Relevance of sustainability standards continues to grow

Data from the past decade shows growth on certified agricultural area, steady increase in the demand for certified products, voluntary sustainability standards offering strategies to connect trade
with better practices, and significant expansion on the adoption of global sustainability standards in agriculture and forestry.
These are some of the results of the recently published report on The State of Sustainable Markets.

4C is one of the 14 major standard setters worldwide which are analysed in this report, produced by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), the International Institute of Sustainable
Development (IISD) and the International Trade Centre (ITC).

In support to the continuous efforts of European retailers to increase the shares of sustainable products and raw materials in their purchasing policies, 4C has collaborated with the report, contributing to the important conclusions pointing to the continued relevance of the role that sustainability standards play in promoting the trade of sustainable commodities.