HARMONITOR – a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) aiming to improve the effectiveness of certification schemes and labels in different sectors of the EU Bioeconomy- has been awarded Horizon Europe funding. The Harmonitor project includes 9 partners from 5 EU Member States and is coordinated by SQ Consult B.V.
The Harmonitor project is pleased to announce the launch of its 3 years activities, starting in June 2022. Effective and robust sustainability certification schemes and labels for biobased resources, materials and products can set higher levels for sustainability standards within and beyond EU borders. Harmonitor is geared towards improving the effectiveness of certification schemes and labels in different sectors of the EU Bioeconomy and strengthening their use as a co-regulation instrument.
Harmonitor's goal is to promote and contribute to better quality and more trustable certification schemes and labels available in the market. The Harmonitor project will also establish and test a participative review platform concept that allows certification schemes and labels to find commonalities and cooperation when operating in bio-based value chains within and across EU borders. EU policy makers will also be invited to use and support the concept platform. The specific objectives of the Harmonitor project are:
To establish a review platform to capture the dynamic development of certification schemes and labels and encourage their harmonisation and continuous improvement through the exchange of information and promotion of best practices, as well as contributing to the development of new criteria and indicators for the preparation of industrial standards.
To provide quantitative, transparent data on bio-based value chains through analysis and dissemination of trade flows of biological resources, bio-based materials and products (certified and non-certified), and quantification of direct and indirect costs and benefits of certification.
To review and compare performance requirements (criteria and indicators) and assurance and governance systems for comprehensive sustainability coverage of international and EU certification schemes and labels for bio-based systems.
To develop and apply a monitoring system on the effectiveness and robustness of bio-based certification schemes and labels.
To improve the understanding of the opportunities and limitations of using certification schemes and labels as a co-regulation instrument for the future development of the EU bioeconomy policy framework.
The Harmonitor consortium is integrated by:
SQ Consult B.V. - The Netherlands (coordinator)
DBFZ German Biomass Research Center GmbH - Germany
BTG - Biomass Technology Group - The Netherlands
Utrecht University - The Netherlands
RINA Consulting and RINA Services - Italy
Preferred by Nature - Denmark
agroVet - Austria
Gras - Global risk assessment services - Germany
Radboud University - The Netherlands
