DIN SPEC 35200:2014-11

Sustainability is the goal of sustainable development. It refers to any state of the global system in which the needs of the present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The concept of sustainability is continually evolving. Understanding and achieving a balance between environmental, social and economic systems, ideally in mutually supporting ways, is considered essential for making progress towards achieving sustainability. The achievement of sustainability is now recognized as one of the most important considerations in all human activities. ISO standards can contribute to the achievement of sustainability, - either directly (where they specifically address sustainability issues) or indirectly (for example, where they relate to testing, products, procedures, services, terminology, management systems or auditing). This Guide is intended for use by anyone involved in the development of ISO standards and similar deliverables, and aims to: a) raise awareness of sustainability issues arising from the application of ISO standards; b) provide standards writers with a systematic approach to addressing sustainability issues in a coherent and consistent manner, with regard to both new and revised standards, and in a manner related to the objective and scope of the standard being developed; c) promote consistency, where appropriate, among standards that address sustainability. This Guide makes reference to related ISO deliverables, as appropriate, for example ISO Guide 64 (which addresses environmental issues in product standards) and ISO 26000 (which provides guidance on social responsibility). Standards writers are encouraged to consider sustainability issues in their work at all stages in the standards development process. If sustainability issues have not been considered, this can be a valid reason to start the revision of a standard. In addition, the significance or relevance of specific issues might have changed since the previous edition of a standard was drafted or reviewed. Whenever a new standard is drafted or an existing standard is revised, all standards writers (including project leaders, convenors, committee chairs and secretaries) are encouraged to actively promote the application of this Guide, and thereby involve experts knowledgeable in the subject. The responsible German committee is Working Group KU-AK 3 "Einbeziehung von Nachhaltigkeitsgesichtspunkten in Normen" ("Inclusion of sustainability aspects in standards") of the DIN Environmental Protection Helpdesk (EPH).