The Sustainability Consortium Finalizes New Civil Society Organization Membership Policy

CSO Policy

TEMPE, ARIZ., – September 6th 2012 – The Sustainability Consortium (TSC), an independent global organization that creates sustainability standards for consumer products has finalized a new Civil Society Organization (CSO) Membership Policy. The new policy will make it easier for non-profit organizations to join The Consortium and provide industry expertise to further the development of TSC’s Knowledge Products.

For the purpose of engaging with TSC, a CSO is any organization whose mission is primarily focused on improving social and/or ecological conditions and is aligned with the Sustainability Consortium’s mission. CSO’s may include; non-government organizations (NGO’s), non – academic research institutions, think tanks, faith-based organizations, labor unions, citizen advocacy groups, non-regulatory government organizations, and non-regulatory multilateral or inter-governmental organizations.

Just as corporate members, CSO may engage with The Consortium as Tier I or Tier II Members. Each engagement option has different rights and restrictions, which allow organizations to select their engagement options. “CSO’s are a vital part of The Consortium and are integral to our success,” said Mike Faupel, Operations Director at The Sustainability Consortium. “CSO input is built into the DNA of the Sustainability Measurement & Reporting System methodology – this new policy will greatly increase our CSO engagement and accelerate our work.”

CSO organizations will have the opportunity to interact with other stakeholders, engaging in critical dialogue on how to advance The Consortium’s mission, at The Sustainability Consortium’s Inaugural Member Summit, October 8th-11th at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

About The Sustainability Consortium
The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) is an independent organization of diverse global participants that work collaboratively to build a scientific foundation that drives innovation to improve consumer product sustainability. TSC develops transparent methodologies, tools, and strategies to drive a new generation of products and supply networks that address environmental, social, and economic imperatives. The Sustainability Consortium advocates for a credible, scalable, and transparent process and system. The organization boasts over 90 members from all corners of business employing over 57 million people and whose combined revenues total over $1.5 Trillion. Arizona State University and the University of Arkansas jointly administer The Sustainability Consortium, with additional operations at Wageningen University in The Netherlands. Learn more at www.sustainabilityconsortium.org