Social actors

Consumer groups, environmental organisations and trade unions.

Building broad-based standards together

Standards touch almost every aspect of daily life - from products and services to health, environment and work. So it's important that they reflect not only technical or economic interests but also the voice of society.

As a civil society organisation - a trade union, environmental group or consumer association - you play a crucial role.

Your participation ensures that standards are fair, sustainable, inclusive and better aligned with what people really need.

By getting involved, you help to:

increase the safety, sustainability and inclusion of standards;
ensure balance between economic and social interests;
increase citizen confidence in products, services and regulations.

Did you know?

European legislation states that civil society actors - including environmental organisations, consumer groups and trade unions - must be consulted in the development of certain European standards.

On this page

Who are you?

Consumer associations: the voice of the user

Why standards matter to consumers

Standards ensure that products and services are safe, reliable and accessible.

They determine how products are designed, tested and used - so that you, the consumer, can be confident that what you buy does what it promises.

In committees, I bring the experience of users: what works, what people are up against, and what we can improve. That expertise is not technical - it comes from reality. Consumer organisations bring insights to the table that no one else has.

Billy-Ray Muraille
Consumer Organisation Representative (BV-OECO)

How standards meet consumer expectations

Why your participation is important

As a consumer association, you bring the practical experience of users to the standardisation process. Your input ensures standards are not only technically correct but also realistic and fit for everyday life.

When consumers are not represented, commercial interests threaten to take precedence. Your voice provides balance.

Examples of impact:

Safer baby walkers.
Accessible websites and user-friendly home appliances.
Standards for online privacy.
More environmentally friendly packaging.

Make sure the consumer's voice is heard.

Participate in standards development and help improve the quality of products and services.

Environmental groups: the voice of sustainability

Why standards matter for the environment

How standards improve environmental performance

Why your participation matters

As an environmental organisation, you bring expertise, values and ambition to a technical process. You ensure that standards not only meet minimum requirements but also drive progress on sustainability and climate.

By participating in standards development, you contribute directly to the circular economy and green transition.

Examples of impact:

Stricter standards for refrigerants and flame retardants.
Improved methods of measuring environmental impact.
Standards that encourage recycling and a circular economy.
Sustainable innovations in energy and mobility.

Do you want to contribute to a more sustainable future?

Participate in standards development and make your organisation a driving force behind environmentally friendly standards.

Unions: the voice of workers

Why standards matter to employees

How you make a difference as a union

By participating in standards development, you can ensure that standards take into account:

occupational health and safety;
equal opportunity and fair pay;
social protection and inclusion;
the balance between efficiency and wellbeing;
respect for social dialogue and collective rights.

International and European standards - such as ISO 45001 on occupational safety and health - are playing an increasing role in the organisation of production and work. Your voice helps ensure that those standards contribute to decent working conditions and not just economic efficiency.

Examples of impact

Give employees a voice at the table.

Participate in standards development and help create safe, fair and forward-looking working conditions.

How to get involved

Sit at the table with experts, businesses and governments

Does your community organisation want to have an impact on how standards are created?

The process is simple and accessible.

Choose your field from the list of standards committees.

Work with companies, experts and governments on new standards.

Participation in a standards committee administered by NBN is free of charge.

Go to the overview of standards committees

Frequently asked questions

Any questions about participation?

Contact our team at standardsdevelopment@nbn.be
or call +32 2 738 01 11.

Alexandre della Faille

Project Manager Standards

Send an email