8. Voluntary standards

Sustainability covenants are voluntary agreements under the Environment Protection Act 2002 through which EPA and an organisation or a group of organisations can explore ways of reducing the environmental impact and increasing the resource efficiency of their products and services.

Sustainability covenants support a holistic approach to the management of our environment that considers the impacts of products and services through their entire life cycle, from production right through to use and disposal. The environmental benefit achieved through sustainability covenants will therefore be far reaching, extending beyond the site of a company's operations. Sustainability covenants enable companies to receive statutory recognition for leadership and commitment shown to the environment through efforts to achieve resource use efficiencies and to reduce the ecological impacts of products and services.