SECO: a pillar of Ecocert’s commitment to responsible and sustainable practices

Since its creation, Ecocert has been committed to promoting sustainable practices, both environmentally and socially. With 33 years of experience, the company has become a leader in implementing and enhancing responsible practices through its services.

At the heart of this commitment is the SECO (Service Evaluation Committee), which plays a strategic and fundamental role. Composed of eight internal experts from various divisions within the Group, SECO ensures that Ecocert’s services align with its mission: “Act for a sustainable world by supporting the transition towards fairer economic models that preserve health, climate, and biodiversity.”

SECO's mission is to assess the services proposed by the group. With its comprehensive vision, the committee provides a well-supported opinion with recommendations to project leaders, whether it is a division of the group aiming to launch a new certification service, a subsidiary interested in introducing a new label in its market, or a consulting unit exploring guidance on a new topic.

A methodical approach to evaluation

SECO has developed a methodology structured around four key pillars:

1. Governance Governance is the cornerstone of a service. SECO evaluates the involvement of key stakeholders in the service’s creation, the clarity of objectives, and whether impact measurement is included. It also assesses ambitions regarding the revision of requirements, their frequency, and their ability to advance practices within the sector.
2. Level of requirements SECO examines the transformative nature of a label or initiative. Do the requirements go beyond conventional practices and deliver measurable environmental and/or social benefits? The committee ensures that key sectoral issues are addressed, negative impact transfers across the lifecycle are avoided, and continuous improvement is fostered. Local contexts and realities are also taken into account.
3. Processes The attribution of a label must be based on rigorous, independent, and impartial evaluations. Methodologies, such as audits, must ensure traceability across value chains. Key criteria include the competence of evaluators, the reliability of assessments, and impartiality in decision-making.
4. Communication SECO assesses communication for its transparency and consistency with the scope of the approach. Information provided should enable consumers and value chain users to make informed decisions. The goal is to ensure responsible communication and avoid misleading or abusive claims.

An uncompromising commitment to face greenwashing

Ecocert is dedicated to transforming agricultural, forestry, industrial practices, and corporate economic models. Service evaluations ensure the implementation of virtuous practices, considering environmental and social impacts.

Over the past six years, SECO has evaluated more than 40 services, with around 75% receiving “favorable” or “favorable with conditions” opinions. SECO also empowers internal project leaders to adopt evaluation criteria, allowing them to independently determine whether an initiative aligns with the Group’s ambitions.

As part of a continuous improvement approach, SECO has launched a re-evaluation of all the Group’s services, including those selected before the committee was established. This self-assessment aims to ensure the consistency and relevance of Ecocert’s commitments through its services.

Since its creation, all COMEP's recommendations have been followed by the Group's Executive Committee, testifying to the Group's determination to place the development of good social and environmental practices at the heart of its corporate strategy.

Why label selection matters for Ecocert?

In a world characterized by a “jungle of labels,” SECO’s role is crucial in identifying the most impactful labels that provide maximum guarantees throughout value chains and to consumers.

While not all labels carry the same weight or credibility, their essential role remains unchanged:

• they offer a simple and understandable guide for consumers and buyers throughout supply chains
• they guarantee environmental and social standards often not covered by official regulations
• they meet growing consumer expectations for sustainable business commitments
• they provide external validation to showcase responsible business practices
• they act as a safeguard against greenwashing by ensuring ecological claims are not misleading

Alignment with the European Green Claims directive The regulation of environmental labels is central to the upcoming European Green Claims directive. This is why Ecocert actively supports a Directive that addresses these challenges, faces greenwashing, and empowers consumers to make responsible choices.