Voluntary Standards

Historical Development of Voluntary Standards

Corresponding to the need for cooperation, humans have standardized artifacts and communication for thousands of years. The industrial revolution brought about mechanized production that created de facto standardized products and processes needing standardized means of production For instance, development of a network of railroads in Great Britain make clear the need for a standard gauge (width between the rails) so that the same rolling stock could be used on different lines. In the late 19th century, standardization became a social activity clearly recognizable as such while since the early 20th century, national standardization organizations emerged in the interaction of industrial associations, engineering bodies, and governmental authorities. Western nation-states supported increasing standardization to improve conditions for trade: common standards generally facilitate international trade while the lack of such standards can be a barrier to it.

Voluntary standards in industry gained significant importance during World War II because of the need to rapidly manufacture large quantities of weapons and munitions: standardization increased efficiency by facilitating mass production of parts, weapons and munitions. National standardization organizations cooperated with nation-states for military goals, leading to the birth of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1947. ISO is not an acronym, but refers to the Greek concept isos, meaning “equal.” The aim of ISO is to coordinate the standards developed in the nation-states and to unify standards internationally, with a primary focus on technical standards. Originally, ISO focused on crafting international standards that designed for reissuance at the national [Page 531]level, ideally without further change, but soon moved beyond this. A second major shift took place in the 1980s to 1990s, when ISO standards were expanded to include aspects of corporate culture such as quality assurance. This was the move that finally provided the path to standards for environmental management—a significant terrain of voluntary standards relevant for greening businesses.

However, ISO and the national standardization organizations are not the sole organizations setting standards. Producers often convene to set their own standards, both for single corporations as well as for consortiums. While such standards may be voluntary, they are not necessarily open, meaning available for public scrutiny. However, in the field of voluntary standards regarding the environment, standards are normally open because they were created in reaction to the public's interest in greener products and greener manufacturing and business practices. For this reason, environmental standards related to products are often publicized, and products meeting those standards are identified by means such as labels or certificates that allow consumers to choose products meeting the standards.

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