home > about standards > sectors covered > emerging sectors

Emerging sectors

About standards

Cattle ranching is one of many sectors in which standards initiatives are emerging. Photo of Cow Herd © Rainforest Alliance
ISEAL Alliance welcomes enquiries from groups who are working on environmentally or socially responsible practices, or standard-setting, in new and emerging sectors.

ISEAL can help your initiative to improve its standards development processes, and allow your group to learn from other standard-setting organisations. ISEAL members are leaders in their fields, committed to creating solid and credible standards systems that give businesses, governments and consumers the ability to choose goods and services that have been sustainably produced. ISEAL provides a forum for peer support for standards and accreditation organisations and develops internationally applicable good practice that is a requirement for its members.

For more information on applying for ISEAL membership, or to become an affiliate, contact our Community Support Coordinator, Rosie Forsyth at rosie@isealalliance.org

Members operating in this sector

Related information and resources

Bonsucro achieves full ISEAL membership

Jason LaChappelle
5 Jun 2013
The ISEAL Secretariat is pleased to announce that Bonsucro, the first global metric standard for sugarcane, has become the newest full member of the ISEAL Alliance by achieving full compliance with ISEAL's Standard-Setting Code. The decision was approved by ISEAL's Membership Committee, which reviewed Bonsucro's performance under ISEAL's Independent Evaluation Mechanism.

A Biofuels First for Africa

Patrick Mallet
16 Mar 2013
Addax Bioenergy is the first biofuels entity in Africa to earn RSB certification, by meeting the standard's strict social and environmental requirements for sustainable biofuels production. The estate located Sierra Leone has been producing sugarcane since early 2013 and plans to soon commence production of sustainable ethanol for export and domestic use, as well as green electricity from the biomass to supply approximately 20 percent of Sierra Leone's national grid.

First standard for tour operators recognised by Global Sustainable Tourism Council

Jason LaChappelle
22 Feb 2013
Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) recently announced that the Travelife Standard has been the first standard for tour operators and travel agents to achieve the "GSTC-recognized" status. An ISEAL associate member, the organisation promotes the adoption of universal sustainable tourism principles and aims to build demand for sustainable travel.

WWF's 2050 Criteria report calls on finance sector to align with credible standards

Jason LaChappelle
27 Sep 2012
WWF has unveiled The 2050 Criteria, a guide to responsible investment in agricultural, forestry and seafood commodities. The report is intended to serve as a blueprint for financial institutions to support sustainable supply chains and access commodities in a responsible manner, primarily through the use of credible standards and certification programmes.

Global Sustainable Tourism Council becomes ISEAL's newest member

Lara Koritzke
11 Sep 2012
The organisation, which is the international body for fostering increased understanding and adoption of universal sustainable tourism principles, was approved for membership at the most recent ISEAL board meetings.

Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels Recognises Rainforest Alliance Certified Farms

Jason LaChappelle
29 Jun 2012
The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels has announced its decision to recognise the standard of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), which is implemented by the Rainforest Alliance, to certify compliant farm operations. Collaboration betwen the two ISEAL members means that more farmers, companies and ecosystems will be able to access the benefits of certification.

Strategic or Selling Out? Developing standards hand-in-hand with big business

Patrick Mallet
26 Apr 2012
In light of a recent article published in Dollars & Sense that criticises the relationship between NGOs and big business in the development of sustainability standards, Patrick Mallet, ISEAL's Credibility Director, articulates the importance of working with major companies that have the power to instigate widespread change in production practices in major commodity sectors.

Brazil's Green Building Boom

Jason LaChappelle
19 Apr 2012
With our annual conference approaching in May, we sit down with Felipe Faria, one of the speakers you’ll hear from in Bonn, to talk about growth in the Brazilian green building sector.

Australia: Sustainability standards down under...

Lara Koritzke
20 Feb 2012
Lara Koritzke looks at the growth of the sustainability standards landscape in Australia and explores how ISEAL members are taking opportunities to engage with businesses and consumers down under.

Sustainability Standards: How to Choose the Credible Ones

Lara Koritzke
25 Jan 2012
For companies looking to improve their sourcing policies to ensure a sustainable supply over time and to reduce their global environmental and social impacts, one of the first steps is to opt for raw materials from a certified source. Written for for the European trade magazine, Food & Beverage International, we explore the state-of-play of certification and how it has become a major vehicle for companies to reduce their social and environmental footprints.