ISO Fo c u s The Magazine of the International Organization for Standardization Volume 2, No. 6, June 2005, ISSN 1729-8709 Innovation in energy and raw materials • Arcelor CEO : “ In a global economy, standardization is a must ” • ISO General Assembly in Singapore Contents 1 Comment Kevin McKinley, ISO Deputy Secretary-General, Back to basics 2 World Scene Highlights of events from around the world 3 ISO Scene Highlights of news and developments from ISO members 4 Guest View Guy Dollé, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board, Arcelor 7 Main Focus ISO Focus is published 11 times © ISO a year (single issue : July-August). It is available in English. Annual subscription 158 Swiss Francs Individual copies 16 Swiss Francs Publisher Central Secretariat of ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 1, rue de Varembé CH-1211 Genève 20 Switzerland Telephone + 41 22 749 01 11 Fax + 41 22 733 34 30 E-mail [email protected] On the road again… Web www.iso.org Manager : Anke Varcin IInnovationnnovation iinn eenergynergy aandnd Editor : Elizabeth Gasiorowski-Denis rrawaw mmaterialsaterials Artwork : Pascal Krieger and Pierre Granier • Plastics and energy – A cradle-to-cradle relationship ISO Update : Dominique Chevaux • Biodegradability of plastics – a path to prevent pollution Subscription enquiries : Sonia Rosas • From Iron ore to steel : standardizing the process ISO Central Secretariat • Rubber : standards for the black art Telephone + 41 22 749 03 36 • Cutting out the complexities of coal classification Fax + 41 22 749 09 47 • ISO/TC 203 : What is energy and energywares ? E-mail [email protected] • Expanding solar water heating market needs ISO standards • ISO gears wind power © ISO, 2005. All rights reserved. • Saving billions of dollars : ISO standards for natural gas The contents of ISO Focus are copyright • Hydrogen from dream to reality and may not, whether in whole or in part, be reproduced, stored in a retrieval 37 Developments and Initiatives system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, • Loh Khum Yean, Chief Executive of SPRING Singapore, photocopying or otherwise, without which will host the 28th ISO General Assembly in Singapore written permission of the Editor. this September ISSN 1729-8709 40 New this month Printed in Switzerland • ISO 22000 standard for safe food supply chains Cover photo : ISO. 41 Coming up ISO Focus June 2005 Comment Back to basics nergy and raw materials are hard- Another element is the growing inter- Standardization in these fields ly new areas in international est that such economies have in assum- must therefore be very forward-think- Estandardization. This month’s ing more leadership positions in ISO ing to pave the way for increased mar- ISO Focus addresses these founda- technical committees, subcommittees ket share. At least three key challenges tional standards in ISO. Consistent and and working groups. Finally, the bal- exist. First, there is a need to convince reliable test and analytical methods as ance of participation and influence is and coordinate with players in the appli- well as specifications for equipment also starting to shift influence within cation sectors such as transportation and and processes related to exploration, ISO with, for example, an impressive electrical utilities. Secondly, there is the mining, storage, distribution and use increase in the participation levels of challenge of ensuring that the wheel is have been the focus of many of ISO’s Asian countries in the past number not reinvented and that best use and link- technical committees. However, these of years. age is made to existing standards in oth- same energy and material sectors now er areas such as the oil and natural gas need to address the global challenges of sectors. Finally, it’s essential that such improved production efficiencies, emerg- “ ISO standards forward-thinking standardization also ing technologies, reduced energy and on energy and raw makes the right connection with evolv- material consumption, and decreased ing regulatory discussions and frame- environmental impacts. materials are challenged works being developed within countries, “ Standards for a sustainable by globalization and regions and at the global level such as world ” is more than the tagline for the imperative of Working Groups of the United Nations ISO’s Strategic Plan 2005-2010. The Economic Commissions. statement also embodies a global vision sustainable So, even the “ back to basics ” of how ISO contributes to economic and development ” ISO standards on energy and raw social progress through its activities. materials are challenged by globaliza- This is achieved through timely and mar- tion and the imperative of sustainable ket-relevant standardization that results Finite energy