In today’s highly competitive and complex world, the issue of sustainability, viewed from an economic, environmental and societal perspective means that businesses must be more efficient across a wide range of measures and issues.

International standards are powerful tools for helping organizations capitalize their potential in the global marketplace. Developed by experts from around the world, they contain internationally harmonized best practice which can be used to measure, compare and increase efficiency and reduce waste.

For example, by providing common specifications, international standards enable products, services and technology from different vendors to fit together like pieces in a puzzle. They support interoperability and compatibility, providing a solid base for developing innovations and facilitating market access to new products. They ensure that countries, organizations, regulators and researchers, do not have to reinvent the wheel, and can invest in other priorities.

The state-of-the-art know-how contained in international standards is accessible to all, including developing countries, helping them make the best use of their human and material resources. More efficient industrial and business processes, facilitated by standards, empower companies to compete globally, and produce faster for more markets at a lesser cost.

In this way, standards help organizations meet their customer’s needs while focusing and optimizing company processes. Regulators can use international standards as a means to show compliance and as a base for market- and consumer-friendly regulations. And consumers can rest assured that international standards promote efficiency on issues that matter to them, like product labeling or safety.

The bottom line? International standards from IEC, ISO and ITU not only make good business sense, but greater efficiency helps society to make better use of its resources, contributing to a more sustainable world.