New ISO standard on tap

As New York Climate Week begins, the certification company LRQA is urging those in the food sector to review the readiness of their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data for the introduction of the world’s first international standard for net zero, ISO 14060. The new voluntary standard will create a globally accepted definition of what it means for an organisation to be net zero aligned and create a common language for organisations, regulators and partners.

Dan Krekelberg, climate strategy director at EcoEngineers, an LRQA company, and member of the ISO 14060 International Working Group says, “ISO standards can drive real climate action by cutting through today’s confusion around net zero. Right now, organisations follow conflicting guidance or create their own targets. This makes it challenging to demonstrate progress on emissions reduction.

“ISO 14060 will change that, setting a globally agreed, consensus-built standard that brings clarity, consistency and credibility to net zero at the organisational level.”

Launched in 2024, and currently in the committee draft stage the new proposed ISO standard will establish how targets should be set, measured and delivered, align with the goals of the Paris Agreement, build on existing ISO standards, focus on organisational claims, and most importantly, be verifiable, globally applicable and adaptable across sectors.

While businesses across the globe have pledged to reach net zero emissions, there is currently no international agreement defining how to measure, report, and verify progress toward this aim. In fact, a recent LRQA poll shows only one in five organisations feel they have the data needed to report progress credibly and Net Zero Tracker found just 4% of corporate targets currently meet minimum robustness criteria, such as clear interim goals, transparent data or third-party verification.

Effectively tracking emissions data throughout the food industry is challenging due its long and complex supply chains which often operate across borders and face various standards and disclosure requirements. This often leads to inconsistency, where partners may define and measure net zero differently which can lead to inaccurate data and progress tracking.

This lack of clarity not only undermines trust but also invites greenwashing risks and makes it difficult for organisations to confidently align with regulation and stakeholder expectations.

LRQA urges businesses and organisations to begin preparing for the final publication of the new standard now, by focusing on five key areas:

1. Strengthening emissions data quality and governance
2. Aligning existing climate disclosures with ISO 14064 and GHG Protocol
3. Reviewing current net zero targets for transparency, scope and measurability
4. Mapping mitigation pathways against science-based goals
5. Assigning internal ownership of net zero strategy and verification processes

Krekelberg concludes, “With leading food and beverage brands aiming for net zero by 2050, the timing of the new standard is critical and aligns with regulations such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and California’s Climate Accountability Package (SB 253 and SB 261) which are making climate related reporting and assurance more demanding.

“The most important step organisations within the food sector can take now is to improve the quality of their emissions data. Without that, even the best targets risk losing credibility.“