SQ Consult experts Sergio Ugarte and Vincent Swinkels were requested by ASME Press to write a research book on “Policy Instruments and Co-Regulation for the Sustainability of Value Chains”.
The book is published in ASME's Technologies for Sustainable Life – Concise Monograph Series. ASME is the American Society for Mechanical Engineers, promoting the art, science & practice of multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences around the globe.
The book underlines the growing importance of sustainability aspects in the value chain of products to cut emissions, fight climate change and ensure basic human and society rights are not endangered. The book discusses possible ways to manage (for companies) and regulate (for governments) these aspects.
This publication also discusses the potential of co-regulation (combination of public regulation with private mechanisms such as sustainability certification) for improving sustainability in global value chains. The case of co-regulation for sustainability of biofuels consumed in the EU is assessed in detail. The book presents a risk assessment of the application of certification to biofuels and to feedstock coming from a selection of 19 countries exposed to different sustainability risks.
The book concludes with recommendations to:
- Policy makers for the development of new co-regulation processes and for the improvement of current processes;
- Certification schemes working on the global market;
- Companies that are committed to improve the value chains of their products.
For more information contact: Sergio Ugarte
