One of SEIA's top priorities is to help ensure a sustainable solar supply chain globally. In support of this mission, SEIA is taking proactive steps to promote environmental and social responsibility within the industry.
View or Download the Solar Industry Environmental & Social Responsibility Commitment.
Developing SEIA's Environmental & Social Responsibility Commitment
In 2010, SEIA established the Environment, Health & Safety Committee (EHS Committee), comprised of more than 40 solar industry representatives from nearly every aspect of the global solar value chain, including both U.S. and foreign-based organizations. In 2011, the EHS Committee began developing a set of solar industry guidelines to promote environmental and social responsibility.
This work led to the creation of a Solar Industry Commitment to Environmental and Social Responsibility. This document serves as a guide to the solar industry and promotes the implementation of environmental and social responsibility best practices throughout the industry.
The Commitment, which may be adopted by companies throughout the solar supply chain, is a voluntary document that is designed to evolve as the industry grows. It includes provisions regarding the environment, labor, ethics, health and safety, and management systems.
The Commitment was drafted with significant input from the solar industry, as well as external environmental regulation, labor and ethics experts. SEIA also partnered with a leading Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) firm to assist with the development of the Commitment.
Solar Sustainability Roadmap
Now that the Commitment is complete, the CSR firm will help develop an industry guide on implementation of the ESR Statement principles. In addition, the EHS Committee, with input from the CSR firm, will develop a long-term Solar Sustainability Roadmap designed to:
- Build upon SEIA’s important work to date and;
- Expand SEIA’s efforts to help ensure a sustainable solar supply-chain globally