Introduction to Voluntary Sustainability Standard Systems

Abstract

Private voluntary sustainability standard systems are an innovative market-based approach to promoting sustainable production and business practices. Adoption of these sustainability standards is intended to be voluntary: the standards are not created, run, or required by governments or government regulation. Instead, voluntary sustainability standard systems are non-government initiatives that seek to drive sustainable production and consumption by creating market demand for sustainable products, and a supply to meet that demand. They help buyers (both consumers and businesses) identify sustainably-produced products, and they guide producers, forest managers, mine and tourism operators, and factory owners and others in the choice of sustainable practices.