On the international stage, the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, achieved mixed results. The final agreement emphasised equity and a ‘just transition’ but failed to increase commitments to phasing out fossil fuels. Even with the backdrop of the Amazon rainforest, negotiators left without a plan to end deforestation. Nevertheless, I left...

One of the biggest challenges facing sustainability leaders today is scaling action. How do we shift from a few companies doing the right thing to transforming entire supply chains and sectors? And what does that look like in practice? These were the questions at the heart of ISEAL’s Sustainability Policy...

From data silos to shared insight – ISEAL members are raising the bar for high-quality, transparent and interoperable data, ensuring that sustainability data is trusted, comparable, and used with confidence.

Global market systems depend largely on small-scale producers, who face mounting climate and environmental pressures. Around 80% of small-scale producers operate outside certified markets, selling into local, regional or global markets. As new regulations demand greater supply chain accountability, businesses must strengthen their social and environmental performance while addressing the...

Geolocation data underpins the ability of sustainability systems and their partners to track activities, assess environmental risks, and measure impact. ISEAL has updated its guidance on mapping certified activities and commissioned new research on how spatial datasets can be used to monitor change and impact. By collecting and analysing spatial...

For companies with complex supply chains, meeting deforestation-free commitments and regulations requires a balance of traceability and efficiency. ISEAL’s new guidance can help companies choose the right chain of custody approach.

With the release of ISEAL's Annual Review 2024, we reflect on a year of innovation and progress in advancing credible sustainability practices.

ISEAL is helping voluntary sustainability systems support companies in meeting the EU Deforestation Regulation’s legality requirement, which includes compliance with human rights laws. Verifying legal production against human rights laws is challenging, especially in areas like labour conditions and free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). Sustainability systems can support corporate...

The China Council for Promotion of International Trade Commercial Sub-Council (CCPIT-CSC) and ISEAL have strengthened their collaboration with the launch the Chinese version of the Good Practice Guide for Benchmarking Sustainability Systems v. 2《可持续体系基准对标良好实践指南（第二版）》 (the benchmarking guide). The release took place at the 9th Annual China Forum on Standardization of...

The urgency of credible climate action meets a rapidly shifting global landscape. Geopolitical shifts are reshaping supply chains and investment, while new reporting rules raise the bar for transparency. From the Greenhouse Gas Protocol to ISO and the Science Based Target initiative, accounting and reporting standards are evolving to meet...

ISEAL has published version 1.1 of the revised ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Sustainability Systems (the ISEAL Code), introducing editorial updates and clarifications based on stakeholder feedback.

This round is now closed. In August 2025, the ISEAL Innovations Fund invited Expressions of Interest for projects that respond to the theme: Market mechanisms for transferring value to small-scale producers and SMEs.

Scientific evidence shows sustainability standards help improve livelihoods, promote decent work, protect human rights and reduce deforestation. Their continued uptake in sectors like agriculture, forestry and mining highlights their value in advancing sustainability practice. We also know that a standard’s credibility is material to driving long-term change. However, research shows...