Certification emerged from the 1992 Rio Earth Summit amidst
great hope that we would finally begin to address the wicked environmental
and social problems facing our globe. Despite a proliferation
of certification schemes in twenty-five industry sectors over more than
twenty years, the environmental and social ills resulting from destructive
and irresponsible exploitation of natural and human resources have
grown still worse.
Beyond Certification reviews the positive aspects of certification, of which
there are many. But more important, it argues that we can no longer afford
to gloss over its failures. It is powerfully clear we need a very different
approach and set of actions to managing wicked problems like deforestation
and exploitation. The book offers one alternative model, based on Values,
Transparency, Transformation and Verification, and shares stories of how
farsighted people in very large corporations in a number of industries have
adopted this model to manage natural resources far more responsibly
while also benefitting local communities. Part of the power of this model
is that the companies work in partnership with an extensive network of
NGOs, local communities, suppliers, and other stakeholders to effect
needed change.
Beyond Certification does not claim that this VT-TV model is the only
solution. Rather, it serves to show how new and seemingly radical
thinking can resonate so strongly with many people and companies
that it catalyzes positive change. It makes the case for our continuing to invest more thought and proactive energy to develop still other
approaches to grappling with the serious issues confronting us all,
before it is too late.