Innovative technologies and products can help to address many of Canada’s environmental challenges, such as reductions in pollutants and emissions. However, until now, there has been no single international standard to validate performance claims made by manufacturers and suppliers of these innovative technologies, processes and products.
Now the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), with Canadian participation supported and led by Environment and Climate Change Canada, is in the final stages of creating a new standard to address this need. ISO 14034 Environmental management -- Environmental technology verification (ETV) will outline a process for verifying environmental technologies. This means that by following the standard, an independent party can effectively assess test results so that the results can be considered reliable, here in Canada, and abroad.
ETV relies on science, high-quality data, and recognized protocols to offer an independent assessment and verification of environmental performance claims. As a result, potential buyers and other parties can make informed decisions about purchasing and using environmental technologies.
Verification, using an internationally accepted standard, can enhance vendor credibility and buyer confidence to accept innovative environmental technologies. By demonstrating that environmental performance claims are valid, credible and supported by high-quality, independent test data, companies can grow their business for technology-based solutions, both nationally and internationally.
For instance, when the City of Toronto learned that poor air quality was posing serious health risks to its residents, it relied on ETV to verify and validate claims about the amount of fine road dust that street sweepers could remove. Street sweeper suppliers recognized the value of verifying and reporting their performance claims to provide assurance to the City of Toronto. SCC’s video highlights this case and demonstrates how ETV was used to confirm street sweeper performance claims.
For additional information, SCC’s webinar on ISO 14034, including questions and answers, looks at the principles and requirements of ISO 14034 and discusses ETV from an industry perspective. A list of verified technologies, the latest news and events on ETV in Canada, and resources for companies interested in verification can be found at etvcanada.ca.