Standards New Zealand is seeking comments from stakeholders on a new work item proposal (NWIP) for a new international Standard that will deliver principles, requirements, and guidelines for a water footprint metric of products, processes, and organisations. The Association Française de Normalisation (AFNOR) has submitted the NWIP to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Standards New Zealand is seeking New Zealand's views and advice on this work before 15 May 2009, in particular:

• does New Zealand agree the work is feasible and should go ahead?
• does New Zealand have any relevant documents to contribute to the development?
• does New Zealand want to actively participate in this work, at least by commenting on working drafts?

For more information, or to submit comments, including support for or opposition to the proposal, please contact Angela Henderson,angela.henderson@standards.co.nz, at Standards New Zealand. All comments submitted to Standards New Zealand will be considered, and will be used to inform the New Zealand position on this proposal.

Why do we need your view?

International Standards can act as a reference point for international trade and for local Standards development. A decision to actively participate in the development of this international Standard would keep New Zealand informed of the latest developments, and enable New Zealand to contribute on matters of importance to us.

It is very important for affected stakeholders to have their voice heard during the ISO Standards development process. According to ISO rules, Standards New Zealand is required to take into account the views of all relevant national interests. We encourage you to provide feedback to us if this area is of interest to you.

Standards New Zealand is New Zealand's representative to the ISO, and is responsible for coordinating New Zealand participation in the development of international Standards. Visit the Standards New Zealand website for more information about New Zealand's involvement with ISO. http://www.standards.co.nz/about/Committees/International+Protocol/Participation.htm

ISO environmental management technical committee – water footprint and carbon footprint work

The water footprint NWIP is under the scope of ISO Technical Committee (TC) 207, Environmental Management, Subcommittee (SC) 5 – Life Cycle Assessment. ISO TC 207 is also developing a carbon footprint Standard.

Water footprint new work item proposal

Country votes for the NWIP are due back at ISO in early June 2009, and the results will be discussed at the next TC 207 meeting in Cairo, 21 – 27 June 2009.

Water is a very important resource to manage for the coming years, especially for agricultural products. A Standard that can explain and describe what a water footprint is will be crucial, to ensure coherence with other environmental metrics, especially carbon footprint and other life cycle based indicators, and other Standards in the ISO 14000 series.

→ Buy AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set

The proposed international Standard will:

• deliver principles, requirements, and guidelines for a water footprint metric of products, processes, and organisations, based on the guidance of impact assessment as given in ISO 14044:2006, Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Requirements and guidelines.

→ Buy ISO 14044:2006

• define how the different types of water sources (for example, ground, surface, lake, river, green, blue, grey, and so on) should be considered, how the different types of water releases should be considered, and how the local environmental conditions (dry areas, wet areas) should be treated.
• for products, it will apply the life cycle approach and will be based on the same product system as specified in ISO 14040:2006, Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Principles and framework, and ISO 14044.

→ Buy ISO 14040:2006

• will, at the organisation level, consider the guidance given by ISO 14064 Parts 1 – 3:2006, for greenhouse gases. To locate the parts of ISO 14064, visit www.standards.co.nz, click the 'ISO' tab, and enter keyword 14064.
• address the communication issues linked to the water footprint, in accordance with the related published Standards (ISO 14020:2000, Environmental labels and declarations – General principles, ISO 14025:2006, Environmental labels and declarations – Type III environmental declarations – Principles and procedures), and Standards under preparation (ISO 14067–2).

→ Buy ISO 14020:2000

→ Buy ISO 14025:2006

Carbon footprint Standard – update

In late 2008, votes approved ISO TC 207 to develop an international Standard for the Carbon footprint of products. It will specify requirements for the quantification and communication of greenhouse gases associated with the whole life cycle or specific stages of the life cycle of products and services.

New Zealand is actively participating in the carbon footprint of products work, through a group of carbon footprint experts convened by New Zealand's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. ISO is currently hearing feedback on whether the carbon footprint of products work will extend to include organisations.