About SMK
SMK (Stichting Milieukeur) is a small organization but realizes a large impact in the field of making products and processes more sustainable. The organization was founded in early 1992 on the initiative of the Ministries of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment and Economic Affairs and Climate Change. SMK became responsible for the development and management of the criteria for the Dutch ecolabel Milieukeur. SMK was also designated as the competent body for the EU Ecolabel at its inception.
SMK now develops and manages 9 different quality marks, does certifications for EU Ecolabel, tests for the Register of Green Declarations, and facilitates for TPAC.
We are happy to explain who we are, what we do, and why.
Together with our Boards of Experts and Guidance Committees, we are committed at a national and international level to help companies improve their sustainability performance. But…sustainability is a broad concept for SMK. SMK agrees with the definition of sustainability as stated in UN Resolution 66/288. In it, sustainable development is defined as:
“The development towards an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable future for the earth and for present and future generations.”
For SMK, this means that we always start from an approach in which all relevant aspects of sustainability are addressed: thus not only climate but also biodiversity, water, soil, emissions, animal welfare, and whatever else is important.
SMK & Sustainability
Sustainability includes the protection of the environment, biodiversity, climate, public health, animal welfare, human rights, working conditions, and fair trade. SMK focuses primarily on environmental aspects, such as climate and biodiversity, but also animal health and welfare. Products can be more sustainable than comparable products in various ways. For example, through their composition, the way they are made, the way they can be disposed of, or because they use less energy or are less polluting.
See UN-resolution 66/288Mission & Vision
SMK was founded in 1992. And for a good reason: to enable consumers to make more sustainable choices and for businesses to make their production more sustainable. That mission has remained unchanged.
Curious about which goals SMK is pursuing?
History
We have been in existence for 30 years. As such, there have been many developments. From the creation of a new quality mark to projects, anniversaries, and milestones.
Look at our history.
Organizational Structure
SMK is an organization with over 20 employees led by a director/administrator. SMK has a Supervisory Board and several Boards of Experts. We explain the structure of the organization.
Boards of Experts
As the name suggests, these Boards consist of experts, drawn from all relevant stakeholder groups, who make up the three Boards of Experts.
Complaint Committee
SMK has a Complaint Committee at its disposal. This Committee takes up complaints when parties cannot find each other through a settlement. The Complaint Committee uses complaint regulations, which is described how a complaint can be filed and how the Committee will handle it.
Projects
We work together with an extensive network of governments, producers, industry associations, civil society organizations, retailers, scientists, and chain partners.
Employees
In total, we work with over 20 colleagues on all programs and projects.
Curious who they are?
Annual Report
Every year we write an annual report with an account of activities, use of resources and interesting facts from that year.
Interested in the events of recent years? Then read on. The reports are in Dutch.