To overcome the existing challenges and to increase circularity, quality infrastructure (QI) services are required. Quality infrastructure is the system comprising the organisations, policies and regulatory framework required to support and enhance the quality and sustainability of a value chain. Quality infrastructure services to support circularity include, for example, the accreditation of laboratories used for testing the purity of recycled materials and the safety of modules for reuse, and the development of standards that are fit-for-purpose and internationally recognised.

Following on from a successful online preparatory workshop, in June 2024 our team facilitated a multi-stakeholder workshop in India with the aim of improving the QI services related to circularity in PV systems. To prepare the process, our team organised meetings and interviews with QI organisations and our partner organisation, the National Physical Laboratory of India (CSIR-NPL). Additionally, we researched relevant background information, and mapped the value chain.

Stakeholders from public and private organisations were identified and invited to collaborate. We asked international experts from German recycling and reuse startup companies, Solar Materials and Better Sol, to present the quality requirements and their methodologies. We also invited the Chief of Global Standards at Sustainable Electronics Recycling International (SERI), to describe the Sustainable Electronics Reuse & Recycling (R2) Standard.

Our team designed and facilitated a two day face-to-face workshop in New Delhi as part of a Calidena process, which included a visit to the CSIR-NPL laboratory to see first-hand their research in PV recycling. This collaboration resulted in the identification of gaps, definition of measures for improvement, and initiated a follow-up committee to guide implementation of the measures. An action plan is being developed to create the basis for a one-year follow up by the key stakeholders. The implemented activities will contribute to increasing awareness about the need for circularity in PV systems, improve the collaboration amongst key stakeholders and foster the QI services required.

The process was conducted on behalf of the German Metrology Institute, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), and funded by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

To overcome the existing challenges and to fulfil the requirements of international markets, quality infrastructure (QI) services are required. Quality infrastructure is the system comprising the organisations, policies and regulatory framework required to support and enhance the quality and sustainability of a value chain. The QI for organic cotton includes services such as accreditation of laboratories used for product testing, identification of standards that are fit-for-purpose and internationally recognised, and systems to ensure traceability of the final product.

Following on from a successful process in Ethiopia in 2022, in November 2023 our team facilitated a multi-stakeholder workshop in Egypt with the aim of improving the QI services in the organic cotton value chain.

To prepare the process, our team organised meetings and interviews with Quality Infrastructure organisations and our partner organisation, the Cotton Egypt Association (CEA), researched relevant background information, and mapped the value chain.

Stakeholders from public and private organisations were identified and invited to collaborate. We invited representatives from the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) to present the requirements for GOTS certification, the Egyptian National Institute of Standards (NIS) to describe the network of QI services that currently exist in Egypt, and Heinz Zeller from Hugo Boss to discuss the quality criteria required by international buyers.

Our team designed and facilitated two online, half-day workshops as part of a Calidena process, which resulted in identification of gaps, definition of cross-industry measures for improvement, and initiated a follow-up committee to guide implementation of the measures.

The pioneer process resulted in an action plan, which creates the basis for a one-year follow-up by the key stakeholders. The implemented activities will contribute to an increased competitiveness of organic Egyptian cotton on the international market.

This Calidena process was conducted on behalf of the German Metrology Institute, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), and funded by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

We began by developing the national interpretation of the standard for Spain during a stakeholder engagement process. Our consultants then trained the suppliers on the application of GLOBALG.A.P. GRASP and prepared them for audits conducted by an external certification body. The effectiveness of the processes and aspects to be improved were assessed in several stakeholder roundtables.

This initiative led to improved social practices and helped establish collaborative stakeholder relations in the region.

For over 12 years, we have been working with Migros on the promotion of social criteria amongst its producers in southern Spain.

Since 2018, our team has provided Migros with tailor-made consultancy services to support the implementation of good social practices in strawberry production. We began the project with a study on the most relevant social issues in the cultivation of strawberries in Huelva. In round table discussions with representatives of Migros, producers, NGOs and syndicates facilitated by our team, a set of priority objectives and measures were defined.

An audit methodology specifically tailored to the context of Huelva was developed by our team to evaluate the implementation of these priority objectives and measures. Following the audits, which were conducted by an external certification body, we supported the producers to define specific action plans.

Picture: Migros Website ,2020

In 2020, our team began implementing a follow-up project on behalf of Migros – taking the previously defined measures and applying them to a larger group of producers. Stakeholder round tables and workshops with business partners in the region provided an opportunity to exchange experience and raise awareness at the farm management level. In the beginning of 2022, the scope of the project was extended to include environmental practices. We undertook integrated evaluations of social and environmental practices based on the audits conducted by the external certification body and supported the producers to define corresponding action plans.

Further we promoted the long-term consolidation of the Migros-specific audits with the GlobalG.A.P. system, thus exploiting synergies and reducing the burden for producers.