## 4 Results
### Characterization of C2C Certified Regarding ISO Typology
#### 4.1.2 Scope  
The scope of an eco-label has several dimensions. It consists of the type of sector and geographical coverage, the operational scope of the label, what the awarding criteria cover, and whether materiality and product life cycle perspectives are considered behind the criteria. C2C Certified is a multi-sectorial approach that is practically not limited by geographic boundaries. Although it is intended for the certification of products, some criteria are company-focused instead of product-focused; thus, they also focus on gate-to-gate processes only (discussed further in this section). Renewable Energy & Carbon Management, Water Stewardship, and Social Fairness are three of the five quality categories that require information on certain criteria that are related to the organization, without being related to the product that is the focus of the certification. C2C Certified is a certification system whose certification criteria are not product-specific, but rather general for all products. The program does not require any product-specific feasibility and materiality assessment study for the establishment of new product categories or product-specific certification criteria, while Type I eco-labels do, as requested by e.g., ISO 14024. The advantage of having common rules for all products is that these are easy to understand by the consumer. However, two disadvantages occur: on the one hand, the criteria become too generic; thus, in theory, all sorts of product categories could qualify for the certificate. On the other hand, in the specific case of C2C Certified, it is easier to certify products from product groups that are homogenous or simpler from a material perspective (while it is difficult to do this for products from other product groups that are not so homogenous or that consist of more complex materials) [9]. This limits those product categories that, in practice, can undergo certification. Applying identical criteria to all of the products also implies that the certification focus would not always necessarily be on those aspects and parameters that are the most relevant in completely determining the (environmental) performance characteristics of the product. This determination of products' relevant characteristics is known as the'materiality principle', i.e., \"focusing where it really matters\" [34] (p. 113). If the materiality principle is not observed, certain certification criteria could be found to be irrelevant for a certain product, though they would still need to be covered and reported in order for the product to obtain the certificate. Furthermore, the application of common awarding criteria, but not product-specific ones, implies that a specific evaluation of a product's life cycle is not performed, but rather considered as common for all products. In addition (and partly because of the lack of product specificity), many criteria in C2C Certified focus only on a particular life cycle stage, e.g., mostly on the final manufacturing (gate-to-gate), without conducting a specific evaluation of the life cycle of the given product under certification, and without providing a proper argumentation for the exclusion of any life cycle stage. Conversely, when setting the awarding criteria, ISO 14024 requires Type I eco-labels to conduct feasibility and materiality assessment studies on the potential product categories, including on the specifics of the market (e.g., under 30% of the products from a given product category could obtain the label). The standard here demands that product-specific environmental criteria be elaborated, respecting the materiality principle. This helps to differentiate environmentally sound products from others, based on \"a measurable difference in environmental impact\" [11] (p. 5). Furthermore, ISO 14024 postulates that the criteria for awarding Type I eco-labels shall not lead to the transfer of impacts from one life cycle stage to another, or \"from one medium to another without a net gain of environmental benefit\" [11] (p. 9).