| 1.
SUBSTANCE |
Appropriate
content and language (i.e., undiluted, unambiguous and watertight).
- To what degree does the voluntary initiative contribute to solving,
not avoiding problems of environmental deterioration and social
inequities?
- How clear and unambiguous is the language of the initiative
in describing its aims, implementation, and measures of progress?
|
| 2.
INCLUSIVENESS |
Active participation
of appropriate stakeholders, including opportunities and resources
for participation by the wide range of affected persons and organizations.
- To what degree are stakeholders involved in:
- development of the initiative
- implementation
- monitoring and verification
- assessment of effectiveness
|
| 3.
MOTIVATION |
Sufficient
incentives to encourage voluntary compliance.
- What incentives does the company or industry provide to encourage
adoption and compliance with the initiative?
|
| 4.
INTEGRATION |
Incorporation
of social and environmental values into not only the policies and
operations of companies, but also in the way they define and measure
success and progress.
- To what degree are the values of sustainability and social equity
integrated into the industry or company’s definitions and
measurements of progress and success?
|
| 5.
TRANSPARENCY |
Independent
monitoring of implementation, with timely and adequate reporting by
companies.
- How transparent is the company about making information available
to the public on products and processes, allowing for effective
public tracking?
|
| 6.
CREDIBILITY |
Independent
verification of compliance, involving participation and endorsement
by the NGO sector in the choice and methods of verification.
- How thorough is monitoring of progress or compliance?
- How often is information monitored and verified?
- How detailed is the verification?
- How well documented is the monitoring and verification?
- How independent is the verification of data?
|
| 7.
ACCOUNTABILITY |
Use of complementary
regulatory and civic mechanisms needed to encourage or enforce responsible
behavior in those areas where the initiative falls short.
- To what degree does the initiative enhance or improve the company
or industry’s accountability (in contrast to the use of the
initiative to avoid accountablity)?
- How does the initiative work in conjunction with existing or
developing regulations and other legal mechanisms (or does it
conflict with or challenge them)?
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