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Responsible Consumption and Production
Acknowledgements
The Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) are very grateful to the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) for its financial support of the global data collection on voluntary sustainability standards and the production of this publication.
Selected commodities grew, but slowly
This chapter examines the harvested area and the production volume of the selected commodities on an aggregate level. As multiple certification remains an issue for some commodities global totals were computed by adding the country minimums (leading to a global minimum value for each commodity) the country maximums (leading to a global maximum value for each commodity) and the country minimum–maximum averages (leading to a global average value for each commodity).
Project partners
The International Trade Centre (ITC) founded in 1964 is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. Its aim is for businesses in developing countries to become more competitive in global markets to speed up economic development and to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Consumption trends for certified products
This chapter highlights specific consumption trends affecting eight agricultural commodities that are increasingly grown under voluntary sustainability standards. It explores social economic and cultural characteristics and differences among consumers and identifies opportunities to boost demand for sustainable products worldwide.
Executive summary
The concept of a ‘sustainability standard’ has evolved from a mere buzzword into a crucial pillar of global trade. Sustainability standards are important in international trade due to their role in promoting ethical business conduct preparing businesses for upcoming mandatory regulations fostering harmonization in global trade and driving innovation. As the world continues to prioritize sustainability these standards serve as a potential framework upon which a more environmentally conscious and socially responsible global economy can be built.
Foreword
Can sustainability standards help suppliers traders and brands in the fast-moving world of trade?
Methodology
The data presented in this report were obtained either directly from the standard-setting organizations or indirectly from published annual reports and other literature. For organic agriculture data were gathered from private-sector organizations governments and certification bodies as part of the annual FiBL survey on organic agriculture worldwide (Willer et al. 2023). The data collection process voluntary sustainability standards indicators and commodities covered as well as the quality checks carried out.
The State of Sustainable Markets 2023
The International Trade Centre has teamed up once again with the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture and the International Institute for Sustainable Development to provide data about 14 major sustainability standards for bananas cocoa coffee cotton oil palm soybeans sugarcane tea and forestry products. This year’s report adds data from 2021 and finds that slow growth resumed after a dip in 2020. The publication helps shape decisions of policymakers producers and businesses working to address systemic labour and environmental challenges through certified sustainable production.
Development of the selected standards
This chapter examines the selected sustainability standards on an aggregate level taking into account the full range of commodities each standard certified (and not only the selected nine commodities covered in this report). For this purpose this chapter focuses on variables for which an aggregation across commodities is meaningful namely a standard’s certified area and its producers/certificate holders.
Acknowledgements
The UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section expresses its deep gratitude to everyone who contributed to this edition of the Forest Products Annual Market Review.
Foreword
Forests in the UNECE region cover one third of the land surface and are fundamental for providing us with oxygen clean air and water. These treasure chests of biodiversity continuously increase the amount of carbon stocked in their biomass. The forests in the UNECE region have been sustainably managed for hundreds of years to become a rich source of wood a raw material with an extremely low carbon footprint.