New ISO Standards Bring Clarity to Chain of Custody

Why It Matters

The standards give businesses a reliable, internationally recognized method to verify and communicate sustainability attributes, reducing risk of claim disputes and facilitating cross‑border commerce in green products.

Key Takeaways

• ISO 22095‑2 defines operational rules for mass‑balance CoC models.
• ISO 22095‑3 standardizes book‑and‑claim instruments to prevent double counting.
• New standards enable cross‑industry verification of sustainability claims.
• Certification bodies gain a common reference for global supply‑chain audits.
• Companies can better substantiate recycled or renewable content claims.

Pulse Analysis

Sustainability claims have become a market differentiator, yet the lack of a common verification framework has left many organizations vulnerable to scrutiny. The original ISO 22095:2020 laid the terminology groundwork, but companies still struggled to translate concepts into actionable processes. By introducing ISO 22095‑2 and ISO 22095‑3, the ISO technical committee 308 bridges that gap, offering detailed guidance that can be applied from chemicals to textiles, ensuring that recycled or renewable content is tracked with the same rigor across industries.

The mass‑balance model addressed in ISO 22095‑2 focuses on quantitative accounting rather than physical segregation, allowing mixed streams of material while still delivering transparent reporting. Meanwhile, ISO 22095‑3 formalizes the book‑and‑claim approach, creating a standardized lifecycle for transferable instruments that represent environmental attributes. Both standards embed safeguards against double counting, a chronic issue that has undermined confidence in green certifications. Certification bodies now have a clear audit trail, and policymakers can reference a single set of criteria when drafting regulations or trade agreements.

For businesses, the practical impact is twofold: enhanced credibility with consumers and smoother access to international markets that increasingly demand proof of sustainability. Companies can integrate these standards into existing supply‑chain management systems, leveraging them to substantiate claims in marketing, ESG reporting, and investor communications. As more sectors adopt the harmonized framework, the market is likely to see a surge in certified green products, driving investment in circular economy initiatives and reinforcing the economic case for responsible sourcing.