a testing and inspection business, our philosophy is to provide customers with accurate measurements and metrics against many of the categories of the UN’s development goals. Why? Because sustainability matters.
What does sustainability mean to Eurofins?
To help our customers achieve their sustainability goals we have focused our definitions with respect to the services offered.
Sustainability services philosophy
A business that operates in a way that enhances economic output; while adopting the appropriate governance of social capital; without depleting or damaging natural and environmental resources.
Sustainable manufacturing
The process of making product that does not; deplete natural resource, create negative impacts on the environment, or harm people directly or indirectly involved.
Sustainable chemistry
The efficient and safe use of chemistry in supply chain processes that has no adverse effect on human or animal health or deplete or damage natural and environmental resources
Sustainability scope
All aspects of product lifecycle from raw material selection, through manufacturing processes, logistics, retailing, use, disposal and potential recovery and re-use
Eurofins sustainability services
Services that can provide metrics, measurement, validation and support to those that want to develop, improve or demonstrate sustainable products, services or behaviours.
Newsletter Articles
Is climate change the world’s biggest sustainability problem?
Climate change and our impact on the planet are in sharp focus. The United Nations describes climate change as one of the biggest challenges of our time.
Whatever our priorities, the way we live, what we buy and how things are manufactured is under increasing focus in relation to the impacts on the climate and environment.
How to start your sustainability journey & starter pack
Sustainability is one of the most critical topics in business today and is driving sourcing, buying, manufacturing, marketing, retailing, and consumer behaviours. Global conferences such as COP27 dominate dialogue in Governments and consumer thinking, demanding ambitious targets. New legislation supports these targets to leverage positive change.
Eurofins metrics and measurement helps avoid greenwashing
There is growing demand from consumers to buy sustainable products, and this is driving some companies to make spurious and inaccurate claims. The risk of making incorrect or incomplete claims is negative exposure by the press, and NGO or legal action.
Are chemical-free products real?
It is impossible to make a product that does not contain chemicals. Any product that claims to be chemical-free is potentially spurious and or greenwashing. In 2010 the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) was so confident of the impossibility that they have offered a £1 million reward to any person who can create a chemical-free product.
About Eurofins Sustainability Services
Eurofins Sustainability Services brings together a wide range of the Eurofins network’s sustainability offerings in one place, connecting customers with the relevant Eurofins company to provide solutions to their sustainability needs. From microplastics, emissions, chemistry, wastewater, biodegradability and ecotoxicity testing services, supply chain audits, life cycle analysis, vegan certification, recyclability assessments, and more, Eurofins Sustainability Services support businesses to develop a strategy and roadmap to meet their sustainability objectives.
Eurofins Sustainability Services is part of the Eurofins global network of companies, which comprises over 61,000 staff across a network of 940 laboratories in 59 countries. Eurofins companies offer a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods.
