Vendor Sustainability Disclosure Policy

Purpose

This policy ensures vendors provide accurate, transparent, and up-to-date sustainability information about their business operations and products. It strengthens customer trust and supports informed, ethical buying decisions.

Scope

Applies to:

• •All registered vendors
• •All sustainability information displayed on storefronts
• •Structured sustainability fields, stories, claims, certifications, and metrics
• •Product-level and vendor-level disclosure pages

Disclosure Requirements

Vendors must provide truthful and evidence-based information in the following areas (when applicable):

• •Environmental practices (energy, emissions, materials, waste, water)
• •Ethical labor practices and community impact
• •Supply chain sourcing and traceability
• •Packaging and circularity practices
• •Sustainability commitments & goals
• •Certifications and third-party verifications
• •Measurable environmental and social performance

Disclosures may be optional at MVP, but accuracy is mandatory whenever information is provided.

Accuracy & Data Responsibility

Vendors are fully responsible for ensuring:

• •All submitted information is factual and current
• •Data aligns with real business practices
• •Any estimates are labeled clearly as estimates
• •Sustainability claims can be explained if challenged

Disclosure Structure

Vendor sustainability content may appear in:

• •Vendor storefront sustainability pages
• •Product sustainability sections
• •Structured LCA fields
• •Certification metadata
• •Sustainability badges (when applicable)

Verification & Review

Gephra Sustaina may:

• •request evidence for claims at any time,
• •review vendor disclosure formats,
• •remove unverifiable content,
• •suspend vendors who knowingly submit false data.

High-impact data (carbon neutral, zero waste, fair trade, etc.) requires documentation review.

Update Obligation

Vendors must update disclosure if operations change. Outdated info may be removed to protect platform credibility.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Intentional misinformation may lead to:

• •disclosure removal,
• •sustainability badge withdrawal,
• •storefront suspension,
• •permanent marketplace removal.