Voluntary Sustainability Standards: Impacts, enablers and barriers to shaping sustainable food systems

2026/06/23 by Elvira Uccello, Pilar Santacoloma, Allison Loconto · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Business, Management and Accounting · Environmental Science · #Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact #Global trade, sustainability, and social impact #Organic Food and Agriculture

paper · doi:10.4060/cd9872en

openalex publication_date 2026/06/23 · openalex created_date 2026/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23

Abstract

Drawing on more than a decade of impact studies (2013–2024), this paper assesses the potential of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) to improve sustainability across its different, interrelated dimensions, and identifies contextual and other factors that may act as enablers of, or barriers to effectiveness. It offers policy recommendations that can strengthen the contribution of VSS to shaping sustainable food systems.

Discussions

• Can voluntary sustainability standards help shape more sustainable agrifood systems? This new @fao.org publication examines their impacts, what drives success, and the barriers that remain 👉 https:/ [bsky, 6 points, 0 comments]

Related

• Initiatives for Advancing Planetary Health Through Sustainable Food Systems: An Umbrella Review
• The State of Food Systems Worldwide: Counting Down to 2030
• A qualitative exploration of barriers, facilitators and best practices for implementing environmental sustainability standards and reducing food waste in veterans affairs hospitals
• Interfacing science and policy: Exploring the role of scientific knowledge in the design of Voluntary Sustainability Standards
• Sustainability of food systems: The role of legal and policy frameworks