Reflecting on sustainability standards: trade and the sustainability crisis

The Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) Academic Advisory Council Roundtables aimed to foster the debate on the possibilities and limitations of sustainability standards as tools to environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The roundtables brought together different perspectives on VSS, defining their effectiveness along multiple dimensions, including goal-attainment, process, and constitutive effectiveness, and their role in international trade.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 19 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2022
Publisher: United Nations

The Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) Academic Advisory Council Roundtables aimed to foster a debate on the potential and limitations of sustainability standards as tools for environmental, social, and economic sustainability. These roundtables were jointly organized by the United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS) and EVIDENSIA, in collaboration with the KU Leuven Center for Global Governance. This comprehensive paper summarizes the discussions and outcomes of the three roundtable discussions, bringing together diverse perspectives on VSS to inform and contribute to a comprehensive understanding of their effectiveness through global value chains (GVCs).

The effectiveness of VSS is defined along multiple dimensions, encompassing goal-attainment effectiveness, process effectiveness, and constitutive effectiveness. Goal-attainment effectiveness focuses on the impact of VSS on various social, economic, and environmental indicators, assessing their contribution to sustainability outcomes. Process effectiveness examines the degree to which economic operators adopt VSS, considering the drivers and barriers to their adoption. Constitutive effectiveness explores the extent to which VSS change the overall approach of actors involved in the policy process towards sustainability, including the broader adoption of sustainability theories and principles.

The roundtables also delved into the role of VSS in international trade, discussing their potential benefits, challenges, and opportunities. Participants explored how VSS can enhance sustainability practices within GVCs, promote fair trade, and address sustainability-related concerns in global supply chains. The discussions highlighted the need for collaboration, transparency, and accountability among stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation and enforcement of VSS.

In conclusion, this paper provides valuable insights into the discussions and outcomes of the VSS Academic Advisory Council Roundtables. It contributes to a better understanding of the effectiveness of VSS as tools for promoting sustainability through GVCs. By bringing together different perspectives and highlighting key dimensions, the paper aims to inform policymakers, industry actors, and researchers about the potential of VSS to drive positive change towards a more sustainable and equitable world.

Dimension: 300 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789211130416