Geneva, 25 September 2018 The new ISO IWA “Guidance principles for the sustainable management of secondary metals” on sustainable recycling were showcased at this week’s ISO General Assembly, held in Geneva.

Watch an interview with WRF Project Manager Sonia Valdivia, courtesy ISO Innovation Space.

https://www.facebook.com/isostandards/videos/178043343104516/

The Innovation Space is part of this year’s ISO Week, created with Swiss ISO member SNV. It aims at exchanging information about advancing the global agenda, and improving the quality of life of an ever-growing global population, which rely on new technologies and new ways of thinking. The initiative shows how standards support innovation and act as a foundation upon which new developments can be built.

Urs Fischer, CEO
Swiss Association for Standardization

WRF staff Fabian Ottiger (right)

The Guidance Principles on secondary materials are the flagship deliverable of the Sustainable Recycling Industries project, which is supported by the Swiss Government.

The principles were launched at the Thirteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Basel Convention. The launch at the UN meeting in Geneva was the culminating event of a two-year process including 70 stakeholders from approx. 30 different countries which resulted in the publication of the ISO International Workshop Agreement (IWA 19:2017). The principles guide economic operators of secondary metals value chains, including those engaged in the informal sector, in the efficient and credible implementation of improved recycling practices, in particular in emerging and developing economies.

Reducing environmental impact, promoting the use of renewable sources of energy and encouraging responsible purchasing decisions are ways that ISO standards contribute to sustainable consumption and production (Sustainable Development Goal 12). Here is an overview of the 90 standards contributing to SDG12.

The idea to develop guidance principles for the sustainable management of secondary metals was proposed by the Sustainable Recycling Industries (SRI) Roundtable, which is an initiative of the World Resources Forum (WRF) and the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa). The development process was assisted by the Swiss Association for Standardization (SNV) and funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).