resources and raw development. in facilitation of global trade ; improve- materials coupled with ever-growing ments in quality, safety, security, envi- world economies are challenging ISO ronmental and consumer protection, as to provide standards that support sus- well as the rational use of resources ; tainable development. However, not all and the global dissemination of technol- of these challenges are created equal. Krieger © P. ogies and good practices. This vision Standardization in the widely commer- also highlights the need for continued cialized areas of plastics, rubber, iron evolution in standardization related to ore and steel has existed for decades, in energy and raw materials. some cases, centuries. The challenge for Political and economic forces these areas is to adjust the sound base are also having a serious impact on the of existing test methods and analysis world’s energy and raw material needs. standards to consider new composite and Giant emerging economies are tipping material technologies, the recycling of the scales of demand and consump- materials, product lifecycle considera- tion. For example, China and India’s tions and environmental impacts during rapid expansion have propelled them production. This is in contrast to stand- into being amongst the largest energy ards for newer energy systems based on Kevin McKinley consuming nations in the world. So hydrogen, wind and solar energy that ISO Deputy Secretary General what are the implications for standard- must deal with a number of economic ization ? Certainly one element is the and technological barriers. In the case increased attention that these emerg- of hydrogen, implementations are more ing economies are starting to place on in the development and demonstration preparing and involving their experts to phases and, as a result, there has not impact the development of ISO stand- yet been widespread commercializa- ards that support their market interests. tion in this sector. ISO Focus June 2005 1 World Scene WTO examines supplier’s WTO Members, including things, the activities of ISO/TC construction, which will be declaration of conformity the acceptance of conformity 224, Service activities relating contributing to the conference. assessment results, and will to drinking water supply sys- The World Trade Organization’s More information : consider, inter alia, the issue tems and wastewater systems – www.sb05.com/ Technical Barriers to Trade of recognition of conformity Quality criteria of the service (WTO TBT) Committee held assessment results. and performance indicators. a workshop on Supplier’s Dec- World Petroleum Congress laration of Conformity (SDoC) More information : More information : 2005 www.wto.org www.un.org/esa/sustdev/ in March 2005, in Geneva, The 18th World Petroleum Switzerland. Congress (WPC), which is to ISO attended the workshop, Global efforts on water, World sustainable be held in Johannesburg, South and, in the course of discussions, sanitation and human building conference Africa, from 26 to 29 September highlighted ISO/IEC 17050: settlements Some 1 500 building 2005, will focus on the theme, 2004, which offers a framework The thirteenth session of the researchers, practitioners, “ Shaping the Energy Future : for the outline content and sub- Commission on Sustainable officials, industry Partners in Sustaina- stantiation of a “supplier’s Development (CSD) reached representatives and students ble Solutions ”. declaration of conformity agreement on a range of policy from all over the world will Energy is the (SDoC)”. measures aimed at speeding up gather for the World Sustainable lifeblood of implementation of water, sani- Building Conference in Tokyo, economic and tation and human settlements Japan, on 27 and 28 September social develop- goals. 2005, to exchange the latest ment and, Under the terms of the outcome knowledge and experience on while oil and gas document, which will be sub- sustainable buildings. will not last forever, mitted to the UN Economic and they will be essential for SDoC Social Council (ECOSOC) for global developments in the fol- review at its annual session in lowing decades. Transitions July, the Commission empha- must take place towards cleaner sized the need for a substantial forms of energy production and increase in resources to come use, and the petroleum industry from all sources if developing will be part of this development. © P. Krieger © P. © ISO countries were to achieve the Trends and outlooks integral to internationally agreed develop- the future success of the indus- An SDoC is one of the ways by The building sector represents ment targets. try are the focus of discussions which a supplier may seek to a major platform for social and and presentations at the Congress. demonstrate