Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory • GHG Protocol • EU CBAM Declaration • Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) Report • ESG Sustainability Report / IFRS (S1, S2
What is the third verification and confirmation agency? How should we distinguish between external verification, verification, or ESG assurance?
When it comes to third-party certification bodies, IAF (International Accreditation Forum), UKCA (UK Conformity Assessment), and TAF (Taiwan Accreditation Foundation) are three different organizations related to verification and accreditation. These organizations function in different geographic regions and domains, with different tasks and functions.
1.IAF (International Accreditation Forum):
Attributes: IAF is an international organization whose mission is to promote and promote mutual recognition of international accreditation and accreditation. It provides collaboration among member organizations to ensure that certification bodies are accredited and verified in line with international standards.
Accreditation Standards: IAF uses specific standards and guidelines, such as ISO/IEC 17011, to assess and ensure that certification bodies in various countries have the appropriate competencies and qualifications.
Selection Recommendations: Choosing a certification body accredited by the IAF often indicates that it follows international standards and best practices.
2. UKCA (UK Conformity Assessment):
Attributes: UKCA is a system in the United Kingdom, and a new logo that replaces the EU CE mark after Brexit. It involves the verification and certification of a range of products.
Accreditation Standards: Certification bodies need to follow the corresponding standards set by the UK government and be accredited by accreditation bodies such as UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service).
Selection Advice: For businesses that want to sell their products in the UK market or the EU market, choose a UKAS-accredited certification body to ensure their verification complies with UK regulations.
3. TAF (Taiwan Accreditation Foundation):
Attribute: TAF is Taiwan's accreditation and inspection body, responsible for ensuring compliance with Taiwan's corresponding standards.
Accreditation Standards: TAF typically uses international standards, but there may also be some standards specific to the Taiwanese market.
Selection Advice: For businesses operating in the Taiwanese market, they should choose a certification body accredited by TAF to ensure that their products comply with local regulations and standards.
From the perspective of the Financial Supervisory Commission in Taiwan, the Corporate Governance Center (TWSE) requires mandatory assurance in sustainability reports or greenhouse gas compliance regulations, and there is also a mandatory requirement that it must be specifically assured by an approved third-party assurance agency.
Choosing a suitable certification body should consider the following factors:
Geographical Scope: The geographical scope of the certification body should match your market and business needs.
Accreditation and Certification: Ensure that the certification body is accredited by the appropriate national or international standards organization.
Industry Expertise: Verify that the agency has the appropriate expertise and experience in your industry.
The best course of action is to contact a professional consultant directly to inquire about their certification and verification process to ensure it meets your needs. Additionally, consulting their certifications and customer feedback is also an important reference for choosing the appropriate institution.
There are several international third-party certification bodies commonly used for carbon inventory
Common verification system/data source/summary of Bu-Jhen low-carbon strategies
When considering how to choose a certification body when considering a company to develop business in the EU market, how should a company choose a certification body if it considers Asian customers or American customers?
When developing a business in different regional markets, it is crucial to choose the right certification body, as it affects the compliance and acceptability of the product in that market. When pursuing low-carbon standards that are accepted by global customers, companies need to consider choosing a third-party verification body with international recognition and credibility to ensure that their low-carbon strategies and environmental sustainability practices are globally recognized. The following are the considerations and rationale suggestions for the three marks of IAF, UKCA, and TAF in the EU, Asia, and Americas markets:
1. IAF (International Accreditation Forum):
Reason to consider:
The IAF is an international organization dedicated to promoting mutual recognition of certification and accreditation around the world.
Its membership includes accreditation bodies in various countries, ensuring that its operations align with global standards. Choosing an IAF-accredited certification body helps ensure that its low-carbon standards meet global environmental and sustainability standards.
2. UKCA (UK Conformity Assessment):
Reason for consideration:
The UKCA mark is mainly applicable to products entering the UK market, focusing on product safety and compliance with UK standards.
While UKCA's impact on markets outside the EU is limited, ensuring UKCA-accredited certification bodies can help comply with relevant local regulations and standards for businesses entering the UK market.
The certification marks of EU member states are more complicated: (It is recommended to use at least UKCA)
In Europe, institutions conducting ISO 14064 greenhouse gas certification are usually required to obtain corresponding accreditation, which is usually the responsibility of accreditation bodies or national standards bodies in each country. Here are some recommended European accredited ISO 14064 certification bodies:
1.UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) - UK Accreditation Service:
UKAS is an accreditation body in the United Kingdom that is responsible for ensuring that institutions and standards meet the corresponding standards. Businesses can choose to have ISO 14064 certification done by a UKAS-accredited body.
2.DIN CERTCO - German Certification Company:
DIN CERTCO is a certification body in Germany that can provide ISO 14064 certification services. Germany is an industrial powerhouse in Europe, and its institutions have certain experience and recognition in the field of carbon inventory.
3.ACCREDIA - Italian Certification Body:
ACCREDIA is an Italian certification body and a member of the European Partners. Its accredited institutions may offer carbon inventory services that comply with ISO 14064 standards.
4.CEN (European Committee for Standardization):
CEN is the European Committee for Standardization and provides various standards, including those for environmental aspects. While CEN does not perform verification itself, its standards may provide relevant guidance for accreditation bodies in various countries.
These bodies are usually accredited by accreditation bodies in various European countries and can therefore be considered reliable bodies for ISO 14064 certification in Europe. When selecting institutions, companies should ensure that they are recognized accordingly and have corresponding professional knowledge and experience to ensure the compliance and credibility of carbon inventories. Additionally, it is a good practice to regularly check the official websites of relevant standards bodies in each country to ensure that the chosen body continues to maintain compliance.
3. TAF (Taiwan Accreditation Foundation):
Reason for consideration:
TAF is a certification body in Taiwan, mainly involved in local standards and regulations, and has a certain influence in Asia.
If companies wish to implement low-carbon standards in the Asian market, choosing a TAF-accredited certification body can help ensure that their low-carbon strategies align with the region's environmental and sustainable development requirements.
Overall Consideration:
Global Common Standards:
To ensure that a company's low-carbon standards are recognized globally, it is recommended to choose a certification body accredited by the IAF. International recognition of the IAF can increase the trust of a product or strategy on a global scale.
Market-specific needs:
Given that the requirements for low-carbon standards may vary in different markets, if companies have a clear market focus, they can choose corresponding certification bodies based on local needs, such as UKCA for the UK market and TAF for the Asian market.
Sustainability Reporting and TCFD:
If the company has ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures) requirements in addition to low-carbon strategy consideration standards, it is recommended to choose a certification body accredited by the IAF. Because these standards emphasize global sustainability and climate-related financial disclosures.
Overall, businesses should choose the appropriate certification body based on their market strategy, product distribution, and sustainability goals. The globally recognized IAF serves as a powerful reference while considering the specific needs of the local market to ensure that the company's low-carbon standards are widely accepted and recognized in various countries.