EUBCE 2024 - Costanza ROSSI - Economic Costs and Benefits of Sustainability Certification Across Biobased Value Chains

Economic Costs and Benefits of Sustainability Certification Across Biobased Value Chains

Short Introductive summary

The goal of this study is to assess the economic feasibility of sustainability certification for companies involved in the production of biobased materials and products. The approach consists of selecting 5 biobased value chains and analysing the economic costs and benefits of certification for different elements. The selection has the purpose of covering a variety of sectors that are relevant for the EU bioeconomy (i.e., textile, wood, agricultural products). Data on the direct costs of certification (e.g., certificate fees, audit fees, etc.) were estimated based on experiences of certification bodies and costs for certificate fees by certification schemes. The indirect costs (costs needed to meet sustainability requirements set by the certification scheme), expected economic benefits and actual economic benefits are collected through surveys distributed to certified entities and similar uncertified ones, to be used as a counterfactual. The survey results will then be used to determine whether certification has a positive economic impact on the certified companies.

C. Rossi, SQ consult, Bunnik, THE NETHERLANDS
B. Wicke, Radboud University, Nijmegen, THE NETHERLANDS
M. Junginger, Utrecht University, THE NETHERLANDS
L. Shen, Utrecht University, THE NETHERLANDS