Swaab, established in 1981 in Sydney, Australia, is a law firm that focuses on solving problems and maximizing opportunities for various clients, including entrepreneurs, family businesses, corporations, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm's core values include commitment, integrity, excellence, generosity of spirit, unity, and innovation. Swaab's lawyers have diverse expertise and prioritize building long-term client relationships based on service and empathy.
You can say all you like about how socially responsible your
company is and how you do your best to be ethical or principled.
But how do you show you care? Euge Power,
Solicitor at Swaab Attorneys, presents a list of certification
marks which might prove to potential clients that there is
substance to your claims of social responsibility.
Product certification and use of a certifying body's
trademarks is a way to show your products or services meet with
certain standards. These standards can be in relation to anything:
the environment, place of manufacture, treatment of employees or
combinations of any such standards. Below is a list of a few
certification marks that can enhance your brand.
Fairtrade
International
The Fairtrade International certification mark signifies that the
products or organisation that bear its mark have met the Fairtrade
Standards. The Fairtrade Standards include generic and product
specific standards which producers and organisations have to meet
to obtain certification. Details for Fairtrade Standards can be
found here.
Australian
Made The Australian Made
certification mark signifies the product is substantially
transformed in Australia and at least 50% or more of the cost of
manufacturing or producing must be attributable to a process which
occurred in Australia. Other variations are available, such as
"Product of Australia" and "Australian Grown"
among others. More details on the availability of this trade mark
can be found here.
National Heart
Foundation
The Heart Foundation Tick certification mark signifies that the
food which bears its mark has met the Heart Foundation's
nutrient standards. The mark is synonymous with healthy foods
containing fibre, calcium, whole grains and vegetables while having
reduced fat, trans fat, sodium and kilojoule content. More details
on the availability of this trade mark can be found here.
There are a large range of certification marks that are
available for business owners to associate with their products.
Just as variable are the fees and standards required to use such
identifiable certification marks.
There are also certification marks which relate to services or
the manner in which a company is conducted
Benefit
Corporations B Corps (Benefit Corporations) are
certified by the not-for-profit B Lab Australia & New Zealand
Limited to meet their standards in relation to social and
environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Unlike
the certification marks for products, the B Corp mark can be
obtained by any company as long as it is willing to comply with the
rigorous standards set out by B Lab. Becoming part of the B Corp
community brings you into a community of ethically aware companies
like Ben &
Jerry's or Sendle. More details in
relation to the standards required to use this trademark can be
found here.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.