We're back with the next part of our mini-series on Sustainable Consumerism! Join us as we dive into some sustainable certifications in South America.
We explore why intentional buying is rising across cities like São Paulo, Mexico City, Bogotá, and Buenos Aires, even amid economic pressures, and how robust certifications bridge the gap between "wanting to do better" and actually making an impact.
- Brazil's Organic System (SisOrg): Managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, including audit certification, Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS), and Social Control Organizations
- Mexico's Organic Framework (LPO & SENASICA): Strict rules enforced through authorized independent Certification Organizations
- SCS Sustainably Grown®: A comprehensive, cost-effective certification going beyond organic
- The shift from "nice-to-have" to "need-to-have" for younger urban consumers demanding proof via labels, QR codes, and real stories.
- Challenges like inflation and affordability—and why "sustainable + accessible" wins.
- The role of trust, digital transparency, and brand leadership in driving change.
Sips for Change - Sustainable Consumerism Episodes
https://youtu.be/Q5hvuXsSElk
https://youtu.be/-PVgf4SBX7s
Fairtrade International (producer governance, Latam premiums):
https://www.fairtrade.net/en/about/governance-and-board.html
https://www.flocert.net/glossary/fairtrade-premium/
https://www.fairtrade.net/en/get-involved/library/latin-america-caribbean-monitoring-report-16th-ed.html
Rainforest Alliance (Latam biodiversity/labor standards):
https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/for-business/certification/
https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/what-does-rainforest-alliance-certified-mean/
https://www.scsglobalservices.com/latin-america/services/rainforest-alliance-certification
Brazil SisOrg Organic (PNPOrg, 3-year transition, PGS):
https://agribrasilis.com/2022/08/17/organic-products-brazil/
https://www.qima.com/food/organic/brasil
https://www.arc2020.eu/participatory-guarantee-systems-for-organic-food-a-brazilian-model/
Mexico SENASICA Organic Certification:
https://www.nsf.org/ca/en/food-beverage/organic-certification-mexico
https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/664061/1.2Certified_organic_products_for_your_safety.pdf
https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/792357/Regulation_of_organic_products_in_Mexico.pdf
SCS Sustainably Grown® (gap analysis, audits):
https://www.ferrerohazelnutcompany.com/agrichile/es/noticias/desarrollo-y-sostenibilidad-agricola-que-significa-la-certificacion-scs-sustainably-grown
https://www.scsglobalservices.com/latin-america/services/scs-sustainably-grown-certification
https://www.scsglobalservices.com/news/scientific-certification-systems-de-mexico-sa-de-cv-scs-mexico-approved-to-offer-organic
https://www.theconsumergoodsforum.com/industry-solutions/sustainable-supply-chain-initiative/key-projects/benchmarking-recognition/global-social-compliance-programme/#:~:text=The%20Global%20Social%20Compliance%20Programme,sustainability%20along%20the%20supply%20chain.
Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) Latin America:
https://pgs.ifoam.bio/pgs_groups/map?region=latin_america
https://agroecologyfund.org/participatory-guarantee-systems-for-accessible-agroecology-markets-learning-for-a-way-forward/
Sustainable Consumer Trends (Latam cities):
https://www.publitas.com/blog/sustainable-shopping-surges-in-latin-america/