World Standards Day 2020 | Protecting the planet with standards

The MCCAA organised a digital conference for World Standards Day. The conference theme was ‘Protecting the Planet with Standards’, and focused on how standards can support sustainability by helping reduce the environmental impact of production and processes, facilitate the reuse of limited resources and improve energy efficiency.

The conference included a keynote message from the Secretary General of the International Standards Organisation and a panel discussion from experts and industry on sustainability in Malta and the industry’s role in lessening the impact on the environment. The benefits of having an ISO-certified organisation and the experience in developing standards were highlighted.

Francesca Fabri, Faye Galea and Krista Mercieca, three Young Sustainable Ambassadors gave their views on their aspirations and how standards have an impact in their day to day life. The ambassadors were selected following a competition between children attending primary and secondary education aimed at giving a voice to tomorrow’s generation. 

In her speech, Minister for Tourism and Consumer Protection Julia Farrugia Portelli underlined the importance of how standards promote the adoption of best practices that are agreed and maintained through a consensus of stakeholders, including industry, associations, consumers and regulators. She remarked that standards promote a better quality of life in a more sustainable way, while having a minimal impact on the environment. “I am pleased to see how even in the tourism sector there have been a number of hotels that have complied with the relevant standards, with one of the government’s goals being that of achieving sustainable tourism”, concluded Julia Farrugia Portelli. 

Parliamentary Secretary for Consumer Protection and Public Cleansing, Deo Debattista, highlighted that standards create tangible impact, protect and promote the necessary information that beacon to make informed choices and educated conclusions. He noted that standards help to make products and services safer, easier to use and lead to a better quality of life. 

The MCCAA Chairperson, Inġ. Helga Pizzuto, reflected on the role of the Standardisation Directorate within the Standards and Metrology Institute of the MCCAA. This Directorate has developed a number of standards that are of national importance on a wide range of subjects – from installation of PV panels to green roofs. During the drafting of standards, sustainability issues are taken into consideration. These include economic development, social inclusion and environment protection, which are key to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.