Sustainably produced commodities are growing on consumers: Meeting voluntary standards helps producers reach new markets while conserving environmental assets.

• Author: Sampson, Gregory
• Position: SPECIAL REPORT

Access to natural resources is already - and will continue to be - a major challenge for sustainable development challenge far into the future. Fortunately, many opportunities exist along international supply chains to meet resource shortfalls.

Voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) are no longer a novelty serving niche markets. Over the past decade and more, they have increasingly found their way into mainstream markets. They are enabling sustainable consumption and production as well as partnerships for sustainable development, effectively contributing to the fulfilment of several of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

Certified share of cultivated land min - max % Coffee 25.8%-45.3% Cocoa 22.8%-37 6% Tea 13.2%-18.1% Oil palm 11.7%-12% Cotton 10 2%-11.4% Forestry 11% Bananas 5.3%-8.9% Sugarcane 3.9%-4.1% Soybeans 2.1%-2.8% The chart gives a snapshot of sustainable production today. It shows how much cultivated land is certified by at least one sustainability standard. Note: Table made from pie chart. The expansion of sustainable consumption choices enabled by VSS - usually developed by businesses or non-governmental organizations - makes consumers more aware of sustainability. This is true whether they are individuals shopping for their day-to-day needs or corporate procurement decision makers purchasing tons of materials for their businesses, creating a virtuous cycle of demand for more sustainable products.

The continuous increase in certification over the past decade reflects a demand among consumers, buyers and producers to address common environmental and social concerns. Those issues span several important sectors.

For example, the banana industry, the world's second-largest consumer of agrochemicals after cotton, faces such challenges as low wages; worker health and safety; child labour; and lack of biodiversity. The cocoa market is confronted by an unorganized production base systemic poverty and child labour. The cotton market's reputation is affected by high water use, volatile prices and worker exploitation. The increasing consumption of sugarcane is having a major impact on biodiversity amid concerns over abusive labour practices. For the tea market, challenges include forest removal; soil erosion; chemical inputs; and worker protection.

By providing assurances for purchases that support sustainability, VSS connect consumers and producers via transactions that involve more sustainable products. As VSS continue...