The Use of Voluntary Sustainability Standards in Trade Policy

This briefing, produced by the ISEAL Alliance and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), examines the integration of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) into trade policy instruments to facilitate sustainable trade.

• Governments are incorporating voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) into a variety of trade policy frameworks, such as export promotion strategies, public procurement, free trade agreements, due diligence regulations, and market access. These standards may be implemented as mandatory requirements or as encouraged practices.
• The integration of VSSs into trade policy requires the establishment of credibility criteria because standards vary significantly in their governance, assurance systems, and scope.
• To ensure VSSs effectively contribute to sustainable trade, governments must provide targeted financial assistance and capacity-building services to producers, particularly those located in developing countries, to help them obtain and maintain certification.

APA

Verma,, F. S. B. (2025). The Use of Voluntary Sustainability Standards in Trade Policy. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/brief/voluntary-sustainability-standards-trade-policy

Chicago

Verma,, Florencia Sarmiento,Steffany Bermúdez,Rupal. The Use of Voluntary Sustainability Standards in Trade Policy. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2025. https://www.iisd.org/publications/brief/voluntary-sustainability-standards-trade-policy.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Verma, |first1=Florencia Sarmiento,Steffany Bermúdez,Rupal |title=The Use of Voluntary Sustainability Standards in Trade Policy |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=29 May 2025 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/brief/voluntary-sustainability-standards-trade-policy |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{verma2025use, author = {Verma,, Florencia Sarmiento,Steffany Bermúdez,Rupal}, title = {{The Use of Voluntary Sustainability Standards in Trade Policy}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2025}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/brief/voluntary-sustainability-standards-trade-policy}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }